Minute for Mission: International Women’s Day

March 8, 2024

Source: un.org/en/observances/womens-day

“Achieving gender equality and women’s well-being in all aspects of life is more crucial than ever if we want to create prosperous economies and a healthy planet,” according to the United Nations. “However, we are facing a key challenge: the alarming $360 billion annual deficit in gender-equality measures by 2030.”

International Women’s Day is a day set aside each year to address challenges that are unique to women and girls. In observance of International Women’s Day, for 2024, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, or U.N. Women, has chosen the theme “Invest in women: Accelerate progress.” The U.N. says there are “five key areas needing joint action: investing in women, a human rights issue: Time is running out. Gender equality is the greatest human rights challenge, benefiting everyone; ending poverty: Due to the Covid pandemic and conflicts, 75 million more people have fallen into severe poverty since 2020. Immediate action is crucial to prevent over 342 million women and girls living in poverty by 2030; implementing gender-responsive financing: Conflicts and rising prices may lead 75% of countries to cut public spending by 2025, negatively impacting women and their essential services; shifting to a green economy and care society: The current economic system disproportionately affects women. Advocates propose a shift to a green economy and care society to amplify women’s voices; supporting feminist change-makers: Despite leading efforts, feminist organizations receive only 0.13% of official development assistance.”

International Women’s Day reminds us to reflect on our responsibility to make this world a just world. As people of faith called by God to care for one another, let us follow the U.N.’s call to “unite to transform challenges into opportunities and shape a better future for all!”

Carissa Herold is marketing associate for Presbyterian Women in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Inc.

Today’s Focus: International Women’s Day

Let us join in prayer for:

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff
Karah Clark, Accounting Coordinator, Presbyterian Foundation 
Tim Clark,  Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Presbyterian Foundation  

Let us pray

Loving Creator, on this International Women’s Day, and all days, let us strive toward gender equality so your daughters, as well as your sons, are empowered to find solutions for a sustainable future. Amen.