Getting to Generation Equality

The campaign “Generation Equality — Realizing Women’s Rights for an Equal Future” is facilitated by UN Women in the context of the 25th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing and the adoption of the Beijing Platform for Action. See http://www.unwomen.org/ en/get-involved/beijing-plus-25.

I am blessed to be of this generation of women, one which is significantly more liberated than that of my mother. Yes we have made significant progress shattering glass, concrete and even steel ceilings, however, there is still a lot more to do to achieve equity and equality

The journey to equality is a marathon; however, the distance to completion is location and situation dependent. Based on my experience living in 3 different continents — North America, Europe and Africa — I am of the opinion that African women still have the longest route to travel.

In my home country of Nigeria, progress has been slow, limited by multiple factors including culture, creed, education, wealth and politics — of which the last two are still predominantly male-dominated.

Today, however, I choose to focus on the progress we have recorded. I celebrate our ability to stand shoulder to shoulder, to dream and aspire, and most importantly, to achieve those dreams. I celebrate our strength, the voices we have raised to denounce violence and abuse in the home, the workplace, schools and even in public. I celebrate how we have planted our feet like rock, refusing to move off the path to equality. We have a long way to go, but how far we have come.

We are Generation Equality. We are Generation Equity. Equality may look different for different people and in varied situations, but we know that as long as we do not stop fighting, we will leave this world a better place for our children no matter their sex, creed or culture.

Happy International Women’s day. Let’s be each for equal.