The White House released the 2023 Proclamation on Women’s History Month on the last day of February. "Women — often women of color — have been on the frontlines, fighting for and securing equal rights and opportunity throughout our country’s history as abolitionists, civil rights leaders, suffragists, and labor activists," the declaration said.
However, despite significant progress, women and girls continue to face systemic barriers and disparities persist in economic security, health care, and caregiving responsibilities, especially for women and girls of color. "Those who perform critical work, including those who care for our children and our families, are too often overlooked, underpaid, and undervalued," the White House said.
"This month, as we continue our work to advance gender equity and equality, let us celebrate the contributions of women throughout our history and honor the stories that have too often gone untold," the proclamation continued. "Let us recognize that fundamental freedoms are interconnected: when opportunities for women are withheld, we all suffer; and when women’s lives are improved, we all gain."
In December 2022, UN Women announced the theme for International Women’s Day, 8 March 2023: “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”.
The United Nations Observance of IWD recognizes and celebrates the women and girls who are championing the advancement of transformative technology and digital education.
According to UN Women, this theme is aligned with the priority theme for the upcoming 67th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, “Innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls”.
The UN Women statement said that under the theme "DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality", the United Nations Observance of International Women's Day 2023 will highlight the need for inclusive and transformative technology and digital education.
IWD 2023 will explore the impact of the digital gender gap on widening economic and social inequalities. The event will also spotlight the importance of protecting the rights of women and girls in digital spaces and addressing online and ICT-facilitated gender-based violence.
Advancements in digital technology offer opportunities to achieve the 2030 Agenda’s Sustainable Development Goals, the press release said. Unfortunately, growing inequalities are becoming increasingly evident in the context of digital skills and access to technologies, with women being left behind as the result of this digital gender divide. The need for inclusive and transformative technology and digital education is therefore crucial for a sustainable future.
The United Nations Observance of International Women’s Day under the theme, “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”, will be marked by a high-level event on Wednesday, 8 March 2023, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. EST.
The event will bring together technologists, innovators, entrepreneurs, and gender equality activists to provide an opportunity to highlight the role of all stakeholders in improving access to digital tools and be followed by a high-level panel discussion and musical performances.
#CSW67 is coming!
— UN Women (@UN_Women) February 25, 2023
Join us on 6-17 March for an opportunity to create the future we want.
A future where:
💡 Women & girls are safe online
💡 Everyone has equal access to technology
💡 Women & girls are included in innovation and technology
💡 All #GlobalGoals can be achieved pic.twitter.com/FoqeaODUKm
