Watch the video "Igniting a Global Sisterhood" here.
Dearest Sisters and Brothers,
Wishing you all a very beautiful and happy Women's Day - may your day be as unique and special as you are. Remember that as a woman, we bring life, nurturing and healing into this world, which is a better place due to our presence. Let's proudly smile and pray for happiness, health and prosperity to all our global family.
As we commemorate International Women’s Day 2016, there is so much we can we proud of. Let us join hands and celebrate the progress made for women's rights, women's empowerment and gender equality. As we mark the many achievements of women and girls, we should recall that for many, living a healthy, safe and productive life, to fully enjoy their rights, remains an aspiration.
Let us also acknowledge that global progress has been very slow, scattered, and in some cases women and girls face new and more complex challenges.
Today is also the opportunity and time to recommit ourselves to delivering once and for all on the promise of gender equality, women’s empowerment and sexual and reproductive health and rights for all women and girls. It is also an opportunity to unite, network and mobilize for meaningful change.
Through the important initiatives of our cooperation circles, let us continue to be catalysts towards girls and women having equal rights, exercising their own choices and their leadership, whilst living free of gender-based violence and abuse.
As we pledge for parity, we must assert again every girl’s right to live as a full human being with control over her own body and informed choice in what happens to it. For example, some 200 million women and girls in 30 countries have already undergone female genital mutilation (FGM). In most countries, the majority were cut before the age of five. We must galvanize all our collective efforts through education and improving health and wellbeing to eliminate FGM for good.
Let us be clear, equality for women will result in a prosperous, progressive world.
As women of faith, our mediation and prayers will heal the wounds of the feminine and the wounds of the world. We can ensure a colourful interfaith picture of the healing power of the feminine to seek a new balance in our world.This power will be tangible and life-changing. UNIFY: Global Sisterhood on International Women’s Day 2016, is a beautiful opportunity for us to inspire and empower by supporting each other. We would love for you to be involved in this groundbreaking campaign and to share this with others.
Please join us to ignite a global sisterhood and to shape our future together.
