Women in many roles in America continue today to struggle for equal respect, pay and recognition. Despite that, they still fare far better than women in many other parts of the world.

Here in America, we now have a woman vice president; increasingly more elected officials are women; and more and more women hold top positions in corporate America. These women serve as wonderful role models for girls and young women considering how far they can reach in their futures.

But they still have a long way to go to achieve complete equality.

Along with this month marking Women’s History Month in America, today also is International Women’s Day, a day intended to celebrate the tremendous efforts by women and girls around the world in shaping a more equal future. The day also celebrates women’s achievements, raises awareness, highlights gender parity gains and more. International Women’s Day was first marked with a gathering 110 years ago in 1911.

A future free of stigma, stereotypes and violence should be sustainable with equal rights and opportunities for all. Undoubtedly, women’s full and effective participation and leadership in all areas of life will help to drive progress for everyone.

Unfortunately, according to a recent report released by the United Nations Secretary-General, women remain underrepresented in public life and decision making. And they face violence in many areas when equality efforts begin to gain momentum.

The UN report indicates that women are heads of state or government in only 21 countries; 119 countries have never had a woman leader. At the current rate, the report indicates, parity at the pinnacle of power will not be reached for another 130 years.

Sadly, violence and harassment against women in public life worldwide seems to have increased as more women gain access to power, the report indicates. Perpetrators intend to stop women from accessing power and silence them to limit their perspectives in policy formulation. Worldwide, women politicians have been killed in office, left their positions after receiving death threats or withdrawn from elections citing abuse. Women voters, candidates and election administrators have faced targeted, gender-based violence in elections. Human rights defenders, women’s organizations and feminist groups have been targeted, and women of color have experienced disproportionate levels of violence, the UN report states. Online, gender-based abuse, cyberbullying and sexual harassment are increasingly common against women active in public life, the report ads.

These are just a few of the transgressions to which International Women’s Day hopes to draw attention. The rallying cry for generation equality is right and admirable, not only in America but worldwide. All women deserve an equal future free from stigma, stereotypes and violence, after all.

editorial@tribtoday.com