Within the framework of International Women’s Day, under the motto ‘Invest in women: Accelerate progress’ proposed by the United Nations this year, we have participated in several activities to commemorate this celebration, in order to demand equality between women and men and the recognition of the rights of women and girls around the world.
In Jordan
On March 7, the Spanish Embassy in Jordan, the AECID and the Spanish NGO Platform in Jordan (of which our Social Promotion Foundation is a part), organized a friendly women’s soccer tournament.
The Ambassador of Spain in Jordan, Miguel de Lucas González, inaugurated this tournament in which 25 players from all over the country gathered. They and all the people who participated in this celebration commemorated the achievements and contributions of Jordanian women to society.
After the football match, a concert by the Jordanian artist Jina Haddadden took place and a pleasant meal in which the attendees could continue celebrating this tribute and recognition of women.
In Ethiopia
Ethiopia is a country that has a deeply patriarchal culture, according to which men hold the main power in private and public life, while women and girls have traditionally played their roles in the domestic sphere, so their contribution has always been considered inferior. Furthermore, it should be noted that Ethiopia is one of the areas in the world where these women and girls suffer the greatest violence.
In this context and within the framework of the agreement that we developed in this country in consortium with the NGO Rescate, in collaboration with Ethiopian Catholic Church Social and Development Commission (ECC-SDCO) and Horn of Africa Voluntary Youth Committee (HAVOYOCO), and with the With the support of the AECID, from the Social Promotion Foundation we had the opportunity to organize several activities in the South Jijiga district, in collaboration with its Women’s Office, establishing several dialogues with the Shebele community, in which 87 women and 14 men participated.
In these conversations, the urgent need to build a present and future free of violence and with equal rights and opportunities for Ethiopian women was emphasized. Furthermore, it was emphasized that many of the challenges facing Ethiopia (conflicts, poverty, consequences of climate change) can only be addressed through solutions that empower women.
Representatives of the Ethiopian Government, the Somali Region Women’s Office and the local government of Sheble, as well as traditional and religious leaders, and rights holders of the intervention kebeles, also participated in these dialogues.
