«All
human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. Everyone is
entitled to all the right and freedoms set forth in the universal Declaration
of Human Rights» (Principle 1, ICPD Programme og Action).
Congratulations
to you all! Today is the International Women's Day! Gender equality in Norway
and the world at large, is important. It is essential that we all work towards
it.
«A state that does not educate and train
women is like a man who only train his right arm» (Jostein Gaarder)
Over
the years I experienced that the word feminist is not seen as positive. Some
I've met have, when the subject comes up, said they think feminists should stop
complaining. Some even believe that feminists hate men. This is completely
wrong.
«I
do not wish them [women] to have power over men; but over themselves»
(Mary Wollstonecraft).
Being
a feminist means easy to fine you are for equal rights between women and men. Therefor
I think, that many who might be skeptical towards feminists actually are
feminists themselves. Let's move away from these negative attitudes and work
together. My goal is to never have strong opinions about anything before I get
knowledge about what the case actually is.
«I do assure
you, Sir, that I have no pretension whatever to that kind of elegance which
consists in tormenting a respectable man. I would rather be paid the compliment
of being believed sincere. […] Do not consider me now as an elegant female
intending to plague you, but as a rational
creature speaking the truth from her heart» (Jane Austen).
In
Norway, we women are luckier than women in many other places in the world. We
got the right to vote in 1913, while
women in for instance Liechtenstein (another country in Europe), did not get the
right to vote until 1984. In other
parts of the world women's voices are not heard or respected at all. Women are
suppressed and subjected to traditions such as FGM (female gender mutilation)
and forced marriage.
«I
raise up my voice – not so I can shout but so that those without a voice can be heard…We cannot all succeed when half
of us are held back» (Malala Yousafzai)
I
want to engage men into this as well as women. We are only as weak as we are divided,
as strong as we are united. Let all women stand up together for gender
equality. And let men worldwide also support and take part in this fight.
«Of all
the evils for which man has made himself responsible, none is so degrading, so
shocking or so brutal as his abuse of
the better half of humanity; the
female sex» (Mahatma Gandhi).
Today
many men are already supporting and fighting for gender equality, and that’s great!
I want to thank all women and men who works towards a better and more equal
world. For me, the women’s day, is both a celebration of all the women who throughout
history, have fought for equal rights, and the present day’s equality advocates.
In addition, this day clarifies a goal for the future. Let us work together, both
women and men, to improve the position of women in society. We can do it!
