International Women’s Day

NACA representative speaks at the International Women’s Day Celebration

On March 8, 2017, Leona Hu represented NACA to speak at the International Women’s Day Celebration at Liberty Plaza at the State Capitol in Atlanta.

International Women’s day is many things – a cause for celebration, an inspiration, an occasion to remember success stories and important roles of the women, and a time to show respect, appreciation and love towards women for their economic, political and social achievements. On this day all over the world we consider both the steps forward that have been taken towards better lives for women and progress still required to be made.  To celebrate the true spirit of women, one day is not enough. Each day brings a new challenge and women are ready to face them.

This year the United Nations has chosen the theme “Be Bold For Change”, which focuses on “Women in the Changing World of Work: Planet 50-50 by 2030.”  Women have come a long way in their struggle for equality, but there is still a long distance to cover.  According to the UN Women’s website:

• As of June 2016, only 22.8 per cent of the world’s parliamentarians were women, a slow increase from 11.3 per cent in 1995.
• As of January 2015, only 17 per cent of government ministers were women, with the majority overseeing social sectors, such as education and the family.
• Women continue to participate in labor markets on an unequal basis with men. In 2013, the male employment-to-population ratio stood at 72.2 per cent, while the ratio for females was 47.1 per cent.
• More women than men work in vulnerable, low-paid, or undervalued jobs. As of 2013, 49.1 per cent of the world’s working women were in vulnerable employment, often unprotected by labor legislation, compared to 46.9 per cent of men.

Established in 1980, NACA has been devoted to building a diversified multicultural society by “Bridging cultures, Building leaders, and Benefiting communities”.  NACA has organized and sponsored many activities that advance opportunities for women and that build women leaders for our changing world.