Observation of International Women’s Day

8^th March 2024

International Women’s Day is a global day observing annually on 8^th march to commemorate the cultural, political and socio-economic achievements of women. The day marks a call to a gender equal world – free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination and one that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive while differences are valued and celebrated. The global theme for the International women’s Day 2025 is “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.”

IRDSO and WinG, Thoubal with the support from Paul Hamlyn Foundation observed the International Women’s Day 2025 at EEO Club, Lamding under the theme ”Storytelling For Change”. The observation was attended by 172 participants’ 130 – women, 42 -men from different villages including Police Officers, Club Members, Local women Leaders, Adolescents, WinG Promoters, ASHA Workers, Anganwadi Workers, Local Elected Members, and Teachers etc.

Keynote Address: Nonibala Narengbam, Chief Functionary, IRDSO: In her keynote, she highlighted the origin of International Women’s Day. She said that we should discuss the issues and needs of women in every Gram Sabha meetings. She also said that we women must continue our struggle until we achieved a gender equal society. Nonetheless, we women did not share about our struggle, thoughts, and our journey, how we feel. She also said that if we want to bring a dialogue process, it is important that we should share and listen to each other’s struggle, extraordinary works done by women, our thoughts. She mentioned that this women’s day IRDSO choose the theme Storytelling for Change to provide a platform for participants to share their story.

She said that storytelling is a powerful tool, allowing women to share their experience, to challenge societal norms, and to inspire change. She said that through storytelling, we recognize the Importance of amplifying women’s voices, of creating platforms for women to share their stories and of promoting women’s empowerment through storytelling.

The speaker briefly mentioned about One Billion Rising Campaign launched in 2012 and each year with different theme,  the campaign is organised to rise  against gender based violence, including rape, hate, exclusion, killing, discrimination, exploitation, abuse, militarisation, wars, division, occupation and control. The campaign is organise globally with different events like, dance, songs, marches, rituals, spoken word, testimonies and other forms  of creative expression. Concluding her keynote she mentioned some issues that should be concerned.

• 33% Women reservation
• Child Marriage
• No safe space for adolescence for sharing and talking about their health i.e menstrual hygiene, puberty.

After keynote address, Nonibala Narengbam, Chief Functionary, IRDSO takes the seat of moderator. The moderator asked four questions to the participants to share their thoughts. The questions were;

• What does it feel like to be a parent of only son?
• What does it feel like to be a parent of only daughters?
• What words do you used to your daughters and sons while raising them?

Among the participants, the moderator asked to come out five participants for each question to share their thoughts and experiences. Both men and women were coming out and they were thrilled to share their thoughts. The following are some quotations from the participants;

“It is not good for us, that our society belief that the responsibility of earning money is only for men and women should be caretaker. Sometimes we men also want to stay at home and take care of our parents”

• “It is not good for us, that our society belief that the responsibility of earning money is only for men and women should be caretaker. Sometimes we men also want to stay at home and take care of our parents”
• “We feel very stressed when people of our neighbour said that we are unlucky that we are parent of only daughters”
• “We raise both equally, no discrimination between daughters and sons”
• “I am very grateful that I have daughters, we will do the best for my daughters”
• “Women should stop thinking that after married they have nothing to do, they should be economically dependent to their husband and in – laws. Instead, women should make themselves financially independent”.

After the sharing session, there was a discussion session. Participants were able to share about their struggle, their journey, how they faced challenges for being a widow, for being HIV patient, how our society treated men and women differently.

 There was also a presentation of Thang – Ta by Ekop Ningthou Huiyen Lalong Shindamshang. A small gifts were also given to the participants who shared their thoughts on the above three questions. The participants have given their commitment to struggle until gender equality is achieved.

The observation was ended with a light refreshment.