International Women's Day provides an important opportunity to reflect on the progress made towards gender equality and acknowledge the work that still needs to be done. This year's theme, "Imagine a gender equal world," calls for action to create a world that is free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination, one that values and celebrates diversity, and is equitable and inclusive.
Despite constituting half of the working population, women continue to face discrimination and bias, making it challenging for them to advance in their careers. This is particularly true for women from ethnically diverse backgrounds, who face additional hurdles.
Cllr Shazna Muzammil’s own personal journey, from being given away in marriage at a young age to gaining freedom, education, and independence, by having to overcome many obstacles and challenges every step of the way, highlights there’s still lots more to do to support women. Despite the difficulties, she persevered, earning an MBA and PGDip and being headhunted by companies to promote and develop businesses and now works at the Open University. As a mother of two boys, great resilience has allowed her to achieve a successful balanced life.
Cllr Shazna’s story is not an uncommon one and can still be prevalent in many ethnic minority communities. This highlights the ongoing need to fight for gender equality and create a world where all women have the opportunity to pursue their dreams and achieve their full potential.
Cllr. Shazna Muzammil said ‘On International Women's Day 2023, it is important to remember that everyone has a personal journey, and those experiences are what makes everyone unique and powerful. I have been very lucky to have some very strong women in my corner supporting me and rooting for me and this has provided me with an immense amount of confidence to keep breaking barriers. Let's continue to inspire and support one another, celebrating our achievements and helping each other overcome the obstacles we face, allowing us the freedom to be the best version of ourselves.’’
As of today, there are two times more men than women on most elected bodies throughout the UK. However, progress has been made, and across parties, inclusion of women in parliament and leadership positions is a top priority on their agenda. This is a positive step, and one that is necessary to ensure that women have an equal voice and representation in the decision-making process.
But there is still much work to be done. Women continue to face challenges in many areas, including unequal pay, access to education and healthcare, and violence and harassment. It's up to all of us to take action to drive gender parity and create a world that is truly equal.
Online harassment is becoming increasingly prevalent and has a significant impact on women in politics. It's important to take action to prevent this kind of behaviour and to create a safe and supportive environment for women who choose to stand for office.
The Conservative Party is working hard to make inclusion of women in parliament and leadership positions a top priority in their agenda. This is a positive step, and one that is necessary to ensure that women have an equal voice and representation in the decision making process. There is still much to do but we can see progress is being made.
One important step is to raise awareness about discrimination and bias, and to encourage more women to stand and speak up for those that can’t. This is where Milton Keynes Conservatives Women's Organization play a vital role. By encouraging more women to join and supporting female candidates through the process of standing for election, they are helping to create a more inclusive and equitable society.
Women are achieving great things in all areas of life, and it's important that we celebrate these achievements. From business to politics, sports to the arts, women are breaking down barriers and paving the way for future generations.
We all need to work together, to embrace equity, and to celebrate women's achievements. We need to create a world where difference is valued and celebrated, and where all women have the opportunity to reach their full potential. Only then can we truly imagine a gender equal world.
As we celebrate International Women's Day 2023, let's remember that our personal journeys and experiences are what make us unique and powerful. Let's continue to inspire and support one another, celebrating our achievements and helping each other overcome the obstacles we face. Together, we can create a world where when we embrace equity, we embrace diversity, and we embrace inclusion.
