Let’s #FlipTheScript this International Women’s Day
By breaking down gender stereotypes, advocating for climate change and championing data-driven advocacy, women and girls are leading the way towards a greener, more equitable and inclusive world.
Women and girls’ contributions towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals make a difference wherever they are. They are a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous, inclusive and sustainable world.
This International Women’s Day (IWD) takes place amid an increasingly volatile situation in the world, yet we cannot and must not give up the urgent fight for gender equality everywhere. The UN SDG Action Campaign is calling on everyone, everywhere to #FlipTheScript and tell a new story that shapes a new reality — one where the idea that women and girls can’t change the world vanishes for good, because we know the world cannot change without women and girls.
Gender discrimination weakens our societies and weighs down economies and political discourse. New development models are not possible without gender equality. We need everyone’s fullest potential and experience to meet challenges now and in the future. Everything depends on women and girls being free to use their minds and demonstrate their power to create a just world.
On #IWD2022 and every day, let’s remember that whatever the crisis, from conflict to climate, all women and girls must live free and equal. Together, we can show that change is possible.
Celebrating women’s leadership and how they #FlipTheScript towards a sustainable future
In Nigeria, the Stand to End Rape (STER) Initiative, a youth-led social enterprise which received the 2020 UN SDG Action Award in the Mobilize category, advocates against sexual violence, providing prevention mechanisms, and supporting survivors with psychosocial services.
Oluwaseun Ayodeji Osowobi, the Executive Director of STER, is a young woman who advances gender equality by encouraging communities to stamp out of violence and take relevant steps to access justice for survivors of gender-based violence.
“Winning a UN SDG Action Award has motivated STER to develop new strategies and mobilize like-minded organizations to implement programs in line with SDG 5, Gender Equality.” — Oluwaseun Ayodeji Osowobi
Women in Kenya play a critical role in innovative, practical and affordable energy solutions
As the founder and CEO of Drop Access, a women- and youth-led social enterprise that develops practical and affordable energy solutions, Norah Magero steered her organization to innovate VacciBox. It’s a portable solar-powered refrigerator that is easily mounted on a bicycle, motorbike, or even carried, so that medical supplies as well as foods can be safely stored and transported to communities that have been affected by climate hazards.
“Women-led actions need to be sufficiently and equitably funded to achieve a just, green transition.” — Norah Magero, in conversation with UN Women
Accelerating gender equality by connecting data and evidence with advocacy and action
Equal Measures 2030, a UN SDG Action Awards Finalist, is helping to close gender gaps in the world. The initiative is a collaboration of national, regional, and global leaders from feminist networks, civil society, international development, and the private sector, who connect data and evidence with advocacy and action on gender equality to transform the lives of women and girls and realize the SDGs. It promotes shared learning and collaboration amongst advocates to enable better gender-informed policy changes to harness a global collective effort to accelerate the behavioral shifts needed.
“Too often, women and girls are invisible, with no data or sexist data on issues that disproportionately affect their lives. If we’re gathering this data, we should darn well use it.’’ — Melinda Gates, at the launch of Equal Measure 2030’s SDG Gender Index
Empowering women and girls now means a sustainable future for all.
TAKE ACTION
Watch and share the #FlipTheScript film
Raise awareness
Use #FlipTheScript stickers
Use the #FlipTheScript filter
Learn more
Meet five youth female climate activists
UN Bonn Podcast: How a Nigerian youth-led initiative is fighting for gender equality
Why women need to be at the heart of climate action
Five ways to build gender equality and sustainability
