Every March 8th, the world celebrates International Women’s Day. It’s a day to recognize how far women’s rights and gender equality have come, but it’s also a time to admit the world still has a long way to go. According to 2022 data, it could take 286 years to end gender discrimination and achieve full legal protection for women and girls. Originally, International Women’s Day was a call to action for universal suffrage and equal economic rights. That message still resonates today. In this article, we’ll explore the history of International Women’s Day, where you can learn more and how everyone can participate.

With roots in 20th-century socialist politics and revolutionary action, International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate women’s rights and work for gender equality. 

What’s the history of International Women’s Day?

International Women’s Day has deep roots in socialist, working class politics. In 1907, the International Conference of Socialist Women held their first gathering. According to Jacobin, their goals included universal female suffrage, which they advocated for without barriers regarding property ownership, tax, education and so on. In 1909, thanks to a declaration by the Socialist Party of America, the United States held the first National Women’s Day on February 28th. The next year, at their gathering in Copenhagen, the International Conference of Socialist Women agreed to recognize an International Women’s Day.

The first International Women’s Day celebration took place on March 19th, 1911. Over one million women and men participated in rallies across Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. They advocated for women’s right to vote, the right to hold public office, and women’s right to work. In 1913-1914, women in Russia celebrated their first International Women’s Day on February 23. In 1917, Russian women went on a strike for “Bread and Peace.” It was the end of February on the Julian calendar, which Russia used at the time, but the protest fell on March 8th on the Gregorian calendar. The crowds quickly grew to around 150,000 people, all holding banners reading “Bread” and “Down with the Czar.” Just days later, Czar Nicholas abdicated, ending the Romanov family’s three-century rule. The provisional government quickly gave women the right to vote. International Women’s Day was recognized by the United Nations for the first time in 1975. It’s now celebrated around the world every year on March 8th.

Why is International Women’s Day important? This article explains why.

What International Women’s Day resources are available?

International Women’s Day (IWD) is a great opportunity to learn more about women’s history, women’s rights, and the people – both past and present – who have fought for gender equality and freedom around the world. Here’s a list of 10 resources:

The United Nations

The United Nations is a good source for information about IWD’s background, gender equality, human rights and much more. On the main page, the UN explains what this year’s current IWD focuses on. The theme for IWD 2023 was “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality.” The UN held an event on March 8th with technologists, innovators, gender equality activists and entrepreneurs invested in improving access to digital tools. Because technology can either close or widen economic and social inequalities, it’s essential to protect the rights of women and girls in digital spaces. The UN’s IWD page also features websites, publications, stories and messages from various UN bodies on that year’s topic.

UN Women

UN Women is the UN entity responsible for working toward gender equality and empowering women. It’s a great resource for information about gender equality year round, not just on March 8th. You can find messages from the executive director, press releases, media advisories and other resources. On its digital library, you can find reports like the Gender Snapshot for the year, case studies, policy briefs, brochures and handbooks.

UNESCO

UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is a specialized UN agency focused on promoting world peace through education, arts, sciences and culture. It offers Sustainable Development Goal resources for educators on gender equality, as well as all the other SDGs like zero poverty, zero hunger, quality education and climate action. With the gender equality resource, you select which learning level you want resources for (early childhood care and education, primary education or secondary education ) and check out pedagogical resources, classroom activity ideas and multimedia educational resources.

The Council of Europe

The Council of Europe is an international organization promoting human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Europe. It offers a variety of resources covering gender equality and women’s rights on its website. You can search by theme, type of resource, language and year going back to 1953. Publications like infographics, fact sheets, guides, handbooks and studies are available.

Harvard’s Gender Action Portal

The Harvard Kennedy School Women and Public Policy Program created the Gender Action Portal (GAP). It’s a useful tool for researchers, policymakers, students, journalists and other practitioners interested in gender equity. It includes information on experimental methodologies in gender equity research, intersectional research and summaries on various topics like health, education and development. The portal also lists impact evaluations, gender data, gender indexes and publications on women’s rights and gender equity.

Classes are another great way to learn about women’s rights. Here’s a list of 8 courses about women’s empowerment.

Focus2030

Focus2030 is an organization focused on boosting “the impact, visibility and influence of the international development community.” It tracks the progress of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. It also hosts an overview of the data on gender equality across the world. It includes data from places like the World Bank, the World Economic Forum, UNICEF, the World Health Organization and other respected entities. A variety of topics are covered, including economic justice, gender-based violence, reproductive health and education. At the time of writing, the overview was last updated in March of 2023.

Ethical Trading Initiative

Founded in 1998, the Ethical Trading Initiative is a UK-based body consisting of companies, trade unions and NGOs. The goal is to ensure member companies meet global supply chain and labor standards. The ETI Base Code includes standards such as no discrimination and no harsh or inhumane treatment. You can find resources on gender equality on the ETI’s website, such as a resource kit on gender-based violence, materials on trade union activities around women’s rights, case studies and more.

The International Center for Research on Women

Since 1976, the International Center for Research on Women has operated as a non-profit with offices in several countries. Their mission is to promote gender equality, inclusion and prosperity in international development. You can find a variety of resources on their website, such as infographics, policy briefs, case studies, fact sheets, toolkits, articles and much more.

Oxfam International

Oxfam is a confederation of independent charitable organizations focused on eradicating global poverty. Its website offers a series of International Women’s Day resources for students aged 9-14. It includes a PowerPoint on gender equality issues, classroom activity suggestions and an assembly and activity pack. You can also sign up for Oxfam’s education newsletter

Equality Now

Equality Now is an NGO founded in 1992. It advocates for the promotion and protection of women’s rights with a network of lawyers, activists and supporters. Its website offers a library of resources on women’s rights issues like sexual violence, legal discrimination, family law, child marriage and more. Resource types include court documents, fact sheets, toolkits and manuals. You can search the library by resource, language, issue and region.

To learn more about gender equality, check out our Gender Equality 101 article.

What activities can you do for International Women’s Day?

If you want to participate in International Women’s Day, there are lots of activity options. Here are three:

Donate to a women’s rights organization

Countless organizations are working to promote and protect the rights of women and girls. In recognition of International Women’s Day, consider setting up a one-time or even monthly donation to a legitimate organization. If you’re not sure about the impact of an organization, check out their annual reports or research what others are saying about the organization.

Support women-owned businesses

Owning a business is hard enough, but women-owned businesses face unique obstacles due to gender discrimination and inequalities. According to the World Economic Forum, male business owners outnumber women by about 3-1, so support is very important. On March 8th, identify the women-owned businesses in your area or with products available online. While these businesses need support year-round, International Women’s Day is a great opportunity to show you care about women’s empowerment and economic rights.

Watch a film about women’s rights and gender equality

There are many films about women’s rights, gender equality, important feminists and other related subjects. For the most accurate information, choose documentaries like 9to5: The Story of a Movement, My Name is Pauli Murray, End of the Line: The Women of Standing Rock, and What Happened, Miss Simone? You can watch the movie by yourself or with a small group at home. See if any organizations in your area are holding movie screenings. If you want to host your own screening, you will likely need to get permission to show the movie.

The post International Women’s Day 101: History, Resources, Activities appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

International Women’s Day is a global holiday that takes place every year on March 8th. It emerged from the suffrage movements of the early 20th century, as well as labor movements. According to the UN, the Socialist Party of America organized the first National Woman’s Day in recognition of the 1908 garment workers’ strike in New York. The day has since gone international, achieving official recognition by the United Nations in 1977. It is an opportunity to recognize all women for their achievements. How can you celebrate it? Here are 15 ideas:

#1. Host a film screening

Watching a film is a great activity for International Women’s Day because movies appeal to a lot of people and can provoke great discussions. Your film screening can be as simple as getting a few friends together to watch a movie at your house or something more elaborate, like organizing a larger, more official screening and a panel discussion. With a little tech-savvy, you can even organize a virtual movie night. Don’t forget about copyright laws! They vary based on country, but in the United States, if you’re screening a film outside of your home or any place where you’ve gathered people who aren’t family members (that includes schools, libraries and meeting rooms), you need to get a special license. Vendors like Ambrose Video and Discovery Education sell movies with these licenses included.

#2. Assemble a book club

There are countless books written by, about, and for women. If you’re already in a book club, suggest reading a book for International Women’s Day. Penguin Random House, a major publisher, has a list of recommended reads on their website, but you can also find ideas by searching “books about women’s rights” or something similar. Our list of 13 inspiring books about human rights includes books by activists Grace Lee Boggs, Tricia Hershey and Malala Yousafzai. If you’re not currently part of a book club, consider assembling one or even joining a virtual book club. Your local library may also have resources.

Why is International Women’s Day important? Here’s our article on why it matters.

#3. Attend an art exhibit

Women have always created art, but their achievements have historically been dismissed or ignored. For International Women’s Day, consider learning more about great female artists through history! Many museums have exhibits curated specifically in recognition of women artists, while others have resources that help museum attendants find all the art made by women. Research exhibits in your area or explore a gallery online, like this one hosted by the National Museum of Women in the Arts.

#4. Attend a poetry slam

Poetry slams are art events where poets perform spoken word in front of an audience. The format can be flexible, but slams can include audience participation. Slams are energetic, dramatic and moving. You may not be able to find a slam specifically for International Women’s Day, but there are lots of recorded slams online. The International Women’s Day website even features several poems from 2021. You can also find a handful of feminist slam poems on Power Poetry.

#5. Organize an open mic night

Open mics take place at comedy clubs, pubs, coffeehouses, and other places, usually at night. The idea is that anyone from the audience, including amateurs, can go up to the microphone and perform songs, readings, comedy routines, and so on. One idea for International Women’s Day is to hold an open mic night for women. They’ll get a chance to showcase a skill, whether that’s by performing something original or something that means a lot to them. You can hold an open mic night at a traditional venue – like a cafe – or set up a gathering at someone’s home. Depending on the size of the space, you may not even need an actual microphone!

#6. Host a trivia night

Lots of people love trivia, so think about hosting a trivia game night for International Women’s Day. If you want to blend fun with fundraising, consider charging a small cover fee you can donate to a women’s rights organization. To fit with the day’s theme, write trivia questions about International Women’s Day, women’s rights, famous women, and so on. If you don’t have time to write all your own questions, you can find prewritten trivia quizzes online.

Interested in hosting more regular fundraisers or raising awareness of women’s rights issues? Here’s our article on how to become a community activist.

#7. Attend or organize a charity walk

Charity walks (also known as walk-a-thons) are a type of fundraiser. People collect donations for walking or running a certain distance. To improve access as much as possible, good walkathons allow for low-intensity options or donations based on minutes, not miles. See if your area is holding any charity walks in recognition of International Women’s Day or to benefit an organization that helps women or girls in some way.

#8. Attend an educational workshop

NGOs, associations, universities and other institutions regularly hold educational workshops for the community. Research local events or workshops about International Women’s Day, feminism, gender equality or related topics. You can find workshops through online searches while your local library or college is also a good resource. If you can’t find any local workshops, consider joining a virtual event. If you have children, you can find workshops designed for elementary and high school girls, too!

#9. Research what upcoming legislation affects women

You may have the opportunity to vote on issues that directly impact women. If you’re able to vote where you live, take the time to research how upcoming legislation affects girls and women. As an example, a proposed healthcare law might claim to save you money on your taxes, but in exchange, it cuts funding for important preventative care. When you’re researching legislation, always check in with women’s rights organizations to see what they’re saying the impact could be.

#10. Write letters about women’s rights and legislation

Many countries use representative forms of government, so while you may not be able to vote directly on legislation, you can let officials know what actions you want them to take. Letter-writing is one way to communicate. Even if you can’t send letters directly to a leader for one reason or another, you can write open letters, which you can post online or send to newspapers. To celebrate International Women’s Day, research what is affecting women in your area and write letters to government officials encouraging them to take action. If there’s specific legislation on the table, let them know how you want them to vote.

What gender issues are most important right now? Here’s our article on 15 of the most urgent examples.

#11. Recognize the achievements of women in your workplace

International Women’s Day is a great opportunity to celebrate the contributions of women in your workplace. Organizations can amplify the stories of important women in the organization’s history, bring in a guest speaker, send employees gifts from women-owned businesses, or host a special lunch catered by a woman-owned restaurant. While International Women’s Day is a good time to do something special, organizations should always work to improve gender parity and inclusion in the workplace.

#12. Research and support mentorship programs

Mentorship programs play a big role in increasing gender parity, closing educational gaps, enhancing a person’s skills, and achieving better inclusion. There are mentorships designed for professional development, but there are also mentorship programs for kids. To celebrate International Women’s Day, consider researching mentorship programs for women and girls in your area.

#13. Use social media to advocate for women’s rights

At the time of writing, the state of social media was in flux, but it still remains an accessible, convenient way to share your thoughts with a broad audience. For International Women’s Day, harness your social media to discuss women’s issues and how people can support women’s rights. You can keep it simple with a short paragraph or use tools like Canva to create compelling graphics. If you own a business, celebrating International Women’s Day on your social media is a great way to share your values.

Writing something for International Women’s Day? Our article on writing a women’s day speech has tips that apply to writing letters and social media posts.

#14. Support women-owned businesses

According to the World Economic Forum, women started 49% of new businesses in the United States in 2021, which is a big jump from 2019. Female entrepreneurship is increasing around the world, but men still outnumber women 3-1 in business ownership. For International Women’s Day, consider supporting a woman-owned business! Not every business advertises itself as woman-owned, but some put that information on their websites or social media accounts. To fully embody the values of International Women’s Day, check if the business you’re interested in treats its employees equitably and equally, supports other causes you’re passionate about, and donates money to NGOs.

#15. Donate and/or volunteer at an organization addressing women’s needs

NGOs serving women and girls always need donations and volunteers. For International Women’s Day, consider giving a monetary donation to a local, national, or international NGO working to protect women’s rights around the world. You can also consider volunteering at an organization! Many organizations need help with daily operations, fundraising campaigns and other activities. If you’re unable to volunteer in person, you can find virtual volunteer opportunities with many NGOs.

Here’s our article on 25 organizations fighting for women’s rights and gender equality.

The post 15 Ideas to Celebrate International Women’s Day appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Every March 8th, the world recognizes International Women’s Day. It’s a day to celebrate the accomplishments of women in areas like culture, politics, the economy, and society at large. Why does this matter? Here are ten reasons:

#1. Each year explores a theme

There are many topics related to women’s rights and gender equality, so it’s only fitting that each International Women’s Day (IWD) highlights a specific theme. 2022’s theme was “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow.” It focused on gender equality in the context of environmental and disaster risk reduction, as well as climate change. These issues affect everyone, but women are in more danger because they make up more of the world’s poorest communities. Focusing each IWD on a specific theme raises awareness of challenges like climate change.

#2. The day has a long history

Today, International Women’s Day is a global event focusing on women’s rights and gender equality, but it originated as part of the labor and voting rights movements. In 1910, Clara Zetkin, a German communist/socialist and women’s rights activist, proposed the idea of an international day at a conference. The 100 women present, who represented 17 countries, all agreed. The first International Women’s Day was celebrated in 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Switzerland, and Germany. It wasn’t until 1977 that the United Nations adopted March 8th as a global holiday. Understanding IWD’s origin helps us better hold to the spirit of the day: radical change.

You may also like: International Women’s Health and Human Rights (Online Course) offered by Stanford University

#3. It’s an opportunity to celebrate women’s accomplishments

History bursts with important events that have made the world a better place. Women have always played essential roles in the movements for voting rights, civil rights, LGBTQ+ rights, labor rights, children’s rights, and much more. They’ve also accomplished great things in every field, including medicine, science, literature, and politics. International Women’s Day is a great opportunity to recognize all these successes.

#4. The day highlights the work that remains to be done

While International Women’s Day celebrates how far women’s rights and gender equality have come, it’s also important to recognize what still needs to be done. According to the United Nations, women make up 70% of the world’s 1.3 billion people in poverty. Of those displaced by climate-related disasters, 80% are women and girls. The pandemic worsened things for women and girls, as well. A study published in The Lancet found that women experienced worse social and economic consequences than men. It will take a concentrated effort to reverse the effects.

#5. It’s an opportunity to raise funds for women’s issues

When International Women’s Day comes along, it’s a great opportunity to donate to respected organizations working for gender equality and women’s rights. There are many to choose from including international organizations like The Center for Reproductive Rights, Amnesty International, Save the Children, and Global Grassroots. Many local organizations and activists plan special campaigns for IWD, so check your local area if you want to donate or promote a fundraising event.

#6. It’s an opportunity for schools and organizations to provide education

While women’s rights and gender equality are always important topics to learn about, international days are opportunities for more focused education and awareness. By marking a specific day, there’s a concentrated influx of info and education that isn’t normally present. Schools can find resources online or host events, workshops, and other collaborations. Any organization can take advantage of IWD to focus on the women’s rights most relevant to their mission. For example, a clothing brand can provide education on the garment industry’s history of exploitation, as well as initiatives to improve the treatment of female workers.

#7. It’s an opportunity to check on corporations that claim to be progressive

Lots of corporations use the language of progress and the promise of gender equality for good branding. Many don’t follow through. International Women’s Day is a great day to check on corporations and see if they’re pursuing gender equality, whether it’s giving money toward causes or improving parity within their own organization. Many corporations make promises on IWD, so take note of any you see and commit to checking in later. Like governments, corporations should be held accountable for their women’s rights records.

#8. The day connects people from around the world

As the name says, International Women’s Day is about women from all around the world. IWD is a day to celebrate activists on a global level, raising awareness of their work and the challenges they face. It’s also a great opportunity to network and connect with people committed to gender equality. Thanks to social media, connection on an international level is much easier than in the past. Connections made because of IWD can lead to long-term collaboration, friendships, and financial support.

#9. It’s an opportunity to reflect on your own life

Our world has a long history of discrimination against women (which has intersectional implications), so anyone can have biases whether they know it or not. International Women’s Day provides an opportunity to reflect on your own beliefs and craft a personal action plan. Think about areas where you might be uneducated or where you might have biases involving gender, sexuality, race, and so on. Commit to being more aware of your actions and educate yourself through books, classes, or other resources.

#10. International Women’s Day is a call to action

IWD matters because at its core, it’s a rallying cry. Some may use it to promote a rose-colored view of the world, but it’s an essential reminder that progress doesn’t happen by accident. All the accomplishments and successes the world celebrates didn’t come easily, but they prove what’s possible. As a call to action, International Women’s Day tells us to look at where we’ve been, see how far we’ve come, and keep fighting for more.

The post 10 Reasons Why International Women’s Day Is Important appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Women Empowerment can be defined as a process by which women gain power and control over their own lives and choices. It is key to economic growth, political stability and social transformation. Empowered women are able to participate actively in political, social, economic and cultural decisions. Women empowerment is essential for human rights and it concerns all areas of life including Education, Health, Work, Economics and Politics. We have collected a list of women empowerment courses you can audit for free. You can also choose to obtain a verified certificate by one of the top universities offering the courses for an extra fee.

Women in Leadership: Inspiring Positive Change

This online course takes approximately 8 hours to complete and is offered by Case Western Reserve University. The course aims to empower women and men across the world to engage in purposeful career development and take on leadership for important causes. The course will equip you with skills and knowledge to lead change with more conviction and confidence to make your communities and workplaces a better environment for everyone. In this course you will unravel complex organizational dynamics, increase your self-knowledge and explore your own values and vision shaping your competencies as contributor, manager or leader.

International Women’s Health and Human Rights

This course is offered by Stanford University and takes roughly 64 hours to complete. It will explore women health issues through a human rights lens and investigate topics such as female genital mutilation, childbirth, domestic violence, women in war, sex trafficking and child marriage. In the first week of the course you will learn why women’s rights are human rights and how human rights can be applied to women’s issues. This action-oriented online course includes several assignments that will empower you to engage your own community to initiate change.

Feminism and Social Justice

This women empowerment course is offered by University of California Santa Cruz. It takes around 7 hours to complete. In this course you will learn what feminism is and how it became key to social change. Throughout this course you will learn about historic events and crucial moments in feminist history from the early 1960s until today. Together with your peers you will discuss some of the most pressing social justice issues of our time and explore ways forward for the feminist movement. The course is taught by the scholar-activist Bettina Aptheker who is well known for her activism and academic work in feminist studies.

Seeking Women’s Rights: Colonial Period to the Civil War

This online course will explore the history of women rights in the United States. In this course you will examine the customs, cultures, and ideologies that governed women’s lives in Colonial America and the early 19th Century. You will learn how women rose from slavery and injustice and about their fight for individual rights. This course takes roughly 30 hours to complete and is offered by Columbia University. This course is part of a series of courses that also includes Fighting for Equality: 1950-2018 and Wage Work for Women Citizens: 1870-1920.

Women Making History: Ten Objects, Many Stories

This Harvard University course will explore how American women created, confronted, and embraced change in the 20th century taking ten objects from Radcliffe’s Schlesinger Library as reference. The course explores crucial issues such as intersectionality, equality, inclusion and political participation. You will learn how ordinary people created change, what central role women played in American history and how objects can embody stories of change.

Confronting Gender Based Violence: Global Lessons for Healthcare Workers

The core curriculum of this course introduces participants to global perspectives on gender based violence, including the global epidemiology of gender based violence and the WHO Guidelines on responding to violence. You will learn about clinical best practices for prevention, support and management of gender based violence and you will be able to articulate challenges and strategies to confront gender based violence. A dedicated honors module explores specific scenarios such as gender based violence in humanitarian settings, during sex trafficking and against sex workers. The course takes 22 hours to complete and is offered by Johns Hopkins University.

Psychology of Political Activism: Women Changing the World

This course is offered by Smith College and explores what drives prominent women to be involved in activism. You will learn about the psychological theories why people stand up against injustice and what sparks the desire to create change. Throughout this course you will meet nine powerful women who engaged in efforts and movements in the United States from the 1960s to the 1990s. The movements include the LGBTQ movement, the reproductive justice movement and the civil rights movement. Together with your course participants you will debate how psychological theories can explain activists’ motivations and conclude where theories are or are not applicable to create new understandings and analyses.

Gender and Sexuality: Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace

This course is offered by the University of Pittsburgh and takes around 17 hours to complete. In this course you will learn to distinguish between the most important terms surrounding sex, gender, sexuality and explore how they relate to our workplaces. You will utilize a variety of interdisciplinary tools, concepts and methods to better understand and analyze how identity shapes our experiences in culture and in the workplace. This course will be helpful for any profession, for understanding the world around us and to confront gender based discrimination at the workplace.

Earn A Professional Certificate in Inclusive Leadership

The post 8 Women’s Empowerment Courses Available Online appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Every year on March 8th, the world recognizes International Women’s Day. It’s a day for celebrating the economic, social, cultural, and political accomplishments of women and for celebrating Women’s Rights. In 1911, over a million people from Austria, Germany, Denmark, and Switzerland celebrated the first International Women’s Day. Today, in addition to celebrating women’s achievements, IWD is an opportunity to call for gender equality and justice. Speeches are held at events around the world. How do you write a good speech for International Women’s Day? Here are seven tips and examples:

Tip #1: Know your audience

Before writing a speech, you want to know who your audience is and what they care about. Without this information, you may write something that doesn’t resonate. It may not be bad, but it may miss the mark. As an example, if you don’t know recent college graduates make up most of your audience, you may write a speech that fails to take into account their youth, their goals (like starting a career), their knowledge and experience of history, and so on. Your audience’s age is just one piece of information about them. In a 2019 article on Ideas.Ted.com, Briar Goldberg describes how audiences can be broken into three types: expert, novice, and mixed. If you’re speaking to an expert audience, you’ll rely on more complex arguments and terminology than if you were speaking to a novice audience. With mixed audiences, appealing to emotions is often the best choice.

At the 2020 International Finance Corporation’s celebration event for International Women’s Day, the CEO Philippe Le Houérou spoke to his audience’s interests by focusing on economics, numbers, and ways IFC is addressing gender inequality, saying:

“At IFC, we have developed a comprehensive approach to reducing gender inequality. We create partnerships to encourage the hiring of women and improve their working conditions. We help expand access to financial services for women. We invest in innovative technologies that expand choices for female consumers and employment. And we work with partners to provide business skills and leadership training to women entrepreneurs.”

Tip #2: Write a strong opening

A strong opening engages the listener and gives them a general roadmap of your speech. Depending on your speech’s context and audience, you can experiment with opening styles. If you’re speaking to a general audience, an anecdote is a great way to capture your listener’s attention and get them emotionally invested. If your audience consists of experts or academics, it might be best to keep your introduction as brief as possible (many speeches begin with thank yous), so you can spend more time on the speech’s main points.

Consider then-UN Women Deputy Executive Director Lakshmi Puri’s 2013 speech to the mostly-expert audience of the Open Society Foundation. Her topic was on the importance of girls’ education. After thanking the audience, she opened with strong, clear language to emphasize the speech’s main message:

“Your Excellencies, fellow panelists, ladies and gentlemen. I am honoured to be participating in this very important side event on the right to education in the post-2015 agenda. I sincerely thank the International Council for Adult Education, the Global Campaign for Education and all of the convening organizations for inviting me to speak today. UN Women considers that education is one of the greatest game-changers for women and girls around the world. It is both an enabler and force multiplier for women’s economic, political and social empowerment and gender equality.”

Tip #3: Include statistics to support your claims

When you’re writing a speech about issues like gender equality in education, healthcare, or the workplace, you want to give the audience specific information about the issue. Without key statistics, the audience won’t know how serious an issue is or what progress is being made. It isn’t enough to say that “many” girls don’t receive equal education compared to boys or that things are “improving.” What are the actual numbers? Sharing statistics also shows you did your research, which gives your words credibility.

You can also include data to show what specific organizations are doing and how they’re impacting gender equality. That’s what Michelle Obama did in her 2016 speech at the Let Girls Learn event that celebrated Women’s Day. She sprinkled facts through her speech on how Let Girls Learn was making a difference. Here’s an example:

“Folks of all ages and all walks of life are stepping up, as well. More than 1,600 people in nearly all 50 states have donated money to Let Girls Learn Peace Corps projects. Our #62MillionGirls hashtag was the number-one hashtag in the U.S., with people across the country talking about the power of education. And we’ll be launching the next phase of this social media campaign next week at South by Southwest.”

Tip #4: Strike the right tone

How do you want to present yourself? What kinds of emotions do you want to stir in your audience? These types of questions help you identify the appropriate tone for your speech. This is another reason why knowing your audience matters. When you’re speaking to a group of seasoned experts in a formal setting, your tone will likely sound more analytical and logical. If you were speaking in a more casual environment to a group unfamiliar with your subject, you’ll probably want to adopt a more personal, conversational style. If you want to provoke emotions in your listeners and get them to care, stories are very effective. If your goal is to inform and educate, it’s wise to rely on facts and stats.

Tracee Ellis Ross’ 2018 TED Talk on women’s anger is a great example of a speech with a tone that fits the speech’s context. She’s speaking to a mixed-gender audience in a non-academic setting. Because the topic she’s covering is personal, she uses a conversational, almost intimate style that switches between the first and second person. She addresses both the women and men in the audience, but keeps the women centered. Here’s an example toward the end of the speech:

“Our culture is shifting, and it’s time. So my fellow women and our gentle men, as we are here together within this particular window of this large-scale movement towards women’s equality, and as we envision a future that does not yet exist, we both have different invitations.”

Tip #5: Pay attention to structure

At their most basic, speeches consist of an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. Each section serves an important purpose. The introduction establishes your credibility, the speech’s tone, and its goals. The body, which is the main part of the speech, fills in the points you want to cover using statistics, stories, or other forms of evidence. The conclusion wraps everything up and emphasizes what you want your audience to remember. Unlike something that’s written, your audience can’t look back to find their way if they get lost, so as you move through the three sections, you want things to be as clear and simple as possible.

In 2021, Srishti Baksh gave a TedTalk relating her 2,300-mile walk journey across India where she held driving workshops to empower women’s ability to move across the country. She uses a simple structure that opens with the story of the first time she went to a movie alone with her friends at age 14. She was assaulted in the theater. She then zooms out, describing how there are 600 million women in India, but women rarely go outside because they’re not safe. In the body of her speech, she zooms back in to talk about her walking journey, the women she met, the empowering and terrifying things she witnessed, and how she joined forces with another woman to create a movement that trains female drivers. She concludes with a clear message:

“By rethinking mobility for women, giving them a safe transport and safety outside of home, it is our hope to transform our culture. Apart from having a profound impact on the Indian economy, this is about something much bigger. As you all know, when we move, we can be seen. The more women see other women in public spaces, the more safe, independent and empowered each one of us will be. So. If we can learn how to walk, certainly we can learn how to fly.”

Tip #6: Use repetition to your advantage

How do you make sure your audience gets the point of your speech? How do you make your speech – which might be one of many speeches the audience sits through – memorable? Repetition. You want to repeat your main point throughout your speech. It’s a good idea to include it at least three times: in the introduction, the body, and the conclusion. There are other types of repetition that make your speech memorable, too. Repetition can include keywords, phrases, and even the sounds of words. Repetition looks different depending on what kind of speech you’re giving. If you’re giving an emotion-driven speech, frequent repetition of the same words/phrases adds to the emotional punch. For informational or educational speeches where powerful emotions aren’t necessarily appropriate, use different words/phrases to repeat the main point.

For an example of good repetition in a speech, let’s look at Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw’s 2016 Keynote at Women of the World. From a word search, it’s clear what the speech is about. Together, the words “intersectionality” and “intersectional” appear 42 times. Repetition is found within sentences and paragraphs, too:

“There are multiple forms of intersectionality. I could talk about a lot of them, but the kind of intersectionality that I most want to talk about is the intersectionality around politics – political intersectionality.”

“So the question we have to ask is, what can we each do about it? We’ve been saying the first thing you can do about it is say her name. Do not allow her death to happen in silence. Do not allow their children, their loved ones to grieve for them in silence. Do not allow, do not affirm the belief that their lives are insignificant.”

Tip #7: Ask rhetorical questions

Do you want to increase audience engagement? Ask rhetorical questions. When you ask a question, your audience is forced to think more deeply about your words. They’re more likely to listen more closely, as well, since the information that follows a question will provide more context. You can use rhetorical questions in a few ways. You can anticipate a question your audience might have, set up an important point, or even encourage an emotional response. Even though audience members won’t shout out an answer (unless you encourage them to do so), asking questions makes your speech feel more interactive and engaging.

Let’s look at a 2003 speech by Maxine Waters at the National Youth Summit. While it isn’t directly about women’s rights, it serves as a great example of how to use questions in a speech. Right from the beginning, it’s clear this speech is going to be interactive. She says good morning to the audience and then prompts them to answer her. Through the speech, Waters asks many questions (some rhetorical, some direct), all of which make the speech engaging even through a transcript:

“Who makes up this jury? [Waters is discussing a trial involving a White cop and a Black teenager that ended in a hung jury and mistrial] A lot of people were very, very concerned because there was only one black person on the jury. The city of Inglewood is majority minority, and majority African-American. How could this have happened? How could you get a jury with only one black, in a case where the defendants are African-American, in a city where it is majority minority and mostly black? How could this happen?”

The post Writing A Women’s Day Speech: 7 Tips and Examples appeared first on Human Rights Careers.