THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2020

The International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated on the 8th of March every year around the World. Various events take place on this day to commemorate the economic, political and social achievements of women. Governments, Civil Society Organizations, Development Partners, Women’s Groups, Corporations and the Media celebrate the day. In Kenya, the State Department for Gender (SDfG) is charged with the responsibility of coordinating the national IWD celebrations. The United Nations declares the theme for the International Women’s Day on yearly basis and the 2020 Global theme is ‘I am generation Equality, realizing women’s rights’.

In Kenya, like in all UN Member Countries, the International Women’s Day is celebrated in recognition of the contributions and the distinct roles women play in the development process of the nation. Women from different ethnic, cultural, socio-economic and political backgrounds come together every year to observe this day. The main focus of the session will be on the review and appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

The International Women’s Day 2020 will be celebrated in two fold. First, on the 8th March 2020, H.E the First Lady of the Republic of Kenya Mrs. Margaret Kenyatta will host the Beyond Zero Marathon, which the Ministry will participate. Secondly, on 24th March 2020, celebrations will be held at the Kenyatta International Conference center at the Amphitheater with a target of 800 participants.

The overall objective is to commemorate the economic, political and social achievements of women and girls in the country. The Specific objectives are as follows;

  1. Participate and support the First Lady’s marathon towards the Beyond Zero Campaign scheduled for 8th March 2010;
  2. Graduate the first co-hort as part implementation of the the Women in Leadership curriculum launched during the IWD 2019;
  • Celebrate women from across the country who have excelled in various respects and contrbuted to gender equality and women’s empowerment through the Annual Trailblazers Awards and Recognition Programme;
  1. Launch the State Department’s publications namely: The National Policy on Gender and Development; The Women Economic Empowerment Strategy; The Second Kenya National Action Plan on UNSCR 1325 and The Gender Mainstreaming Guidelines.