March 8, International Women's Day

Our Community

March 8, International Women's Day

"Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow"

At March 8 is International Women's Day and, more than a celebration, it is a day that makes us pause to reflect on the contribution that we women of all ages, in every part of the world and in every field, are making to the transformation of the world.

This date, which has sparked great movements around the planet, began as a cry of protest against the precarious working conditions to which women in the United States were subjected.

Today this struggle of more than a hundred years continues. We have won great battles, such as the right to vote, to education, and to decide freely on family planning, and we see more women in important positions, not only in the workplace but also in social, political, cultural, and economic life. However, we still have ground to break on issues such as discrimination, harassment, equitable wages and salaries, and equal job opportunities.

The progress we women have made in trades and professions that were previously seen as only for men has been slow but steady. There is still a way to go; however, we increasingly see more women leading projects or taking part in matters once regarded as men's.

This date has served to unify and strengthen our fundamental rights, and this year the UN theme for the commemoration of International Women's Day is "Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow," placing us, women and girls alike, at the transformative center of generating sustainable actions for climate mitigation and adaptation. We must have a voice and make ourselves heard.

"To achieve sustainable development and greater gender equality, it is essential to continue examining the opportunities, as well as the constraints, to empower women and girls to have a voice and be equal players in decision-making related to climate change" - UN

Today, we women participate actively and make clear the need to keep gaining ground. Our participation is fundamental to reclaiming the path toward a more sustainable and equitable future.

Women and the countryside

Soccer players, filmmakers, politicians, writers, scientists… we keep moving forward.

One sector where we clearly see women's empowerment is the countryside and agricultural activities. As an example, over the last 15 years the number of women graduating as agricultural engineers has increased by 32%, and today 1 in 2 agricultural engineers is a woman.

Today the participation of rural women in this sector is growing. They represent 43% of the agricultural workforce and 15% of all the country's producers, making them a key part of food production and the sustainable care of the land. In many cases, they are the ones who have to take the reins of the family business, becoming the head of their families. However, there are still rural women who receive no income for their work, since it is perceived only as unpaid "family help."

At Aguas Firmes we could not imagine carrying out this project without the active participation of great women leaders.

We are also very fortunate to be able to count on the tireless and committed work of women agricultural engineers, biologists, civil engineers, economists, and implementers, whose work immeasurably enriches the actions in favor of our communities.

On this day we commemorate the struggle of all of us.