March 8 commemorated International Women’s Day: a day to celebrate the accomplishments of women and advocate for gender equality.

As a participant and speaker, I was honoured to be among such phenomenal women from a variety of backgrounds.

The women there had not restricted themselves to the gender roles and standards set by society, but had worked towards becoming role models for young women and breaking barriers in all areas.

The speeches highlighted the personal achievements of these women in several areas while also addressing their vision for gender equality in 2030.

Many of the speeches stressed the importance of the wage gap and unequal opportunities in the workforce. This problem persists to this day — women are not paid equally to men although they may have the same qualifications and do the same work.

It is essential to give women the same opportunities as men, and not impose gender roles on them, but rather allow them to pursue their ambitions in whatever field they choose.

Furthermore, in the spirit of internationalism, speakers addressed the violence towards women around the world and called for an end to sexual harassment, sexual violence, and the objectification of women. They called for a future where women are safe and no longer have to encounter such violence.

Through international advocacy for women, we can all achieve equality despite our race, nationality and gender.