Today, the world marked International Women’s Day (IWD)!

This year’s campaign calls on us to embrace equity within our own spheres of influence, such as on social media with the hashtag #EmbraceEquity.

This day calls to action accelerating gender parity and celebrating progress.

According to the World Health Organization, it is estimated that one in three women will experience some kind of physical or sexual abuse in her lifetime. 181 million girls and young women are not in education, employment, or training. But perhaps even more importantly, the day marks a reminder of all the work that still needs to be done. 

As the IWD organizers state: “Equity isn't just a nice-to-have, it's a must-have. A focus on gender equity needs to be part of every society's DNA. And it's critical to understand the difference between equity and equality. The aim of the IWD 2023 #EmbraceEquity campaign theme is to get the world talking about why equal opportunities aren't enough. People start from different places, so true inclusion and belonging require equitable action.”

To read more about the #EmbraceEquity campaign, including a way for you to participate online by sharing a photo of embrace, please click this link.

Nurses have for years recognized the core tenet of equity, which is that each person has different circumstances, and that it’s important to allocate the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome. In other words, people don’t all start out in the same spot and some have way more hurdles to overcome.