Australian Red Cross celebrates International Women's Day to recognise the achievements of women, while also drawing awareness to the ongoing challenges of gender inequality.
Despite progress over the last century, on International Women's Day, women will still suffer sexual assault, domestic violence, discrimination and low status in communities. In war, women will be raped, families will be shattered and displaced persons camps will be filled with a majority of women and children.
Red Cross works with the most disadvantaged people, in their most vulnerable times and in the most disadvantaged places. We recognise the vast inequalities women can still face, and are working to help women achieve healthier, safer, and more sustainable lives.
This means we are improving access to education, clean water and sanitation, addressing gender-based violence, food security and public health issues.
In many communities, women and girls have the responsibility of collecting water for their families, sometimes trekking for hours. We help to bring water to villages, meaning women, girls and the whole community can access it safely, close to home and have time to focus on other important tasks.
Read more about our international programs.
When women go into labour in the villages around coastal Cambodia, there is often no way to reach the nearest health centre in time. Touch Monya gave birth to her son Lempo at home, in the middle of the night. To help, Red Cross has teamed up with local authorities to train volunteers from each community in health and hygiene. These volunteers also keep records about illnesses in their village and give out information about sanitation, hygiene, water and mosquito-borne diseases, and the immunisation services in health centres.
Read more about our programs in Cambodia.
How else can I help?
Photos: Australian Red Cross/Joe Cropp, Australian Red Cross/Joe Cropp, Australian Red Cross/Vandy Rattana.