March 8 marks International Women's Day — a day to put women, women's rights, and equality on the global agenda. The 2011 theme for International Women's Day is:

Equal access to education, training and science and technology: The pathway to decent work for women.

Young women often face challenges to accessing education, training, and opportunities in the fields of science and technology. Gender inequities, gender-based violence, traditional harmful practices, unwanted pregnancy, adolescent maternal mortality, and vulnerability to Sexually Transmitted Infections, including HIV, make it even harder for young women to compete with men in the global marketplace. However, youth activists from all over the world are working together to achieve gender equality and to fight for young women's sexual and reproductive health and rights.

March 8th provides an opportunity to pay tribute to the progress that has been made towards achieving equal rights for women as well as draw attention to persisting inequities and threats to women's health, especially young women.

Join Amplify and submit your post for our International's Women's Day Blogathon, which starts today and ends this Saturday, March 12.

 

Also, please visit our International Women's Day page to learn more about other ways to get involved!

 

But don't stop there — you can also use this opportunity to tell Congress to support funding for international family planning. The House of Representatives recently passed a "continuing resolution" which included devastating cuts to international family planning. As the Senate debates this measure, it is important that we raise our voices in support of the highest funding levels possible for international family planning assistance. If you are a U.S. citizen, contact your Senators today! If not, you can still do your part by signing our petition. Investing in international family planning is smart, cost-effective, and will help millions of young women around the world by providing greater access to reproductive health services and contraception.

We hope that you'll help us celebrate International Women's Day by publishing a blog post on Amplify! Here are some questions to help you think about what you might want to write.

• What is it like for young women in your country when it comes to getting an education, accessing training, or pursuing work in science and technology?
• How is this influenced by their sexual and reproductive health and rights?
• How accessible are family planning services and access to contraception for young women in your community?
• What do you see as priorities for advancing young women's rights in your country?
• How can young women be sustainable agents of change in your community?
• Who are young women leaders in your community that represent the progress you envision for our future?

We look forward to all of your posts!