Throughout history, women have played a fundamental role in the progress of human civilization and social development in all the countries of the world. To promote greater understanding, awareness, and commitment to the promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment, International Women’s Day, also known as United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace, is celebrated on March 8 annually. The 2013 theme is “The Gender Agenda: Gaining Momentum.”

Most of the world’s more than one billion poor are women. On the average, women receive between 30 and 40 percent less pay than men earn for the same work. Defenders of women’s and human rights who work on issues related to economic, social, and cultural rights as well as civil and political rights are also targeted.

Despite the many challenges, the 20th century gave birth to many successful women who made a significant impact to change their country’s political and social climate, help women to think with a broader perspective, acquire great humanitarian commitment to the plight of women, and become symbols of women’s strength in a prevalently male dominated society.

Today in the 21st century, women speak out in order to protect their rights. They harness their strengths as mothers, wives, daughters, friends, teachers, political and humanitarian figures, following the path by women who have already made an enormous change in their countries and remain as the archtypes in history.

We congratulate the United Nations headed by Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet, Commission on the Status of Women Chairman Garen Nazarian, United Nations Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay, United Nations Economic and Social Council President Nestor Osorio Londono, other leaders around the world for their efforts to bring about a radical and historical change in the lives of women. CONGRATULATIONS AND MABUHAY!