Today is the 100th anniversary of the celebration of International Women’s Day and we at Change.org are excited to be part of a worldwide movement to uplift, honor, and improve the lives of women and girls around the globe. You’ve probably already seen the shiny purple and white logo we’ve placed on the front page to mark the occasion. You’ll also find this logo on petitions that directly improve the lives of women and girls, in the United States and in countries around the world.
You’ll notice, however, that the actions sporting this nifty logo are featured across all sections of the site rather than being tucked neatly into the “Women’s Rights” cause. That’s because, very simply, women are half the population impacted by every injustice we seek to right and must be half of every single solution.
That’s why we at Change.org are proud to live the sentiment, today and every day, that women’s rights are human rights. Our collective humanity is tied up in enacting solutions that empower the half of the population that, while often the most marginalized, also encompasses the largest untapped pool of talent in the world.
Today, as we take a moment to look back and celebrate the past 100 years of achievement for women and girls, we must also look forward to the next 100 years. We’ve partnered with many nonprofits working on doing just that: from demanding a place for women in peace negotiations to rallying the real “Mama Grizzlies” in support of the environment, these groups are focusing on empowering women to make changes in their communities.
Below, you’ll find some brief highlights of campaigns from across the site, as well as a full list of all campaigns related to International Women’s Day. And, if you don’t see a campaign around a topic you care about, why not start a petition about it?
Insist Afghan women be allowed a voice in peace negotiations. Afghan women and girls have suffered the consequences of war with their fellow countrymen and become the targets of traffickers and warlords. Once promised equality and a better life, Afghan women have now been denied a voice in the future of their homeland. Tell Secretary of State Hillary Clinton she must intervene of behalf of Afghan women and they be given a seat at the peace table.
Demand Congress stop hurting women and children. Under the guise of “balancing the budget,” the United States Congress is bargaining away the rights of poor women, pregnant women, children and infants. Tell your representative that cutting funds for family planning, WIC programs that ensure children have healthy food, and Head Start education isn’t good money sense – it’s playing politics with women and children’s health and lives.
Stand in solidarity with the real ‘Mama Grizzly.’ While the majestic mother bear has been pinned as the political symbol of ultra-conservative women as of late, the folks at The Wilderness Society have decided it’s high time the Mama Grizzly be returned to her rightful place of honor. A real Mama Grizzly defends the world’s natural treasures, treads lightly on the earth, and inspires others to do the same. Take the Real Mama Grizzly pledge today!
Hold the US Armed Forces accountable for sexual assault. Women make up 20% of the armed forces serving to protect and defend the United States of America. 1 in 3 of these women will be raped or sexually assaulted while serving her country. These women receive little support from their Commanders and perpetrators often get a slap on the wrist, which breeds a culture of tolerance for sexual violence. Tell Congress to hold the Armed Forces accountable for eliminating rape from the ranks.
That’s just a sampling of our great campaigns that embody the spirit and promise of International Women’s Day. Here are even more actions you can take to stand up for women, girls, and the world:
- Tell Congress Women Deserve Equal Pay
- Support Compassion in the Middle East – Sign the Humanitarian Pledge
- Invest in Adolescent Girls Around the World
- Stop Anti-Choice Efforts to Eliminate Family Planning Funding
- Rape Victims Are Not “Accusers”
- Bring Zero Tolerance for Sex Slavery in Arizona
- Tell Congress to Vote No on Bills That Attack the Right to Choose
- Demand Insurance Company Pay Lesbian Arson Victims
- Let Nikki Peet Start a Gay Straight Alliance in Corpus Christi, Texas
- South Africa: Declare “Corrective Rape” A Hate Crime
- FTD: Offer Fair Trade Flowers that Aren’t Picked By Exploited Workers
- Tell Universal Music and Kanye West Eroticized Violence Against Women is Unacceptable
- Demand Jail Time for Heat Death of 17 Year Old Maria Isabel
- Demand Alabama Publicly Apologize for Failure to Address Jim Crow Era Gang Rape
Great blog and actrions listed, why isn’t this one which is specifically about the topic?:
http://www.change.org/petitions/100th-intl-womens-day-womens-history-mth?share_id=GZqvHPdnbh&pe=pce
Thanx for all you do.
jmn
Take action on International Women’s Day to Bring Our War $$ Home! Sign our petition on Change.org here –> http://bit.ly/hLVrEf
I’m reading these petitions, and see such a need for most of them. But then I read about Mama Grizzly and I just have to ask why dilute the importance of these other issues with something almost comical.
The Wilderness society and their charge to put the Mama Grizzly in a place of honor does not compare to the plight of women and children and should not earn a place on this list.
Why is it that the police trek free poeple ever day but. When a child or loved one comes up missing they have no time to help.the people should stand up and make the police do the job they are getting payed for we all no who is mostly doing the trafficing you can get ahold of me at this wab I also thank that poeple should do aset down in washington DC about the conduct of the action of the law
The website of change.org covers many causes, except men’s rights. Is that because you think that it is not worth having a men’s rights section if there are few rights and many obligations to be had for men? Still, that would make it an important men’s issue, perhaps somewhat more important than all of the others you pay attention to.
Great post! Go International Women’s Day! We need to improve the lives of women and girls, in the all countries around the world.