World marks International Women's day by honoring women — and pledging to improve their status

[babylonsister]

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/03/08/europe/EU-GEN-International-Womens-Day.php

World marks International Women's day by honoring women — and pledging to improve their status
The Associated Press


BRUSSELS, Belgium: German Chancellor Angela Merkel — the first woman in more than 20 years to chair a European Union summit — marked International Women's Day by calling Thursday for gender equality.

Merkel, opening a photo exhibition of prominent women, said Europe cannot remain content with the position of women in the society. "Something must change," she said, noting that women are underrepresented in top positions in politics, science and economy.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair said more needs to be done to close the pay gap between men and women. And while the situation for women has improved in Britain, women in many other countries still are not treated as equals to men.

"Things are not so great ... for all sorts of reasons — cultural, traditional and historic," he said in London. "There are real problems for women in getting equality and to fulfill their potential in the way they wish to do so."

In Bangladesh, men — celebrities, athletes, students — vowed to fight the disfiguring and often deadly practice of attacking women with acid as a means of punishment.

In Mumbai, India, a company launched a new taxi service for women with female cabbies at the wheel, and in Vietnam, men bought their wives and girlfriends bouquets, turning Thursday into the communist nation's version of Valentine's Day.

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[VelmaD]

1. kick

Why am I not surprised that a post about International Women's Day is sinking like a stone.

[emcguffie]

2. It is being webcast...

It is being webcast live, and will also be archived, at www.un.org/webcast. Requires Realplayer.

What is taking place: A panel discussion on ending impunity for violence against women and girls, there are several men in the panel, representing men's groups -- 100 Black Men, from NYC, and the White Ribbon Campaign -- both organizations formed to work to end violence against women.

And law enforcement people...