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The Fight for Women's Rights Continues Worldwide

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“If there is one message that echoes forth from this conference, let it be that human rights are women’s rights and women’s rights are human rights once and for all. Let us not forget that among those rights are the right to speak freely—and the right to be heard.” Those words first entered the international conscience 20 years ago, as Hillary Clinton, then First Lady of the United States, spoke at the fourth annual United Nations World Conference on Women in Beijing. The issues of that conference, the progress made since then and the road we still must travel have been the focus of this year’s International Women’s Day March 8, Women’s History Month and the 59th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. Efforts, events and initiatives will continue throughout 2015.

Observations like these commemorate women’s achievements throughout history and the ongoing struggle for gender equality. They also serve each year to shine a spotlight on women’s accomplishments and reflect on the progress women worldwide have made—and still must make. As the United Nations observes Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (also known as Beijing+20), this year’s International Women’s Day theme is #MakeItHappen. Make what happen? Aren’t women equal?

Not quite.

The Global Gender Gap Report, an index last released in November 2014, tracks gender inequalities in economics, politics, education and health in 142 countries. While inequalities in health and education are shrinking dramatically worldwide and eliminated in many countries, there is still work to be done—and economic participation and political empowerment are still dramatically unequal worldwide and in most countries. Some countries have made great strides in recent decades toward gender equality—a move that helps not only women, but the country as a whole, as countries with empowered women who are able to realize their full potential are most successful on the international stage.

It’s also worth noting that, despite recent advancements, not one country has reached total gender equality.

Sometimes, it’s even worse. Women and girls around the world continue to face threats including domestic partner violence, female genital mutilation, sex trafficking, barriers to education and lack of health care or birth control.

In spite of performing about 60 percent of the labor worldwide, women often receive a fraction of the wages that men do—not nearly enough to support families.

One in three women will be physically or sexually assaulted in her lifetime.

Even as the United States celebrated Women’s Equality Day Aug. 26, marking 95 years since women in the country won the right to vote, women in the country still make up only 20 to 25 percent of elected officials at the state and federal level—despite turning out to vote at rates much higher than men. The U.S. Supreme Court, at its highest female representation ever, still only boasts three women to six men.

It’s not all bad. Women are, and always have been, crucial players in developement of societies and economies. Women are starting businesses at greater rates than men in recent years, often funded by other women investors. Women are holding political office more than ever before. The number of women in the United States Congress has nearly tripled in that time, though they still make up only 20 percent.

Perhaps most encouragingly, more people are getting on board. Women and men around the world are realizing that the struggle for equality is a cause that helps us all.

Feminism and women’s issues overlap other serious concerns like labor organization, education, environmental conservation, world hunger and poverty.

President Barack Obama said, in his 2014 State of the Union Address, “Of course, nothing helps families make ends meet like higher wages. That’s why this Congress still needs to pass a law that makes sure a woman is paid the same as a man for doing the same work. Really. It’s 2015. It’s time.”

Leaders, activists and citizens from around the world can make it happen—from petitioning world leaders to take action on women’s issues, to starting and investing in women’s business, to taking a critical look at gender relations and the way they talk in their everyday lives—through steps big and small, political and personal, familial and financial.

Whether you’re leading an event or march, joining one of the hundreds of celebrations around the world or fighting for equality in your community and home, we can do this. It’s 2015. It’s time. Get out there and make it happen. ----- International Women’s Day: The discussion and movement continues! Learn more about 2015 initiatives and events around the world. Facebook Twitter Use the hashtag #MakeItHappen

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3rd Annual WIIW Summit hits Phoenix

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3rd Annual WIIW Summit hits Phoenix
3rd Annual WIIW Summit hits Phoenix

Entrepreneurs, business professionals and students met at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication Feb. 20 and 21 to learn from a power-packed lineup of business and media experts, to network with leading executive men and women and to become part of a global economic revolution geared toward women and girls at the Third Annual Phoenix Women Investing in Women Summit. Our founder, Anu Bhardwaj, noted that it was “the largest Women Investing in Women Summit after having expanding our Global WIIW Summit Series across North America, Asia, Europe and Africa over the past 12 months. In the true spirit of Women Investing in Women, we are extremely thrilled that a large portion of our revenues will be supporting the official launch of The State of Women Radio Network, the “Women Investing in Women and Girls” radio show, and the Girls Rule Foundation.

A large portion of the summit's revenues went toward supporting WIIW's “Women Investing in Women and Girls” radio show, as well as the Girls Rule Foundation, an Arizona-based nonprofit organization dedicated to educating and empowering girls ages 12 to 18.

3rd Annual WIIW Summit hits Phoenix
3rd Annual WIIW Summit hits Phoenix

Aspiring and established entrepreneurs alike learned from business, technology and media experts; who spoke on topics including crowdfunding, negotiating, managing finances as a small business, educating girls in STEM fields, the Girl Scouts' amazing business model, international business and philanthropy, the LGBT community and more. Through talks, presentations, breakout sessions and networking; entrepreneurs and professional women of all interests and experience levels came out of the summit enriched and invigorated with new contacts, expertise and inspiration.

3rd Annual WIIW Summit hits Phoenix
3rd Annual WIIW Summit hits Phoenix

Seed Spot, a nonprofit incubator focused on social entrepreneurship, hosted a pitching session at the summit. Founder Courtney Klein discussed pitching and the importance of building a community of mutually supportive entrepreneurs. With hundreds of alumni who have raised $1.7 million in capital and created 160 new jobs, she made a strong case. The incubator and office space boasts a network of over 350 mentors and runs a four-month program twice a year to assist new entrepreneurs.

We were especially excited to feature our inaugural WIIW Phoenix Private Equity Roundtable, especially focused on helping local women investors understand due-diligence as it pertains to making angel, venture capital, and private equity investments. As a women-focused private equity roundtable it offered a unique and often unexplored perspective.

Guests were also able to treat themselves. Mini-headshot sessions hosted by Get Image Ready helped interested attendees add professional and eye-catching flair to their professional profiles on social media and other business networking channels. Guests received tips on putting a good face forward in business and beauty, as well as hair and makeup touchup and a finished digital image.

3rd Annual WIIW Summit hits Phoenix
3rd Annual WIIW Summit hits Phoenix

The summit also hosted a “Pink Carpet Reception” sponsored by Get Image Ready to celebrate the launch of international bestselling book “Success in Beauty.” as part of a launch party to benefit the Girls Rule Foundation. The party featured a panel discussion and book signing by six local co-authors; event photography by Style Image Studios’ Stella Crowl, voted Best of Our Valley by Arizona Foothills Magazine and swag by local dessert and beauty vendors. Special presenters included:

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