ZERO DISCRIMINATION FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS
Since 2014, March 1st has been recognized by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) as Zero Discrimination Day, which is now represented by a sub-division: UNAIDS. Since 1996, UNAIDS’ objective has been to fight the AIDS epidemic. Given past measures taken in response to health issues, UNAIDS aims to work to promote the ways to counter discrimination. This is why this year’s theme is ZERO DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS.
Inequality is growing for more than 70% of the global population, exacerbating the risk of division and hampering economic and social development. And COVID-19 is hitting the most vulnerable people the hardest—even as new vaccines against COVID-19 are becoming available, there is great inequality in accessing them. Many have equated this to vaccine apartheid.[1]
Inequalities are still very much present for women and girls around the world. Discrimination must be addressed primarily to counter these inequalities. They can affect the health, security and justice of some human beings. It is necessary to denounce through stories in order to change society. UNAIDS states that
Tackling inequality is not a new commitment—in 2015, all countries pledged to reduce inequality within and between countries as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. But it is not yet one that the world has delivered on.[2]
In short, we must continue to promote human rights with the goal of economic stability so that women and girls around the world have access to the resources they need, especially in times of pandemic.