U.S President Joe Biden on Tuesday, said that he would request for 2.6 billion dollars for from Congress for foreign aid programmes that promoted gender equality worldwide, more than double the size of 2021 request.
Biden announced his intentions in his message to celebrate the 2022 International Women’s Day (IWD) which was set aside to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women around the world.
The U.S. leader created the first-ever White House Gender Policy Council on IWD in 2021, to help promote gender equity throughout the administration.
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He said everyone deserved to live up to their “God-given” potential, regardless of gender, and that societies performed better when women and girls were allowed to prosper.
“Ensuring that every woman and girl has that chance isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s also a strategic imperative that advances the prosperity, stability, and security of our nation and the world.
“Yet too often, in too many places, women and girls face obstacles that limit their possibilities and undermine their participation in economic, political, and social life,’’ he said in a statement.
According to him, these barriers have been exposed and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which disproportionately affected women’s labor force participation, elevated the burden on both paid and unpaid caregivers, and increased the incidence of gender-based violence.
Similarly, in a statement by the First Lady, Jill Biden, she paid tributes to women throughout the world “who courageously used their voices, no matter the cost.”
“To our sisters from Ukraine who are fighting to keep their country free and their families alive: We stand with you in solidarity.
“To our sisters in Russia who are protesting and speaking out against the invasion at great personal risk: We see your courage.
“And to women warriors around the world, those fighting for justice and working for change: Thank you for building a better future for all of us,” she said.
The first lady said from soft lullabies to battle cries for justice, women nurse and nurture, teach and build, lead and dream our world forward each and every day.
“Women have never been silent, but women have been silenced. That’s because our voices are powerful.
“When we raise them, we can tear down injustice, topple tyrants and demagogues and shatter the shields of oppression,’’ she said. (NAN)
