In the run up to International Women’s Day, Walsall Healthcare staff are holding an event to celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of gender equality.

The day itself falls this Sunday 8 March and takes the theme “I am Generation Equality: Realising Women’s Rights.” The annual recognition emerged as a political celebration to symbolise the fight of women from all over the world for their rights, full equality with men, democracy and peace.

Staff and visitors to Walsall Manor Hospital will be able to get involved on an event this Friday 6 March as between 10am and 1pm there will be a number of opportunities on offer in the main atrium.

• Walsall College student beauticians will be coming in to do taster beauty sessions for Walsall Healthcare staff which will include a nail shape and arm and hand massage.
• Walsall College will be publicising the range of courses available
• There will be a cake stall with a donation made to Walsall Healthcare’s Well Wishers charity which buys items above and beyond what the NHS can provide
• To promote International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife colleagues from the Professional Development Unit will have a stall to promote awareness of the Trainee Associate Role and to highlight the importance of the nursing profession and benefits
• A Well Wishers charity stand will be set up

Sabrina Richards, Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust’s Talent, Inclusion and Resourcing Lead said: “The theme for 2020 is aligned with the United Nation’s Women’s new multigenerational campaign, Generation Equality, which marks the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Adopted in 1995 at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China, the Beijing Platform for Action is recognised as the most progressive roadmap for the empowerment of women and girls, everywhere.

“The year 2020 is a pivotal year for advancing gender equality worldwide, as the global community takes stock of progress made for women’s rights since the adoption of the Beijing Platform for Action. The emerging global consensus is that despite some progress, real change has been agonisingly slow for the majority of women and girls in the world. Today, not a single country can claim to have achieved gender equality. Multiple obstacles remain unchanged in law and in culture. Women and girls continue to be undervalued; they work more and earn less and have fewer choices; and experience multiple forms of violence at home and in public spaces.

“Here in Walsall we want to celebrate women’s achievements as well as work in partnership to continue to bring about meaningful change and we look forward to welcoming our own staff and members of the public to Friday’s event.”

Walsall for All is also hosting an event to celebrate International Women’s Day called Raising Her Voice – celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.  The free event takes place on Friday 13 March. Register here https://bit.ly/2wmwuyv