Women enjoyed a network of their peers at the recently celebrated annual International Woman’s Day, an ongoing event honoring and recognizing women since the early 1900s.

“Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate their achievements. While there are many large-scale initiatives, a rich and diverse fabric of local activity connects women from all around the world ranging from political rallies, business conferences, government activities and networking events through to local women’s craft markets, theatric performances, fashion parades and more.”

While millions of women exercise their freedom and celebrate achievement in business, academia, and industry, millions  more  still suffer from the most basic of indignities, still denied basic civil rights and freedoms.

“The World Health Organization notes that one in five women is a victim of sexual violence by the age of 15, and that half a million women die each year from complications of pregnancy and childbirth — a number that has barely changed in 20 years.
[...]
From MADRE, the women’s human rights organization, comes a report on the rise of gender-based violence against women in Iraq — assaults by islamists, honor-killings by relatives, torture in detention, rapes of Sunnis by Shia and vice versa, and more… And from a coalition…called Women Can’t Wait comes a paper slamming the major international anti-AIDS agencies for ignoring the role played by violence against women in spreading the virus.”

Defeating the inequities and brutalities of women still oppressed by anachronistic religions and institutions rests on the shoulders of a network of peers within the ranks of those women who have gained power and success and purposefully use such to advance the lives of the women left behind.