International Women’s Day is Today, March 8. On this day as every day, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) will celebrate women and girls’ remarkable potential, inherent worth and vital contributions to their communities. At the same time, they will recognize that millions of women and girls still confront threats to their safety, their health, their livelihoods and their dignity on a daily basis.
The IRC’s Wake Up campaign, which launched yesterday at Rescue.org/wakeup, is a platform for education and action on these issues. Visitors can read stories of real women facing crisis – like Fatuma, whose daughter was assaulted on the daily trek for clean water in Somalia; Francine, who is working to overcome the wounds of sexual slavery in Congo; and Angele, a Cameroonian asylee who is slowly rebuilding her life in the United States – and then take action to help. When supporters sign our pledge to spread the word, they will provide them with a toolkit of quick, easy and inspiring ways to raise awareness about the challenges women and girls face every day and the simple solutions that help them survive and thrive despite the odds.
IRC Voice and “The Walking Dead” star Sarah Wayne Callies, along with actresses Téa Leoni, Alyssa Milano and Morena Baccarin, have already signed the pledge.
About the International Rescue Committee: A global leader in humanitarian assistance, the International Rescue Committee works in more than 40 countries offering help and hope to refugees and others impacted by violent conflict and disaster. During crises, IRC teams provide health care, shelter, clean water, sanitation, learning programs for children and special aid for women. As emergencies subside, the IRC stays to revive livelihoods and help shattered communities recover and rebuild. Every year, the IRC also helps resettle thousands of refugees admitted into the United States, in 22 cities across the country. A tireless advocate for the most vulnerable, the IRC is committed to restoring hope, dignity and opportunity. Visit rescue.org for more information.