The General Secretary of the Industrial and commercial workers union, ICU has called for renewed commitment to advancing the rights and opportunities of women and girls across all sectors of society.
Speaking during a commemoration of the International Women’s Day, Mr Morgan Ayawine said women remain indispensable to social and economic development but continue to face structural barriers in many parts of the world.
“I am delighted to be present at this august occasion to commemorate International Women’s Day, which undoubtedly represents a powerful statement of the relevance, resilience, and indispensability of women in the contemporary world,” he said.
The event brought together union leadership, regional officers, and members of the ICU fraternity to celebrate the contributions of women and discuss issues affecting them within the labour movement and the broader society.
Ayawine noted that the 21st century is marked by rapid technological and economic changes, which sometimes leave women and girls at a disadvantage.
“The world today is characterized by rapid technological and economic transformation, yet these changes sometimes sidestep women and girls, leaving them disadvantaged in many spheres of life,” he stated.
Using a traditional proverb to emphasize the importance of women, he said: “Women are like blankets. If they are by your side, you feel the warmth; if they are not, you feel the cold. This simply underscores how indispensable women are in our society.”
Reflecting on the 2026 theme for International Women’s Day — “Rights, Justice, Action: For All Women and Girls” — the ICU General Secretary described it as timely and relevant in addressing persistent inequalities.
“The full realization of rights, justice and meaningful action for all women and girls is long overdue,” he said. “While there appears to be some progress, it often hides the reality that these fundamental values have been denied to women and girls for far too long.”
Ayawine also criticised societal norms that continue to assign women secondary roles in homes, businesses, academia, and industry.
“In many instances society has accepted the subservient roles imposed on women and girls as the norm, which undervalues their contributions and relegates them to playing second fiddle in economic, political, academic, technological and scientific spaces,” he said.
He urged women and girls to take decisive steps to assert their rights and claim equal opportunities.
“The time has come for women and girls to say ‘enough is enough’ and take deliberate action to stand shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts in business, industry, academia, technology and science,” Ayawine stated.
He added that when women are empowered to take their rightful place in society, justice and fairness will naturally follow.
Ayawine concluded by wishing participants a successful International Women’s Day celebration and called for collective efforts to advance gender equality.
“May this commemoration inspire renewed commitment to ensuring rights, justice and action for all women and girls,” he said.”
Head of Gender and Youth of ICU, Esinam Poku, called for more rights for women.
“If we are committed to the rights and justice for women then we must ensure that the workplace is inclusive, supportive and responsive to the realities women face,” she said.
