International Women’s Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality. The theme for International Women’s Day 2022 is ‘Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow’.
When we look at this theme through the lens of town planning, URBANET author Ana Falú, is of the opinion that traditional city design and planning frequently fails to recognize the complicated and unequal relationships between men and women in contemporary society. While women’s right to the city was largely ignored until recently, it is crucial to remember that women have always played an active role in the building of cities.
Although advancements were made, there are still numerous obstacles to overcome. The progress and success of city policies depend on the capacity to ensure equal conditions and opportunities for people of all genders. Ana Falú states that it “will only be through active policies which recognise women’s right to the city that we will be able to live in and enjoy more democratic and inclusive cities”.
Today we celebrate our team of women Eriva Nanyonjo, Charlotte Van Der Merwe, Istell Orton, Tanya Sango (Zandamela), and Wandile Sibiya that are playing an active role in building inclusive cities and towns, ensuring equal conditions and opportunities for all genders.
