Women’s Equality Day

EQUAL MEANS EQUAL  There are no excuses

UNHQ, New York, Friday, August 26, 2016

The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality & the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) & Heroica Films presented the screening of the documentary, ‘EQUAL MEANS EQUAL’ followed by a lively and healthy panel discussion at the United Nations Headquarters, New York, to mark Women’s Equality Day, August 26.

EQUAL MEANS EQUAL offered an unflinching look at how women are treated in the United States today. Examining both real-life stories and precedent-setting legal cases, director Kamala Lopez uncovered how outdated and discriminatory attitudes inform and influence seemingly disparate issues, from workplace harassment to domestic violence, rape and sexual assault to the foster care system, and the healthcare conglomerate to the judicial system. Along the way, she revealed the inadequacy of present laws that claim to protect women, ultimately presenting a compelling and persuasive argument for the urgency of ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment.

The panel of speakers included:

• Lopa Banerjee, the Chief of the Civil Society Section at UN Women.
• Jimmy Briggs, award-winning journalist and human rights advocate.
• Azadeh Khalili, founding Executive Director of the New York City’s Commission on Gender Equity.
• Liza Donelly, contract cartoonist and writer with The New Yorker Magazine.
• Someera Khokar, one of the eight partners on the Firm’s global partnership committee.
• Ravi Karkara, Senior Adviser to the Deputy Executive Director, UNWomen

Equal Means Equal 2016 panel

To learn more about the EQUAL MEANS EQUAL,  click here

Equal Means Equal 2016 movie

It deeply struck me that a developed nation as the United States is still finding it difficult to offer equal rights to women. Maybe if those in authoritative positions realize that stepping down and allowing others to grow in their own light is actually empowering, it would be easier for them to allow the process of gender equality to flourish. Remember the motto: united we stand, divided we fall – this includes gender equality!!

You can watch the movie online, here