Chanchal Das Gupta, Cox’s Bazar Correspondent:
The Emergency Response Program (ERP) of Caritas Bangladesh has celebrated the International Women’s Day at different Multipurpose Women and Girls Centers (MWGC) and Multipurpose Children and Adolescent Centers (MCAC) in the largest settlement for Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMNs) in Ukhiya of Cox’s Bazar on Tuesday (8 March 2022).
This year, the world is celebrating the day with the theme, “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”.
Marking the day, ERP arranged two-day-long multiple events featuring- discussion meeting, cultural programs, video documentary show featuring the contributions of female staff at the Emergency Response Program of Caritas Bangladesh in Cox’s Bazar. 
Women of Rohingya community attended the event in a festive mood at different MWGCs, while all the staff of Emergency Response Program of Caritas Bangladesh attended the event on Wednesday at Ukhiya office and celebrated the day in a befitting manner with a call for building a new world that ensures equal rights for women and men.
In the observance of the day, Marcel Ratan Guda, Project Director, ERP, CB, said “It’s important to recognize women’s contribution at workplace, family, society.”
“We’re trying to establish equal participation of women and male staff at ERP,” he said adding that gender equality today can ensure a sustainable tomorrow. 
During the day-long celebration at Camp-4, 4-Extn, 20-Extn and other spots, Md Sarwar Kamal, Camp-in-Charge of Camp 20ext; Md Shahjahan, Camp-in-Charge of Camp-4ext; Inmanuel Chayan Biswas, Head of Operation, ERP; managers, staff of Caritas Bangladesh’s Shelter & Site Improvement, WASH, DRR, Protection interventions were present.
The International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8 every year. It is a focal point in the movement for women’s rights. After the Socialist Party of America organised a Women’s Day on February 28, 1909 in New York, the 1910 International Socialist Woman’s Conference suggested a Women’s Day be held annually.
After women gained suffrage in Soviet Russia in 1917, March 8 became a national holiday there. The day was then predominantly celebrated by the socialist movement and communist countries until it was adopted in 1975 by the United Nations.
The year 2022 is pivotal for achieving gender equality in the context of climate change, and environmental and disaster risk reduction, which are some of the greatest global challenges of the twenty-first century. Without gender equality today, a sustainable future, and an equal future, remains beyond our reach.
This year’s IWD observance is in recognition and celebration of the women and girls who are leading the charge on climate change adaptation and response, and to honor their leadership and contribution towards a sustainable future.
