On March 8th, people from all walks of life will walk together through Enschede during the International Women’s Day March organised by Amnesty UTwente. During this special week full of activities, we put our women students and staff in the spotlight and embrace equity. The official opening ceremony is this Wednesday, but there are already plenty of initiatives for you to join on Tuesday the 7th. “We want to emphasise that anyone – regardless of gender – is included. We want to create an equitable environment at UT together”, says organiser Verena Menzel.
International Women’s Day is celebrated every year on 8 March. This year’s official theme is #EmbraceEquity. “We want to include everyone because challenging stereotypes and embracing equity is something we have to do together”, says Menzel. With the exception of a single women-only belly dancing workshop, every gender is welcome at all events. “We encourage everyone to participate. Just pass by the Kick-Off Event during your lunch to see what’s happening.”
Bringing people together
There are many different activities during the whole week. You can find something that resonates with you. A lot of different parties are putting women students and staff in the spotlight. And this year they all combined their efforts to enable you to join one of the events from 7 to 10 March. “The great part of bringing all these initiatives together is that we're also bringing many different audiences together. Students, academic and supporting staff can meet each other in a new environment”, explains Menzel.
International Women’s Day March
What makes this year’s International Women’s Day extra special is a march through Enschede from Saxion to Stationsplein. People from all walks of life come together to march in solidarity, honouring the many obstacles and challenges that women have faced and overcome throughout history. “The march is a powerful display of unity reminding us that together we can make a difference and bring about positive change”, says Alexandra Mulder from Amnesty UTwente, organiser of the march.
More information
During the week, there are many activities and events to enjoy and help you inform yourself about the challenges women face in academia. The full programme can be found on the website about International Women’s Day at UT 2023. On this website, you can find more information and sign up for events. For more information about International Women’s Day, please visit the International Women's Day website.
