March 8 marks International Women’s Day and this year it coincides with the anniversary of the coronavirus pandemic, a global health emergency that has upended countless lives all over the world.

Women, however, have been affected disproportionately by the COVID-19 crisis, facing a number of setbacks. Millions have lost their jobs, millions more are dealing with health and security issues and gender-based violence which is on the rise.

But 2021 promises to build back better-with women leading the post-pandemic recovery.

To Discuss:

• Mandisa Kalako-Williams is former Secretary-General of the South African Red Cross
• Catherine White is a gender expert at the United Nations Institute for Training and Research
• Ghida Anani is Founder and Director of ABAAD, a Lebanese non-profit organization tackling gender-based violence
• Priyali Sur is a journalist and founder of the Azadi Project, an organization advocating for refugee women

For More:

The pandemic has taken a heavy toll on women, ranging from job losses to childcare demands. It's also hit women's finances — especially when it comes to their retirement savings. https://t.co/E652gOx977

— CNN (@CNN) March 8, 2021

Every day, IJM female staff around the world are fighting for women every day and #ChallengingInjustice to make violence against women and children not the norm.

On #IWD2021, read from them how they #choosetochallenge injustice. https://t.co/Idq6KinLKa

— International Justice Mission (@IJM) March 8, 2021

.@VP Kamala Harris: "We also know that women want to serve and that our military is stronger when they do." pic.twitter.com/V3s9ptg5jA

— The Hill (@thehill) March 8, 2021