The Fred Hollows Foundation is set to co-host an important International Women’s Day event next week, aimed at advocating for global efforts to prioritize the eye health of women and girls.
“Eyes are the windows to gender equity,” said Jennifer Gersbeck, Executive Director of Influence and Scaling Impact at The Fred Hollows Foundation. “Women and girls represent 55% of the world’s blind and vision-impaired population, and limited access to eye care continues to trap them in poverty.”
The event, scheduled for Tuesday, March 11, 2025, will take place during the 69th Commission on the Status of Women in New York. The Fred Hollows Foundation has partnered with the UN Friends of Vision to host the event, which is titled “No Woman Left Behind – Advancing Eye Health Equity for Women and Girls.”
The event will feature discussions led by UN Friends of Vision leaders and HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh GCVO. They will address global efforts to eliminate trachoma and tackle other gender-based disparities in eye care. The foundation stressed that this initiative plays a crucial role in advancing gender equity and achieving sustainable development.
“This is a critical opportunity to push for policies that guarantee all women and girls access to quality eye care,” Gersbeck emphasized.
Investing in women’s eye health, she noted, can break cycles of poverty, help keep girls in school, and empower women in the workforce.
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