Cairo – On 8 March 2023, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) joined the world in celebrating International Women's Day (IWD) 2023 with a series of events aimed at promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women in line with this year's theme “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”.

In honor of IWD23, IOM planned a high-level event at one of its partners Threads of Hope on 8 March 2023, to highlight the successes of migrant women that has learned embroidery and handicraft skills and are now selling handmade products through Threads of Hope. IOM has supported these migrant women with nutrition sessions and parenting sessions last year as part of its project COMPASS funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

On 11 March 2023, IOM hosted a second event for +70 migrant women that focused on empowering the women in small businesses or women who would like to start a small business. The event provided the migrant women with tools in entrepreneurship as well as knowledge on digital marketing. The event had a total of 200 participants, both women and their children.

During the event, migrant women shared their stories about how innovation and technology can empower them, and some women gave presentations on their businesses. They also learned how to create an online presence, promote their products, and sell them on social media. Participants also received a session on mental health stress management provided by the Egyptian Red Crescent as well had Sound Healing Therapy. The Egyptian Red Crescent conducted activities for the children throughout the day.

Commenting on this year’s International Women’s Day, IOM Egypt’s Chief of Mission, Mr Carlos Oliver Cruz, said, “IOM is committed to promoting gender equality and empowering migrant women. We are thrilled to be part of this year's IWD23 celebrations and to provide migrant women with tools and knowledge that will help them bridge the digital gender divide.”

The events were made possible through the generous funding of the EU and Italy. IOM expresses its gratitude to its partners and donors for their support in promoting the empowerment of migrant women and achieving gender equality.

IOM remains committed to supporting migrant women and to empowering them to achieve their full potential.

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For more information, please contact Salma Okasha, IOM Egypt, sokasha@iom.int