#MakeitHappen was the theme for International Women's Day, March 8, 2015. For over 100 years, Hadassah members and leaders have shown how they make it happen—advocating for the rights of women worldwide. Learn more about what Hadassah is doing for women's rights and make your voice heard. Take action in honor of International Women's Day, Women's History Month, and Hadassah's legacy of women leaders. Hadassah. The Power of Women Who Do.

Commission on the Status of Women/ Beijing +20

Hadassah's United Nations Team is attending the 59th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, held March 9-20, 2015. This session also marks the twentieth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, to which Hadassah sent a six-member delegation. Read a testimonial from National Board Member Judy Palkovitz about her experience as Chair of Hadassah's delegation to the Beijing Conference. The theme for CSW59 is the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and addressing current challenges that affect the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women.

On March 9, Hadassah co-sponsored a CSW session on women's economic empowerment— featuring speakers from Hadassah, Jewish Women International, and the US Fund for UNICEF. The program will highlight the Hadassah Foundation and the Know Your Worth: Own Your Future financial literacy program, presented in select cities in partnership with Jewish Women International. Click here to learn more.

Advocate for Women's Rights

The U.S. is one of only seven countries—including Iran, Somalia, Sudan and three Pacific Island nations—that has not yet ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). As a landmark international agreement that affirms the fundamental human rights of women and girls around the world, ratification is essential for the United States to remain a world leader on human rights issues. Hadassah is a staunch advocate for the ratification of CEDAW and a proud member of the CEDAW Task Force of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. Urge your Senators to ratify CEDAW this Congress!

On March 6, Rep. Janice Schakowsky reintroduced the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA) for the 114th Congress. This crucial legislation, (H.R. 1340), would help address the issue of violence against women by combining existing U.S. foreign aid with support for anti-violence programs and survivor resources. IVAWA would also give the Office of Global Women’s Issues at the State Department the authority to create and direct the implementation of a global strategy to address violence against women. Urge your legislators to cosponsor and support the International Violence Against Women Act.

It is time for the U.S. government to show the international community that it stands unequivocally for the rights of women.