It is widely accepted that in a just and fair society, the foundation is the family. It is accepted that in a family the foundation is the mother who plays a key role physically, spiritually, morally and psychologically. We remember the famous song of Dolly Parton, an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, actress, author, businesswoman and humanitarian, known primarily for her work in country music. At the height of her career, when she was a multi-millionaire with tens of thousands of beloved fans, she wrote a memorable song, “Coat of many colours”. It goes like this, “Back through the years, I go wonderin’ once again, back to the seasons of my youth, I recall a box of rags that someone gave us, and how my momma put the rags to use, there were rags of many colours, every piece was small, and I didn’t have a coat, and it was way down in the fall, Momma sewed the rags together, sewin’ every piece with love, she made my coat of many colours, that I was so proud of; As she sewed, she told a story, from the Bible, she had read, about a coat of many colours, Joseph wore, and then she said perhaps this coat will bring you, good luck and happiness, and I just couldn’t wait to wear it, and momma blessed it with a kiss; My coat of many colours, that my momma made for me, made only from rags, but I wore it so proudly, although we had no money,I was rich as I could be, In my coat of many colours, my momma made for me;So with patches on my britches, and holes in both my shoes, in my coat of many colours,I hurried off to school, just to find the others laughing, and making fun of me, in my coat of many colours, my momma made for me;And oh, I couldn’t understand it, for I felt I was rich, and I told ‘em of the love, my momma sewed in every stitch, and I told ‘em all the story, momma told me while she sewed, and how my coat of many colours, was worth more than all their clothes; But they didn’t understand it, and I tried to make them see, that one is only poor, only if they choose to be, now I know we had no money, but I was rich as I could be, in my coat of many colours, my momma made for me, made just for me.”

A mother’s unending love and similar virtues come to mind as the United Nations marks the International Women’s Day on March 8. In a statement, the UN highlights gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow. It says advancing gender equality in the context of the climate crisis and disaster risk reduction is one of the greatest global challenges of the 21st century. Women are increasingly being recognised as more vulnerable to climate change impacts than men, as they constitute the majority of the world’s poor and are more dependent on the natural resources which climate change threatens the most.

At the same time, women and girls are effective and powerful leaders and change-makers for climate adaptation and mitigation. They are involved in sustainability initiatives around the world, and their participation and leadership results in more effective climate action. Continuing to examine the opportunities, as well as the constraints, to empower women and girls to have a voice and be equal players in decision-making related to climate change and sustainability is essential for sustainable development and greater gender equality. Without gender equality today, a sustainable future, and an equal future, remain beyond our reach, the UN says.

On International Women’s Day, we also remember the memorable song by New Zealand’s classical crossover singer and songwriter Hayley Westenra. It goes like this, “Mother of mine, you gave to me, all of my life, to do as I please, I owe everything, I have to you, mother, sweet mother of mine, mother of mine, when I was young, you showed me the right way things had to be done, without your love where would I be? Mother sweet mother of mine, mother you gave me happiness, much more than words can say, I pray to the Lord that He may Bless You every night and every day, mother of mine now I am grown, and I can walk straight all on my own.”