Skip to content

Jennifer Gersbeck & Dr Jane Goodall for IWD2021

Jennifer Gersbeck, Gender Equity Working Group Co-Chair and Director of Global Partnerships and Advocacy at the Fred Hollows Foundation, presented as part of an eminent panel which included Dr Jane Goodall and Jessica Smith OAM.
Published: 16.03.2021
Drew Keys IAPB Western Pacific Regional Manager
IAPB
Panel
1/1

Video Transcript

As we round out the week of International Women’s Day, its exciting to report back on an event hosted by the Australian Business Group, Abu Dhabi. Jennifer Gersbeck, our very own Gender Equity Working Group Co-Chair and Director of Global Partnerships and Advocacy at the Fred Hollows Foundation, presented as part of an eminent panel which included Dr Jane Goodall and Jessica Smith OAM

Jennifer pointed out, “we know that gender is fundamentally related to how power and privilege are distributed and maintained. In turn, this shapes people’s life opportunities, health and well-being and careers and directly influences their human rights, including their right to good eye health.”

Dr Jane Goodall recalled a saying she had heard from an Indigenous community in Latin America. They told her that their tribe is like an eagle; one wing is male and one wing is female; and only when the wings are equally strong will their tribe fly high. What a powerful saying!

Always work to be done, but noteworthy to see how far we’ve come, largely through the awareness work led by the IAPB Gender Equity Working Group. It’s wonderful to see eye-health and gender taken seriously on the world stage and also to see the amount of content provided by our members and stakeholders for IWD 2021!

Disclaimer: The views, ideas, technologies or policy positions in these blog posts belong to the authors and do not necessarily describe IAPB’s position or views on these matters.