WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden signed two executive orders intended to promote gender equity and promised "to ensure that every domestic and foreign policy we pursue rests on a foundation of dignity and equity for women". Biden-Harris Administration establishes a government-wide focus on uplifting the rights of women and girls in the United States and around the world

"In our nation, as in all nations, women have fought for justice, shattered barriers, built and sustained economies, carried communities through times of crisis, and served with dignity and resolve. "Too often, they have done so while being denied the freedom, full participation, and equal opportunity all women are due, Biden said as per quoting by  Xinhua news agency.

He added, "Their contributions have been downplayed. Their stories have been neglected. That is why International Women's Day is also a time for us to recommit ourselves to the cause of equity and equality for women the world over, and to shine a light on the systemic obstacles that fuel gender disparities and undermine women's potential," he said.

Biden noted that the coronavirus pandemic has highlighted gender inequities since women bearing the brunt of most job losses and care-giving responsibilities in the US and around the world.

A year into COVID-19, women are still contending with the public health crisis, an ensuing economic crisis, and on top of those challenges, a care-giving crisis. The pandemic has exacerbated barriers that have held back women, especially women of color, forcing many to leave the workforce, manage virtual schooling, and absorb additional care-giving responsibilities. Many women are also on the frontlines of the response to COVID-19 – as essential workers keeping our economy, communities and families going. As the country continues to grapple with the pandemic and reckons with the scourge of systemic racism, President Biden knows that we need a government-wide focus on uplifting the rights of women and girls in the United States and around the world, restoring America as a champion for gender equity and equality.

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