Today, on International Women's Day, we celebrate women’s achievements.

Yet, despite all the contributions we make, women are still not protected from the denial or abridgment of rights on account of sex under the constitution of the United States of America.

As we fight for gender equality in the United States, let us not forget the brave Afghan women and girls who are being stripped of their rights in Afghanistan by the Taliban. Nor can we forget Ukrainian people who are standing and fighting for Democracy. As we fight to make the United States’s Democracy stronger, more equal, and just, we must do all we can to work for equality globally.

After nearly 100 years of our collective feminist work for the Equal Rights Amendment we have achieved the following:

• Two-thirds of Congress approved the ERA in March 1972
• Three-quarters of the states (38 of 50) ratified the ERA, with the last state ratifying on January 27, 2020
• Two years after the ratification by the states, the ERA is now valid to all intents and purposes as a part of the Constitution. We believe, together with numerous preeminent constitutional scholars that the ERA is the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and should be officially recognized.

In the last year, you’ve helped us deliver tens of thousands of petitions and emails to members of Congress, President Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Attorney General Merrick Garland, and most recently to David Ferriero — the National Archivist.

From recent House Resolution language to White House statements and press coverage on the ERA, all of these are a testament to how far we have come.

So, in case you missed any of the news, I am sharing some of my favorites here — check them out:

It’s thanks to your tireless effort and support that we’ve made it this far. And, I can’t say thank you enough. We just need to see this over the finish line once and for all.

For Equality,

Eleanor Smeal

PS — We’ll be in touch soon on more actions you can take to making the ERA officially the 28th Amendment of the United States Constitution.