Yesterday we celebrated International Women's Day, a day when we all slow down to reflect on the journey of women across the globe and understand whether the great strides we have made forward yesterday, are still relevant and enough for the ever-changing landscape we live in today.

Indeed, society is everchanging and what was considered an enormous win in the 1940s, is considered a basic, obvious thing today. We truly do live on the shoulders of giants. Yet this empowers us and bears on us women of today, a certain responsibility, to be the giants for the women of tomorrow. 

As a mother, teacher, artist and Member of Parliament, I know all too well how hard it can be to fulfil and deliver on all fronts. I also know how hard it can be to live up to the standards we sometimes impose on ourselves, in our bid to grow and be better versions of ourselves.

On this Women's Day I wish to truly celebrate all women, and celebrate them for who they are, with no distinction.

I want to celebrate the women who have been conventionally successful in life, and perhaps climbed up the ladder of their career, achieving top decision-making positions in their respective fields.

I also want to celebrate the women who are working really very hard to achieve this goal, as they are inspired to be successful, and to can contribute to a better world tomorrow.

However, I also wish to celebrate the women who have been unconventionally successful, who have answered different callings, which perhaps are not what we would describe as the professional kind. Women who have chosen to dedicate themselves to raising children, or those who have chosen to follow their dreams in ways that do not necessarily fall squarely within the norms of our society.

Most importantly I also want to celebrate and shine a light on women who are going through hard times and who might not be visible to our fast-paced society. I am referring to women who might even be seen as vulnerable, those in abusive relationships, who are denied the most basic of human rights. They are women too, and they need our direct help and support.

I find it extremely distressing to read how the Women for Women Foundation feels that "domestic violence and violence against women are not genuine priorities for the government". The independent NGO goes on to say that the "lack of political will is causing the system to fail vulnerable women."

Why do we continue to fail vulnerable women? Why are we still so slow on the uptake of crucial proposals that could make all the difference in saving women from the unspeakable? Why is government so powerless in such circumstances, yet it pulls all the stops in certain other areas?

We are blessed to have a strong civil society, which is specialised in assisting women, specifically when most in need. They work closely with hundreds of women in need of support, providing them with resources and guidance to overcome their challenges.

We must work closely with them and listen to what they have to tell us about the challenges vulnerable women go through in their daily lives. We cannot afford to let anyone fall behind. We cannot turn our backs on suffering.

On this International Women's Day, I want to celebrate all women, and ensure that they all get the opportunity to celebrate who they are, and who they want to be.

Julie Zahra is the Opposition's Shadow Minister for Cultural Heritage, Arts, and Culture