International Women’s Day marks pivotal moment in fight for equality

International Women’s Day holds significance as an annual celebration on March 8, playing a crucial role in the global women’s rights movement

International Women’s Day is celebrated worldwide on March 8 every year. It focuses on women’s rights and is organized to celebrate women’s social, economic and political achievements, draw attention to gender equality, and combat violence against women.

Events worldwide aim to increase societies’ respect for women, raise awareness of women’s rights, and support equality efforts.

Origin and history of International Women’s Day:

The roots of International Women’s Day date back to the early 20th century. In 1908, 15,000 female textile workers in New York made history by coming together to demand shorter working hours, higher wages, and the right to vote. On March 8, 1908, these women organized a historic march and drew attention to unfair working conditions and women’s rights.

Following these events, the Socialist Party of America declared National Women’s Day on Feb. 28, 1909. However, it was under the leadership of Clara Zetkin, a member of the Communist Party of Germany, who tabled the idea of International Women’s Day.  Zetkin presented the idea of celebrating March 8 internationally at the International Working Women’s Conference held in Copenhagen in 1910. This proposal made history when 100 female delegates unanimously accepted it.

International Women’s Day was first celebrated in 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland. Women in these countries celebrated this day by expressing their demands for better working conditions, the right to choose, and equality. In 1975, the United Nations officially recognized International Women’s Day and began to specify themes for each year.

Themes

Every year, the U.N. sets a specific theme to highlight the global women’s rights agenda and challenges to gender equality. The first theme determined in 1996 was “Celebrating the Past, Planning for the Future.” Since then, many different themes have been chosen, each aimed at raising awareness of gender equality, women’s rights, and similar issues.

The U.N.’s theme for 2024 is “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress.” This theme emphasizes the inadequacy of investment in gender equality and aims to enable women to make social, economic and political progress.

Global celebrations

International Women’s Day is celebrated worldwide with various events, demonstrations, and campaigns. These events are organized by women’s rights defenders, nongovernmental organizations, states, and individuals. Celebrations may include:

Social awareness raising activities: On International Women’s Day, many countries organize social awareness activities. Seminars, panels, conferences, and workshops aim to raise awareness of women’s rights.

Artistic shows and performances: Many cultural and artistic events are organized that highlight women’s achievements. Concerts, plays, exhibitions and dance performances spotlight female artists and creators.

Campaigns and protests: Worldwide, women’s rights advocates and activists celebrate International Women’s Day with various campaigns and protests. These events raise awareness about ensuring equal pay, combating sexual violence and promoting education rights.

Colorful celebrations: Colorful and diverse activities are organized on this day. People belonging to different cultures step out wearing traditional attire.  

Progress in women’s rights

Global progress in women’s rights over the past year is evident. Argentina’s Olimpia Law fights online gender-based violence, while Taiwan’s MeToo movement gained momentum through a Netflix series. Mexico’s decriminalization of abortion marked a positive step, aligning with the Latin American “green wave” trend. France solidified women’s reproductive rights with the recent approval of an abortion bill. The Women’s World Cup attendance surged to nearly 2 million fans, indicating a growing interest in women’s sports. In the U.K., 46.7 million viewers tuned out to watch women’s athletics competitions in 2023, highlighting increasing support for women’s rights.

Source:Newsroom

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