Celebrated annually on March 8th, International Women's Day (IWD) is one of the most important days of the year to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.

The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women's equality at a global scale. According to the World Economic Forum, gender parity will not be attained for almost a century, so there's urgent work to do - and we can all play a part.

History of International Women's Day

IWD has been observed since the early 1900's - a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialised world that saw booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies.

In 1908, 15.000 women raised their voices against oppression and inequality and marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights. This was the first sign of organised campaigning for change.

The first National Woman's Day (NWD) was observed across the United States on February 28th, 1909. The Socialist International meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark, the following year marked the unanimous approval of an International  Women's Day to press for their demands but no date was set.

In 1911, the International Women's Day was honoured for the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on March 19th. More than one million women and men attended IWD rallies campaigning for women's rights to work, vote, be trained, to hold public office and end discrimination. In Russia, women observed their first International Women's Day in 1913, on February 23th, the last Sunday in February.

Following discussions, International Women's Day was agreed to be marked annually on March 8th and this day has remained the global date for International Women's Day ever since. From 1913 onwards, women across Europe held rallies to demand for women's suffrage, striked to campaign against the World Wars, fought for the rights to work, to vocational training and an end to discrimination on the job.

 

The United Nations (UN) began celebrating International Women's Day in 1975, which had been proclaimed the International Women's Year. In December 1977, the UN?s General Assembly invited member states to proclaim March 8th as an official UN holiday for women's rights. It has since been commemorated annually by the UN and much of the world, with each year's observance centred on a particular theme or issue within women's rights.

IWD 2022

The United Nations celebrates International Women?s Day every year with a special theme. For 2022 the theme is ?Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow?, recognizing the contribution of women and girls around the world, who are leading the charge on climate change adaptation, mitigation, and response, to build a more sustainable future for all.

It will be marked by a high-level virtual (TBC) event on March 8th, followed by a high-level panel discussion and musical performances.

Throughout the globe there are several initiatives you can engage to show your support and help to raise awareness. 

 

Conclusion

The world has witnessed a significant change and attitudinal shift in both women's and society's thoughts about women's equality and emancipation. However, no country has achieved total gender equality yet.

So make a difference, think globally and act locally! Make everyday International Women's Day! Do your bit to ensure that the future for girls is bright, equal, safe and rewarding.