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Every year on March 8th, International Women’s Day is observed to honor the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women all over the world. The day also includes a call to action for accelerating gender parity and establishing agendas and goals for meeting these targets. This goal is being met through events, talks, and awareness campaigns.
History of International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day was first observed in the early 1900s. Women’s Day, originally known as National Women’s Day, was established in 1909. The first International Women’s Day was observed on February 28, 1909, when 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay, and voting rights.
Around the same time, in Europe, the second International Conference of Working Women was held in Copenhagen, Denmark, where Clara Zetkin, who led the Women’s Office for the Social Democratic Party in Germany, proposed an International Women’s Day, and on March 9, 1911, International Women’s Day was observed for the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland.
The United Nations (UN) began commemorating International Women’s Day in 1907, and it was officially agreed in 1977 that the day would be widely observed on March 8 each year.
Significance of International Women’s Day
Gender inequality and discrimination are widespread in our societies, and women are disproportionately affected. International Women’s Day is observed to combat these gender biases and to draw attention to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women. It has evolved into a platform for raising awareness and catalyzing social change.
Theme for International Women’s Day in 2023
According to the United Nations, the theme for this year’s Women’s Day is “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality,” and it aims to highlight the importance of technology in bringing gender issues to light. In her message for this year’s International Women’s Day, UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay stated, “”This year, on International Women’s Day, I would like to applaud this new generation of young women – for their courage in speaking out, inspiring others and mobilizing their peers, for a more sustainable tomorrow.”
Source:IE
