International Women’s Day is observed on March 8 each year to recognize the social, economic, cultural, and political accomplishments of women worldwide. A call to action for accelerating gender parity and the establishment of agendas and objectives for achieving these targets round out the day. To achieve this objective, awareness campaigns, talks, and events are planned.
The history of International Women’s Day –
The idea for the day first came about in the early 1900s. In 1909, Women’s Day was first established under the name National Women’s Day. On February 28, 1909, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter working hours, better pay, and the right to vote.
Clara Zetkin, who led the Women’s Office for the Social Democratic Party in Germany, presented the idea of an International Women’s Day at the second International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1910. On March 9, 1911, Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland celebrated International Women’s Day for the first time.
In 1977, it was agreed that International Women’s Day would be widely observed on March 8 each year. The United Nations (UN) began celebrating the day in 197.
The significance of International Women’s Day –
Gender inequality and discrimination are widespread in our societies, and women frequently suffer as a result. International Women’s Day is observed to combat these gender biases and to raise awareness of issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women. It has evolved into a venue for spreading awareness and inspiring 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 emphasise the importance of technology in bringing gender issues to light. “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,” said UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay in her message for this year’s International Women’s Day.