International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global celebration of women which is marked on March 8th every year. Hundreds of thousands of women (and men) around the world will today be celebrating women’s achievements with large-scale events, art exhibitions, plays, stand-up comedy, and more informal ‘girly nights’.
IWD was recognised by the United Nations in 1975 as a day dedicated to the social, economic and political accomplishments of women each year. The first one was held in 1910 when women were becoming increasingly vocal on issues such as voting rights, working conditions, and the right to hold public office.
Today it is, in many countries, a day for people to simply show love for the women in their lives. In countries such as Italy, Brazil, China and Russia women often receive flowers from their partners, children and colleagues, whilst in Portugal women hold ‘women-only’ dinners.
This year, campaign groups such as Oxfam, Amnesty International and White Ribbon Alliance are using International Women’s Day to call for more action to reduce deaths among pregnant women in developing nations. Expectant mothers there face the same risk of death as UK women did 100 years ago.
Sarah Brown, wife of prime minister Gordon, is patron of the White Ribbon Alliance, which campaigns for safe motherhood.
Ceri Goddard, the Fawcett Society’s chief executive, said: ‘Since the first International Women’s Day, the feminist movement has achieved some pretty totemic successes – the right to vote, an equal pay act, and more access to education and work. But, for all the strides we’ve made, many of our successes are fragile: for example, after the increases of 1997 we might well end up with fewer female MPs this time. It’s clear that we still need a major push to get women’s equality away from the margins and into the centre of the key debates.’
You can find events in your area (and advertise your own) on the IWD website: www.internationalwomensday.com
This post has been commented 2 times
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March 8th, 2010 at 12:39 pmWriteThisDown says:
To mark International Women’s Day we are launching this new film that tells a fascinating, positive story from the poverty-stricken country of Ethiopia. We’re interested in prompting a wide, global debate about the issues that this film touches upon including gender equality, religion and development.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Out5aigb5Ls&feature=featured
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March 8th, 2010 at 3:56 pmFeminist Review says:
A current event to add to the list of things to celebrate today: An Oscar Win for International Women’s Day! Pretty nice timing, no?