A year ago today one of my client’s wished me Happy Women’s Day. I was surprised as I had never before heard of International Women’s Day. Today is a very special day as it marks the 100th Anniversary and I thought I would share a little history with our readers…
International Women’s Day (IWD) was first celebrated in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on March 19, 1911. More than one million women and men attended IWD rallies campaigning for women’s rights to work and be trained, vote, to hold public office, and end discrimination. In 1913 IWD was transferred to March 8th and this day has remained the global date for IWD.
Since its birth in the socialist movement, IWD has grown to become a global day of recognition and celebration across developed and developing countries alike. For decades, IWD has grown in strength annually. For many years the United Nations has held an annual IWD conference to coordinate international efforts for women’s rights and participation in social, political and economic processes. The United Nations designated 1975 as “International Women’s Year.” Women’s organizations and governments around the world have also observed IWD by holding large-scale events that honor women’s advancement and while diligently reminding of the continued vigilance and action required to ensure that women’s equality is gained and maintained in all aspects of life.
Today IWD is an official holiday in Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, China (for women only), Cuba, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, Eritrea, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Madagascar (for women only), Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nepal (for women only), Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Zambia. In some countries men honor their mothers, wives, girlfriends, and colleagues with flowers and small gifts. In other countries IWD is the equivalent of Mother’s Day and children give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers. The United States does not recognize IWD as a national holiday; but does regard the entire month of March is as “Women’s History Month.”
Annually on March 8th thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate women’s achievements. A global web of rich and diverse local activity connects women from all around the world ranging from political rallies, business conferences, government activities and networking events through to local women’s craft markets, theatric performances, fashion parades and more. Many global corporations have also started to more actively support IWD by running their own internal events and through supporting external ones. For example, today Google changed its logo commemorating IWD.
Many people may think there is one global theme each year for IWD but it has been completely up to each country and group as to what appropriate theme they select. The 2011 global United Nation theme is: Equal access to education, training and
science and technology: Pathway to decent work for women.
If you would like to read more on the history of International Women’s Day or want to find an event near you please visit: International Women’s Day.