International Women's Day History
International women's Day (IWD) is celebrated in March 8 every year. It commemorates the movement for women's rights. While the first observance of a Women's Day was held on February 28, 1909 in New York, March 8 was suggested by the 1910 International Woman's Conference to become an "International Woman's Day." After women gained suffrage in Soviet Russia in 1917, March 8 became a national holiday there. The day was then predominantly celebrated by the socialist movement and communist countries until it was adopted in 1975 by the United Nations.
International Women’s Day, as the name implies, is dedicated to celebrating womanhood, their social, political, cultural, economic achievements and their significant contributions to society. The day also emphasises the importance of gender equality. On this day, people from all across the world come together to partake in thecelebration of womanhood. The day has come to be increasingly associated with feminism and equal rights for women. Every year, March 8 is celebrated as International Women’s Day. Before the UN adopted it in 1977, the day was mostly celebrated in socialist and Communist countries. The UN celebrates the day on the basis of different themes. This year, the theme is #PressforProgress.
YearUN Theme[77]
- 1996 :- Celebrating the Past, Planning for the Future
- 1997 :- Women and the Peace Table
- 1998 :- Women and Human Rights
- 1999 :- World Free of Violence Against Women
- 2000 :- Women Uniting for Peace
- 2001 :- Women and Peace: Women Managing Conflicts
- 2002 :- Afghan Women Today: Realities and Opportunities
- 2003 :- Gender Equality and the Millennium Development Goals
- 2004 :- Women and HIV/AIDS
- 2005 :- Gender Equality Beyond 2005; Building a More Secure Future
- 2006 :- Women in Decision-making
- 2007 :- Ending Impunity for Violence Against Women and Girls
- 2008 :- Investing in Women and Girls
- 2009 :- Women and Men United to End v Violence Against Women and Girls
- 2010 :- Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities: Progress for All
- 2011 :- Equal Access to Education, Training, and Science and Technology: Pathway to Decent Work for Women
- 2012 :- Empower Rural Women, End Poverty and Hunger
- 2013 :- A Promise is a Promise: Time for Action to End Violence Against Women
- 2014 :- Equality for Women is Progress for All
- 2015 :- Empowering Women, Empowering Humanity: Picture it!
- 2016 :- Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality
- 2017 :- Women in the Changing World of Work: Planet 50-50 by 2030
- 2018 :- Time is Now: Rural and urban activists transforming women’s lives #PressforProgress