Last updated on March 5th, 2024 at 02:31 pm
International Women’s Day is a date that is celebrated in many countries around the world. When women from all continents, often separated by national boundaries and ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic, and political differences, come together on this day, they commemorate at least ninety years of fighting for equality, justice, and peace You can see the tradition. and development.
International Women’s Day 2024 Campaign Theme: “Inspire Inclusion”
- The campaign theme for International Women’s Day 2024 is “Inspire Inclusion.”
- Encouraging others to recognize and appreciate women’s inclusion leads to the creation of a more equitable world.
- When women feel encouraged to participate and belong, it fosters a profound sense of empowerment and relevance.
- Together, let’s work towards building a world that embraces inclusivity for women.
history of women’s day
International Women’s Day refers to women in general as makers of history and has its roots in the age-old struggle of women to participate in society on an equal footing with men.
In ancient Greece, Lysistrata launched a sex strike against men to end the war; In the French Revolution, Parisians calling for “liberty, equality and fraternity” marched to Versailles to demand women’s suffrage.
We invite you to learn more about the history of women and the contributions of the United Nations on this page.
First major years in the movement
International Women’s Day, celebrated by the United Nations in 1975 and proclaimed by its Assembly two years later, has its origins in demonstrations by women who, especially in Europe, fought for the right to vote in the early 20th century. Had demanded Better working conditions and equality between the sexes:
Did you know…?
The fact that the day is celebrated on 8 March is closely linked to the feminist movements during the Russian Revolution of 1917.
New Zealand was the first country to allow women to vote in 1893.
During the 1920s, in the first known campaign of its kind, the Society of Physicians of Egypt challenged tradition by explaining the harmful health effects of female genital mutilation.
Movement in the United States
According to a proclamation by the Socialist Party of the United States, the first National Women’s Day was observed on February 28, a tradition that lasted until 1913 on the last Sunday of February.
However, a relevant milestone in the women’s movement in America dates back to 1848. Angered by Prohibition, which prevented women from speaking at a convention against slavery, Americans Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott (pictured on this page) gathered hundreds of people. of the people at the First National Convention for Women’s Rights (New York). A movement is born.
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Europe’s turn
In Copenhagen (Denmark), hundreds of participants from 17 countries gathered at the Second International Conference of Socialist Women (the first took place in 1907) to organize an annual Women’s Day with the aim of strengthening their struggle to achieve universal women’s suffrage. decided to. ,
First expressions
International Women’s Day is celebrated in many European countries and the United States. The date was March 19 to commemorate the Revolution of 1848 and the Paris Commune. In addition to the right to vote and hold public office, they demanded the right to work, professional training, and non-discrimination in work.
Russian women in power
As part of the peace movements that arose on the eve of World War I, Russian women celebrated their first International Women’s Day on the last Sunday of February by holding secret rallies. In the rest of Europe, women held meetings around 8 March the following year to protest the war or show solidarity with other women.
Russian women in power
As part of the peace movements that arose on the eve of World War I, Russian women celebrated their first International Women’s Day on the last Sunday of February by holding secret rallies. In the rest of Europe, women held meetings around 8 March the following year to protest the war or show solidarity with other women.
Fed up after World War I
A large gathering of women takes place in The Hague (Netherlands) on 15 April amid the devastation of World War I. More than 1,300 women from 12 countries participate.
Right to vote in Russia
In response to the two million Russian soldiers killed in the war, Russian women once again chose the last Sunday of February to go on strike demanding “bread and peace”. Political leaders criticized the opportunism of the strike but went ahead with it nonetheless. The rest is history: Four days later the Tsar was forced to abdicate and the Provisional Government granted women the right to vote. That historical Sunday was 23 February, according to the Julian calendar used in Russia at the time, or 8 March according to the Gregorian calendar used in other countries.
Also Read–History of Russia, from ancient times to modern times
Extension of International Day
After World War II, March 8 began to take center stage in many countries even before it was recognized by the United Nations as International Women’s Day in 1977. Finally, in 1975, coinciding with International Women’s Year, the United Nations celebrated International Women’s Day for the first time on 8 March.
Since that date, the United Nations and its agencies have worked tirelessly in the gender struggle. Great results and proposals were realized in 1995 with the approval of the Beijing Declaration and Platform, a historic road map signed by 189 governments 20 years ago, setting out an agenda for the materialization of women’s rights; and with the inclusion of Objective 5 in the SDGs in 2015.
Why March 8?
Last Sunday of February, March 19, April 15, and February 23. These are all the important dates of International Women’s Day. So where does March 8 come from?
The answer may be provided by Julius Caesar and Gregory XIII.
It so happens that before the revolution, Russia had not yet adopted the Gregorian calendar. Currently used in most countries, Pope Gregory XIII introduced it in 1582 to reduce errors in the Julian calendar, named after the Roman emperor who chose it 46 years before the birth of Jesus Christ. In 1917, February 23 in Russia corresponded to March 8 in other European countries. Elementary, dear Watson!
Timeline of the United Nations’ Role in Women’s Rights
UN turns 70: Milestones for gender equality
From groundbreaking resolutions and inspiring speeches to activists inspiring change online and offline, this timeline highlights milestones and memorable moments relevant to women’s rights since the United Nations’ founding in 1945.
United Nations Charter: “Fundamental Freedom for All”- October 24, 1945
Since its creation on October 24, 1945, to promote international cooperation after the devastation of World War II, the United Nations has established the equal rights of women and men as a fundamental aspect of its existence. Its founding charter states that, as part of its objective, it has the “development and promotion of fundamental freedoms for all without discrimination on grounds of race, sex, language or religion”.
Less than a year later, during the opening session of the United Nations General Assembly in London, UK, Frida Dalen of Norway became the first female delegate to speak, and Eleanor Roosevelt of the United States delivered her famous “open letter” to women. She urges them to participate more and more in national and international affairs.
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Tracking Progress: Commission on the Legal and Social Status of Women
June 21, 1946
The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), has been created as the first global intergovernmental body dedicated exclusively to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women.
Helpful in monitoring the status of women’s rights around the world and defining international standards on gender equality, the Commission brings together member states, civil society organizations, and United Nations entities every year to assess gaps and assess progress brings Within the framework of the Commission, Member States agree on measures to accelerate the achievement of women’s rights and empowerment.
One Giant Leap for Humanity: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
December 10, 1948
Adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948, the historic Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the world’s first recognition that there are inalienable rights and fundamental freedoms that apply to all human beings. Formulated for the first time in human history as a “general ideal to which all peoples and nations should strive”, the Declaration enumerates the civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights that all human beings – women and men – are entitled to. should be received equally.
The cornerstone of modern human rights, the Declaration, together with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (1966), forms the International Bill of Human Rights.
Time to celebrate: International Women’s Day, year and decade
March 8, 1975—December 31, 1985
In 1975, during International Women’s Year, the United Nations began celebrating International Women’s Day (8 March). Two years later, the General Assembly of the United Nations officially formalized the day, despite the fact that its first celebration dates back to February 28, 1909, when the Socialist Party of America commemorated a workers’ strike in the sector. This day was designated Fabric last year in New York.
Coinciding with the International Year of Women, the first World Conference on Women takes place in Mexico from June 19 to July 2, 1975. In the said conference, a ten-year world action plan is drawn up for the promotion which is followed by the United Nations General Assembly proclaiming 1976–1985 as the United Nations Decade for Women: Equality, Development, and Peace to implement it…
Reference Standard: Declaration of the Rights of Women
December 18, 1979
In 1979, the United Nations General Assembly ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). Often referred to as the “Bill of Rights for Women”, the CEDAW is the most comprehensive international instrument for protecting women’s human rights. Thus, it defines the meaning of discrimination against women and establishes legal obligations for the countries that are part of it (i.e. member states) with the aim of eliminating this discrimination.
More specifically, the convention requires member states to eliminate discrimination against women in the public and private sphere, including in the family sphere and aims to achieve substantial equality between women and men, both in law and in real life. To do. As of 2015, with 189 member states, it is the most ratified United Nations human rights treaty after the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Enough Is Enough: End Violence Against Women
December 20, 1993
The World Conference on Human Rights, held in Vienna in June 1993, took historic steps to protect women’s rights by recognizing violence against women as a violation of human rights and calling for action to eliminate these forms. of violence. Subsequently, in December of the same year, the United Nations General Assembly approved the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, addressing and clearly defining the forms of violence against women and creating a framework for action worldwide, becoming the first international instrument to do so. so.
In 1994, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights appointed Radhika Kumaraswamy of Sri Lanka as the Special Envoy on Violence Against Women to record and recommend the elimination of acts of gender-based violence. Yet one in three women and girls still experience violence in her lifetime, one of the most widespread human rights violations that should be a UN priority.
The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) launched a “16 Days of Activism” campaign with messages placed on thousands of wooden stars to reinforce women’s rights and end gender-based violence.
The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) launched a “16 Days of Activism” campaign with messages placed on thousands of wooden stars to reinforce women’s rights and end gender-based violence.
Everyone Matters: Women, Population, and Development
September 5, 1994 – September 13, 1994
The International Conference on Population and Development, held in Cairo, Egypt in 1994, became a defining moment in history when the international community reaffirmed that the fulfillment of the rights of women and girls is a fundamental engine of development. In particular, the outcome document of the conference, also known as the ICPD 20-Year Action Plan or Cairo Consensus, articulates a visionary vision of population, development, and well-being.
It places women’s empowerment at the center of development and considers the right of women and couples to control their own fertility at the core of population policies and programs.
Inspiration for Change: Beijing Platform for Action
September 4, 1995 – September 15, 1995
In September 1995, an unprecedented 17,000 participants and 30,000 activists descended on Beijing, China, for the United Nations’ Fourth World Conference on Women, where political debates on women’s rights were held. Although it was not the first time that the United Nations had held a world conference on women – the previous three conferences were held in Mexico City (1975), Copenhagen (1980), and Nairobi (1985) – it was in 1995 when 189 countries had approved it. A progressive reference unanimously in favor of the empowerment of women.
Thus was announced the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a framework that defines objectives and measures included in 12 areas of particular concern for the promotion of women’s rights. Every five years since its adoption, a global review is conducted to assess progress and gaps in its implementation.
Seeking Justice: International Criminal Court
July 17, 1998
After years of negotiations, the International Criminal Court (ICC) becomes a reality when all 120 member states vote in favor of the Rome Statute. The ICC, based in The Hague, Netherlands, is a permanent international court created to try the most serious war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.
the original jurisdiction of the Court in relation to sexual and gender-based violence and gender-based harassment; Its gender-sensitive rules of procedure and evidence and emphasis on gender balance have been hailed as important steps in the fight against impunity for women’s rights and gender equality.
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Everyone Matters: Women, Population, and Development
September 5, 1994 – September 13, 1994
The International Conference on Population and Development, held in Cairo, Egypt in 1994, became a defining moment in history when the international community reaffirmed that the fulfillment of the rights of women and girls is a fundamental engine of development. In particular, the outcome document of the conference, also known as the ICPD 20-Year Action Plan or Cairo Consensus, articulates a visionary vision of population, development, and well-being.
It places women’s empowerment at the center of development and considers the right of women and couples to control their own fertility at the core of population policies and programs.
Inspiration for Change: Beijing Platform for Action
September 4, 1995 – September 15, 1995
In September 1995, an unprecedented 17,000 participants and 30,000 activists descended on Beijing, China, for the United Nations’ Fourth World Conference on Women, where political debates on women’s rights were held. Although it was not the first time that the United Nations had held a world conference on women – the previous three conferences were held in Mexico City (1975), Copenhagen (1980), and Nairobi (1985) – it was in 1995 when 189 countries had approved it. A progressive reference unanimously in favor of the empowerment of women.
Thus was announced the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a framework that defines objectives and measures included in 12 areas of particular concern for the promotion of women’s rights. Every five years since its adoption, a global review is conducted to assess progress and gaps in its implementation.
Seeking Justice: International Criminal Court
July 17, 1998
After years of negotiations, the International Criminal Court (ICC) becomes a reality when all 120 member states vote in favor of the Rome Statute. The ICC, based in The Hague, Netherlands, is a permanent international court created to try the most serious war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.
the original jurisdiction of the Court in relation to sexual and gender-based violence and gender-based harassment; Its gender-sensitive rules of procedure and evidence and emphasis on gender balance have been hailed as important steps in the fight against impunity for women’s rights and gender equality.
September 6, 2000 – September 8, 2000
At the Millennium Summit in September 2000, world leaders from 189 countries approved the United Nations Millennium Declaration, from which a series of eight goals designed to reduce extreme poverty (the Millennium Development Goals) was achieved, with deadlines in 2015 as the deadline. The goals are closely related to the promotion of women’s rights, with goal 3 specifically calling for the promotion of gender equality and goal 5 to improve maternal health.
Fifteen years later, the world has achieved success in reducing poverty and improving the lives of women and girls, for example by achieving full or near gender equality in all developing regions. Gender in primary education and maternal mortality has decreased. from 45 percent. However, many gender gaps remain to be addressed in the sustainable development agenda.
Ending Harmful Practices: Female Genital Mutilation
December 20, 2012
Expressing grave concern about human rights violations suffered by the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community, the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted the first UN resolution on sexual orientation and gender identity (17/19) in 2011. adopted. A second resolution (27/32) on the same issue was approved in 2014. Discrimination against this group is closely related to their gender identity and is manifested in their vulnerability to social exclusion or violence, such as “correctional violations”, assault, and denial of basic services.
Malala Yousafzai: If half is left behind then it is impossible to move forward
July 12, 2013
In her first high-profile public appearance, since she was attacked by the Taliban, Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai delivered a powerful speech on education and girls’ rights at the United Nations on her 16th birthday (July 12, 2013)—known as “Malala Day”. Also known as “. ,
As the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner (2014), Malala continues to fight for the right to education and, among other achievements, opened a school for Syrian refugee girls in Lebanon in 2015 through the Malala Fund.
Efforts to Change: Rights of Domestic Workers
September 5, 2013
A landmark Domestic Workers Convention (C189) on labor rights came into force, providing domestic workers – most of whom are women – with the same basic labor rights as other workers. A year earlier, Uruguay and later the Philippines were two of the first countries to ratify the treaty, bringing it into force. Since the ratification of the Convention, 22 countries have followed this example by passing laws improving the social and labor rights of domestic workers.
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#womenshould: A series of UN Women ads are going viral
October 18, 2013
Developed by Maymac Ogilvy and Mather Dubai, a series of UN Women ads that show the extent of sexism through actual auto-complete Google searches go viral. The ads, which are based on autocomplete searches, evoke negative sentiments ranging from stereotyping to outright denial of women’s rights. The series of ads spark a global online debate and attract international media attention.
Emma Watson: “Gender equality is your business too”
September 20, 2014
Newly appointed UN Women Goodwill Ambassador Emma Watson launches HeForShe, a global solidarity campaign, calling on men and boys to be allies in achieving gender equality. Delivered at the United Nations, New York, Watson’s inspiring speech – in which she emphasized “Gender equality is your job too” – goes viral and created a worldwide sensation.http://www.histortstudy.in
#orangeurhood: iconic landmarks and neighborhoods wear orange
25 November 2014 – 10 December 2014
Iconic landmarks including the Empire State Building in New York and the Pyramids and Sphinx in Egypt lit up orange for the first time on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and during 16 days as part of the UN call #orangeurhood.
Activism against gender violence. UN Secretary-General’s Campaign to End Violence Against Women calls on UNiTE, and people around the world online and on the ground, to use the color orange as a symbol of hope for a future without violence against women and girls encourages to use.
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And now he? Let’s step up!
January 1, 2015
Much has been achieved in 70 years, but much remains to be done: 800 women die every day from preventable pregnancy-related causes; One in three women is a victim of physical or sexual violence; Women hold only 22 percent of parliamentary seats and currently account for more than 60 percent of the world’s illiterate population.
As the Millennium Development Goals draw closer and the sustainable development agenda gathers momentum, we must be clear: our work is not yet done. We must and can achieve gender equality. We need a 50-50 planet by 2030 and we must take action for women and girls around the world.
Article Credit–United Nation