International Women’s Day is annually held on March 8 to celebrate women’s achievements throughout history and across nations. It is also known as the United Nations (UN) Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace. International Women's Day celebrates women's achievements worldwide.
Despite much progress being made towards the welfare of women nowhere, in the world can women claim to have all the same rights and opportunities as men, according to the United Nations. On average, women receive between 30 and 40 percent less pay than men earn for the same work. Women also continue to be victims of violence, with rape and domestic violence listed as significant causes of disability and death among women worldwide.
International Women's Day has been observed since in the early 1900's, a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialized world that saw population growth and rise of radical ideologies. The first International Women’s Day occurred on March 19th in 1911 in Copenhagen.The inaugural event, which included rallies and organized meetings, was a big success in countries such as Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. The
International Women’s Day date was moved to March 8 in 1913 and this day has remained the global date for International Women's Day ever since.
The United Nations drew global attention to women's concerns in 1975 by calling for an International Women's Year. The United Nations General Assembly then invited member states to proclaim March 8 as the United Nations Day for Women's Rights and International Peace in 1977. The day aimed to help nations worldwide eliminate discrimination against women.
The International Women’s Day logo is in purple and white and features the symbol of Venus, which is also the symbol of being female. The colours are taken from the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) in Great Britain who in 1908 adopted the colour scheme of purple, white and green to symbolise the plight of the Suffragette - purple symbolised dignity, white purity, and green hope.
International Women's Day has grown to become a global day of recognition and celebration across developed and developing countries alike.
With greater equality in legislative rights, and an increased critical mass of women's visibility as impressive role models in every aspect of life, one assumes that women have gained true equality. Unfortunately the fact is that women are still not paid equally to that of their male counterparts, women still are not present in equal numbers in business, politics and certain professions and globally women's education, health and the violence against them is worse than that of men.
Annually on 8th March, thousands of events are held worldwide to inspire women and celebrate achievements.
So how are you going to make a difference, think globally and act locally! Do your bit to ensure that the future for girls is bright, equal, safe and rewarding.
Dr Beryl De Souza
12/02/2015
