8 March: International Women’s Day

OV Digital Desk
3 Min Read
International Women's Day

International Women’s Day (IWD) is an annual day celebrated on 8 March across the World. IWD is now celebrated by countries to acknowledge the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women; raise awareness about women’s equality. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity and fundraising for female-focused charities.

International Women’s Day 2023: Theme

International Women’s Day’s theme this year is Embrace Equity or #EmbraceEquity. In the words of International Women’s Day, “Equity isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s a must-have. A focus on gender equity needs to be built into every society’s DNA. It is important to distinguish between equity and equality. This year’s #EmbraceEquity campaign aims to raise awareness of ‘Why equal opportunities are not enough’.”

International Women’s Day: History

International Women’s Day first emerged from the activities of labor movements at the turn of the twentieth century in North America and across Europe. The four United Nations women’s conferences commemorated a rallying point to build support for women’s rights and participation in the political and economic areas. The conferences marked a shift in the global agenda to gender equality, dealing with issues of poverty, education and training, health, violence, armed conflict, economy, decision-making, institutional mechanisms, human rights, and the girl-child. It was initially called International Working Women’s Day.

International Women’s Day was celebrated for the first time by the United Nations in 1975. Then in December 1977, the General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace to be observed on any day of the year by the Member States, in accordance with their historical and national traditions.

International Women’s Day: Celebration

International Women’s Day is celebrated by making women feel special with heartwarming gestures. Educate yourself on women’s rights, watch their favorite films, and go out to dinner with them at their favorite restaurant. Women should be celebrated every day, and a special occasion is not necessary to make them feel special.

Read More: 8 March in Indian and World History

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