International Women's Day Factsheet

International Women’s Day
International Women's Day (IWD) is a global day celebrating

the economic, political and social achievements of women past,
present and future. In some countries like China, Russia,
Vietnam and Bulgaria, IWD is a national holiday. The first IWD
event was run in 1911 so 2011 sees the Global Centenary.
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
booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies.
1908
Great unrest and critical debate was occurring amongst women. Women's oppression and inequality was spurring women
to become more vocal and active in campaigning for change. Then in 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York
City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights.
1909
In accordance with a declaration by the Socialist Party of America, the first National Woman's Day (NWD) was observed
across the United States on 28 February. Women continued to celebrate NWD on the last Sunday of February until 1913.
1910
In 1910 a second International Conference of Working Women was held in Copenhagen. A woman named a Clara Zetkin
(Leader of the 'Women's Office' for the Social Democratic Party in Germany) tabled the idea of an International Women's
Day. She proposed that every year in every country there should be a celebration on the same day - a Women's Day - to
press for their demands. The conference of over 100 women from 17 countries, representing unions, socialist parties,
working women's clubs, and including the first three women elected to the Finnish parliament, greeted Zetkin's
suggestion with unanimous approval and thus International Women's Day was the result.
1911
Following the decision agreed at Copenhagen in 1911, International Women's Day (IWD) was honoured the first time in
Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on 19 March. More than one million women and men attended IWD rallies
campaigning for women's rights to work, vote, be trained, to hold public office and end discrimination. However less than a
week later on 25 March, the tragic 'Triangle Fire' in New York City took the lives of more than 140 working women, most of
them Italian and Jewish immigrants. This disastrous event drew significant attention to working conditions and labour
legislation in the United States that became a focus of subsequent International Women's Day events. 1911 also saw
women's 'Bread & Roses' campaign.
1913-1914
On the eve of World War I campaigning for peace, Russian women observed their first International Women's Day on the
last Sunday in February 1913. In 1913 following discussions, International Women's Day was transferred to 8 March and
this day has remained the global date for International Women's Day ever since. In 1914 further women across Europe
held rallies to campaign against the war and to express women's solidarity.
1917
On the last Sunday of February, Russian women began a strike for "bread and peace" in response to the death over 2
million Russian soldiers in war. Opposed by political leaders the women continued to strike until four days later the Czar
was forced to abdicate and the provisional Government granted women the right to vote. The date the women's strike
commenced was Sunday 23 February on the Julian calendar then in use in Russia. This day on the Gregorian calendar in
use elsewhere was 8 March.
International Women’s Day
1918 - 1999
Since its birth in the socialist movement, International Women's Day has grown to become a global day of recognition
and celebration across developed and developing countries alike. For decades, IWD has grown from strength to
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. 1975 was designated as
International Women's Year' by the United Nations. Women's organisations and governments around the world have
also observed IWD annually on 8 March by holding large-scale events that honour 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.
2000 and beyond

IWD is now an official holiday in China, Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. The tradition sees men honouring their
mothers, wives, girlfriends, colleagues, etc with flowers and small gifts. In some countries IWD has the equivalent status
of Mother's Day where children give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers.
The new millennium has witnessed a significant change and attitudinal shift in both women's and society's thoughts about
women's equality and emancipation. Many from a younger generation feel that 'all the battles have been won for women'
while many feminists from the 1970's know only too well the longevity and ingrained complexity of patriarchy. With more
women in the boardroom, greater equality in legislative rights, and an increased critical mass of women's visibility as
impressive role models in every aspect of life, one could think that women have gained true equality. The unfortunate 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 or politics, and globally women's education, health and the violence against them is worse than that of men.
However, great improvements have been made. We do have female astronauts and prime ministers, school girls are
welcomed into university, women can work and have a family, women have real choices. And so the tone and nature
of IWD has, for the past few years, moved from being a reminder about the negatives to a celebration of the positives.
Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate 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, theatre
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, on 8 March search engine and media giant Google some years even changes its
logo on its global search pages. Year on year IWD is certainly increasing in status. The United States even designates the
whole month of March as 'Women's History Month'. Globally there are many very large scale highly organized IWD
events.
So make a difference, think globally and act locally! Make everyday International Women's Day. Do your bit to ensure that
the future for girls is bright, equal, safe and rewarding.
The International Women's Day website at www.internationalwomensday.com is a global hub for sharing International
Women's Day news, events and resources. It provides a free service to women and organisations around the world
wanting to share and promote their IWD activity, videos, opinions and ideas. Please feel free to submit gender-related
items for the site that you consider relevant and useful.
2011 IWD Global Centenary Year

2011 is the global centenary year for International Women’s Day – 100 years since the first International Women's Day
event was run. More than one million women and men attended rallies in 1911.
Visit www.internationalwomensday.com

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International Women’s Day

International Women's Day (IWD) is a global day celebrating

2000 and beyond

2011 IWD Global Centenary Year

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