International Women’s Day

8 March: International Women's Day

International Women's day is commemorated each year on 8 March. In 2011, it completed its 100th anniversary. The theme of International Women’s day this year was Equal Access to Education, Training and Science and Technology: Pathway to Decent Work for Women. The day was first commemorated on 19 March 1911 in Austria, Germany, Denmark and Switzerland. The commemoration was held following the establishment of International Women’s day during the Socialist International meeting in 1910. The objective behind that was to draw attention to the unacceptable and often dangerous working conditions that so many women faced around the world. Since the year 1911, International Women’s day was celebrated in many countries around the world.

In 1975, during International Women’s Year, the United Nations started celebrating International Women’s day on 8 March. After 2 years, in December 1977, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women’s rights and International Peace.

Moreover, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women was launched in 2011.