International Women's Day is celebrated on March 8. This day celebrates the achievements of women and their presence in general. International Women's Day is celebrated as a public holiday all over the world, and it is not just a time for shops and retailers to advertise promotions for women. Keep reading to learn more about the history of International Women's Day, its meaning, and its importance.

“In addition to being a basic human right, gender equality provides solutions to many of the world's most pressing problems. But the serious violation of human rights at this time prevents half of humanity from progressing "António Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations (UN), presented at the General Assembly its program for 2023.

"The question of gender equality is a question of power. Patriarchy, with centuries of power behind it, is making a comeback. The United Nations responds to and defends the rights of women and girls around the world."

The Sustainable Development Goals place a strong emphasis on gender equality because it is so important to the UN.

The Socialist Party of America established National Women's Day in New York City on February 28, 1909. Theresa Malkiel, a labor activist, proposed this as a way to commemorate the nationwide protests against women's garment workers. Later that year, the German delegation supported the idea of ​​Women's Day, although there is no specific date, receiving encouragement from American social workers. Women's rights activist Clara Zetkin has proposed next year's International Women's Day at the second International Congress of Working Women in Copenhagen, Denmark, to give women a strong voice to promote their demands. have equal rights.

The participants, who represented 17 countries and included the first three women of Finland, supported it with one voice. The first celebration of International Women's Day took place in March 1911, and in 1913, the date was set for March 8. In 1996, the UN announced the theme of its first year: "Celebrating the Past, Preparing for the Future". It was first recognized by the UN in 1975.

 In 1977, the United Nations General Assembly declared March 8 as International Women's Day to promote women's rights and world peace. The United Nations celebrated International Women's Day in 1975. Since then, the UN has been celebrating the day by deciding on a theme every year. This day is popular as it honors the achievements of women, promotes gender equality, and raises money for many charities that support women.

Importance of International Women's Day

International Women's Day has been a forum for women to speak out and promote change over the years. It was used to draw attention to issues such as gender-based violence, lack of wages, lack of access to health care and education, and the lack of representation of women in politics and in leadership positions.

 The advancement of women's rights around the world is one of the most significant events of International Women's Day. In many countries, women have won the right to vote and laws have been established to protect them from harassment and discrimination in the workplace. With more girls in school and receiving life-saving health care than ever before, women have also made great strides in education and health care. Poverty, violence, and prejudice based on gender, color, race, and sexual orientation are just some of the significant obstacles that women currently face on the road to equality. Women continue to have little influence in political and economic decision-making in many parts of the world, and their views are often ignored in discussions about policies that affect their lives.

International Women's Day celebrations raise awareness of the importance of continued work and advocacy on behalf of women. It is a call for all people and organizations to join hands to build a society where women are respected, have the opportunity to succeed and are empowered to realize their full potential. By observing International Women's Day, we can continue to draw attention to the issues facing women and inspire meaningful change for generations to come.