Facts and History on International Women’s Day
International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated every year on March 8th. IWD was started in 1911, and remains an important moment for working to advance women's equality with the day belonging to everyone, everywhere. It is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of all women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender equality. Extensive activity is observed worldwide as groups come together to celebrate women's achievements and rally for women's equality.
Annually on March 8th, IWD is one of the most important days of the year to:
1. Celebrate women's achievements
2. Educate and awareness raise for women's equality
3. Call for positive change advancing women
4. Lobby for accelerated gender parity
5. Fundraise for female-focused charities
6. Nationally everyone can play a part in helping gender equality. From a wide range of IWD campaigns, events, rallies, lobbying and performances - to festivals, parties, and celebrations - all IWD activity is valid. That's what makes IWD inclusive.
What's the IWD 2023 campaign theme?
For IWD 2023, the global campaign theme is #EmbraceEquity.
The campaign aims to encourage important conversations regarding:
• Why equal opportunities aren't enough
• Why equal isn't always fair. People start from different places, so true inclusion and belonging require equitable action.
• We can all challenge gender stereotypes, call out discrimination, draw attention to bias, and seek out inclusion. Collective activism is what drives change. From grassroots action to wide-scale momentum, we can all embrace equity.
• Additionally, to truly embrace equity, means to deeply believe, value, and seek out difference as a necessary and positive element of life.
• To embrace equity means to understand the journey required to achieve women's equality.
Who can support International Women's Day?
• IWD is not country, group, nor organization specific. No one government, NGO (Non-governmental organizations), charity, corporation, academic institution, women's network, or media hub is solely responsible for IWD. The day belongs to all groups collectively, everywhere.
• Support for IWD should never be a battle between groups or organizations declaring what action is best or right. Feminism's eclectic and inclusive nature means that all efforts advancing women's equality are welcome and valid, and should be respected. This is what it means to be truly 'inclusive.'
• Gloria Steinem, world-renowned feminist, journalist, and activist once explained "The story of women's struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist, nor to any one organization, but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights."
• Make International Women's Day your day and do what you can to truly make a positive difference for women.
Source of Information: Various Google Searches
Until Next Week, Stay Safe and Well!