The first National Women’s Day was observed in the United States in 1909. After that, from an initiative in Copenhagen Denmark by the Socialist International in year 1910, a women’s day were instituted. This movement meant to honour and support the universal suffrage for women.
The women’s day also became a way to protest the First World War. In Europe, on or around the 8th of March in 1913-1914, women held rallies to either protest the war or to express their solidarity with other activists.
In 1975, during the International Women’s Year, the United Nation began celebrating the International Women’s Day on the 8th of March.
A major step in the right direction was taken in 1995 when 189 governments signed the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. This declaration focused on 12 critical concerns such as: the right for every woman and girl to exercise her own choices, participate in politics, getting an education and living in an environment free from violence and discrimination.
Every International Women’s Day has had a theme and this year the theme is Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step it up for gender equality. The 2030 agenda have some key targets and they are in short:
- By 2030 all boys and girls should have access to early quality childhood development.
- End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.
- Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private sphere. That includes trafficking, sexual and other types of exploitation.
If you are interested in how you can contribute to the work that people connected to the International Women’s Day do, you can click this link International Women’s Day and read more about what the day is all about.
International Durham 