history of the day...

IT’S important that we mark International Women’s Day this year - in whatever way possible - because it is a long-running event which has been built up over 100 years.

Indeed, the worldwide celebration we have witnessed in recent years represents major progress on the importance of issues involving gender equality and celebrating women’s achievements.

Celebrated since the early 1900s, International Women’s Day draws its origins from a march of some 15,000 women through the streets of New York City when they demanded shorter working hours, better pay and the right to vote.

Following on from this, the first National Women’s Day was observed the following year, in 1909, on the last day in February. The celebration continued on this day for the following four years.

Some European countries marked the occasion for the first time in 1911 on March 19th, with Norway and Denmark among those to witness events taking place.

Some 60 years later, in 1975, the adoption by the United Nations of International Women’s Day marked a big moment in its development.

Two years later, in 1977, the General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace to be observed my member states on any day of the year of their choosing, in accordance with their own traditions.

By the turn of the millennium, however, there was little in the way of activity for International Women’s Day. It was revitalised by the establishment of a website, internationalwomensday. com, which helped create more of a sense of celebration and drum up interest in the occasion.

By 2011, the 100th anniversary of the first time the day was marked in Europe, International Women’s Day had once again become a significant date in the calendar across the world, and attracted significant attention in Europe, the United States and beyond.

The increase in prominence of the internet and social media has also helped stimulate interest and awareness of International Women’s Day in recent years.