Women's Day (IWD) was honoured the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on 19 March 1911.International Women's Day is when women are recognized for their achievements and it is marked by thousands of different celebrations around the world. FAWCO is represented by Erica Higby at the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations Headquarters in NY and by Laurie Richardson who is participating in celebrations in Vienna.
Thousands of events are planned around the world. If you would like to join in celebrations in your country, go to IWD events which shows listing of events by country. Ladies, this is your special day-- enjoy it!
Read more ... for a brief history.
Promoting women's rights in the US started at the beginning of the century. In 1908, over 15,000 women demonstrated in NY City to demand better pay and voting rights. In 1909, some women declared Feb 28 as National Women's Day.
But the idea of having a truly International Women's Day was initiated in Europe, coming from the union and socialist movements. More than a million women attended the first union rallies held on March 19, 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. At these rallies, women demanded the vote, the right to work, the right to vocational training and an end to job discrimination.
While celebrating Women's Day fell out of fashion in the US, for many years, International Women's Day was declared national holidays in Communist and Eastern European countries, a tradition which continues today in Russia, Armenia, China, Uzbekistan, Nepal, Vietnam, Cuba to name only a few.
In 1975, during the International Women's Year, the UN began celebrating International Women's Day on March 8th. Since then, the IWD has become much more globally recognized by governments, NGO's and civic groups around the world.International Women's Day Today
IWD is now an official holiday in Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, China (for women only), Cuba, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, Eritrea, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Madagascar (for women only), Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nepal (for women only), Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Zambia. The tradition sees men honouring their mothers, wives, girlfriends, colleagues, etc with flowers and small gifts. In some countries IWD has the equivalent status of Mother's Day where children give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers.
FAWCO is directly involved in IWD and by participating in events around the world. FAWCO is represented by Erica Higby at the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations Headquarters in NY and by Laurie Richardson who is participating in celebrations in Vienna.
Thousands of events are planned around the world. If you would like to join in celebrations in your country, go to IWD events which shows listing of events by country.
Ladies, this is your special day-- enjoy it!
