UDiON Foundation congratulate and thank all those
who advocated for women equality, women empowerment and women right to
vote and take active roll on tomorrows “International Women’s Day”.
UDiON Foundation is a proud supporter and activist of women equality, such
support led the foundation to appoint Dr. Retina as country Chief of
Bangladesh.
International Women's Day (March, 8) is a global
day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past,
present and future, is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change
and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have
played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.
"Countries with more gender equality have better economic growth.
Companies with more women leaders perform better. Peace agreements that include
women are more durable. Parliaments with more women enact more legislation on
key social issues such as health, education, anti-discrimination and child
support.
In some places like China, Russia, Vietnam and
Bulgaria, International Women's Day is a national holiday.
Suffragettes campaigned for women's right to vote. The word 'Suffragette' is
derived from the word "suffrage" meaning the right to vote.
International Women's Day honors the work of the Suffragettes, celebrates
women's success, and reminds of inequities still to be redressed.
In 1869 British MP John Stuart Mill was the first
person in Parliament to call for women's right to vote. On 19 September 1893
New Zealand became the first country in the world to give women the right to
vote. Women in other countries did not enjoy this equality and campaigned for
justice for many years.
In 1910 a second International Conference of
Working Women was held in Copenhagen. A woman named Clara Zetkin (Leader of the
'Women's Office' for the Social Democratic Party in Germany) tabled the idea of
an International Women's Day. She proposed that every year in every country
there should be a celebration on the same day - a Women's Day - to press for
their demands. The conference of over 100 women from 17 countries, representing
unions, socialist parties, working women's clubs, and including the first three
women elected to the Finnish parliament, greeted Zetkin's suggestion with
unanimous approval and thus International Women's Day was the result.
The first International Women's Day event was run
in 1911. International Women's Day has been observed since in the early 1900's,
a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialized world that saw
booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies.
1908
Great unrest and critical debate was occurring amongst women. Women's oppression and inequality was spurring women to become more vocal and active in campaigning for change. Then in 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights.
Great unrest and critical debate was occurring amongst women. Women's oppression and inequality was spurring women to become more vocal and active in campaigning for change. Then in 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights.
1909
In accordance with a declaration by the Socialist Party of America, the first National Woman's Day (NWD) was observed across the United States on 28 February. Women continued to celebrate NWD on the last Sunday of February until 1913.
In accordance with a declaration by the Socialist Party of America, the first National Woman's Day (NWD) was observed across the United States on 28 February. Women continued to celebrate NWD on the last Sunday of February until 1913.
1910
n 1910 a second International Conference of Working Women was held in Copenhagen. A woman named a Clara Zetkin (Leader of the 'Women's Office' for the Social Democratic Party in Germany) tabled the idea of an International Women's Day. She proposed that every year in every country there should be a celebration on the same day - a Women's Day - to press for their demands. The conference of over 100 women from 17 countries, representing unions, socialist parties, working women's clubs, and including the first three women elected to the Finnish parliament, greeted Zetkin's suggestion with unanimous approval and thus International Women's Day was the result.
n 1910 a second International Conference of Working Women was held in Copenhagen. A woman named a Clara Zetkin (Leader of the 'Women's Office' for the Social Democratic Party in Germany) tabled the idea of an International Women's Day. She proposed that every year in every country there should be a celebration on the same day - a Women's Day - to press for their demands. The conference of over 100 women from 17 countries, representing unions, socialist parties, working women's clubs, and including the first three women elected to the Finnish parliament, greeted Zetkin's suggestion with unanimous approval and thus International Women's Day was the result.
1911
Following the decision agreed at Copenhagen in 1911, International Women's Day (IWD) was honored the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on 19 March. More than one million women and men attended IWD rallies campaigning for women's rights to work, vote, be trained, to hold public office and end discrimination. However less than a week later on 25 March, the tragic 'Triangle Fire' in New York City took the lives of more than 140 working women, most of them Italian and Jewish immigrants. This disastrous event drew significant attention to working conditions and labor legislation in the United States that became a focus of subsequent International Women's Day events. 1911 also saw women's 'Bread and Roses' campaign.
Following the decision agreed at Copenhagen in 1911, International Women's Day (IWD) was honored the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on 19 March. More than one million women and men attended IWD rallies campaigning for women's rights to work, vote, be trained, to hold public office and end discrimination. However less than a week later on 25 March, the tragic 'Triangle Fire' in New York City took the lives of more than 140 working women, most of them Italian and Jewish immigrants. This disastrous event drew significant attention to working conditions and labor legislation in the United States that became a focus of subsequent International Women's Day events. 1911 also saw women's 'Bread and Roses' campaign.
1913-1914
On the eve of World War I campaigning for peace,
Russian women observed their first International Women's Day on the last Sunday
in February 1913. In 1913 following discussions, International Women's Day was
transferred to 8 March and this day has remained the global date for
International Women's Day ever since. In 1914 further women across Europe held
rallies to campaign against the war and to express women's solidarity.
1917
On the last Sunday of February, Russian women
began a strike for "bread and peace" in response to the death over 2
million Russian soldiers in war. Opposed by political leaders the women
continued to strike until four days later the Czar was forced to abdicate and
the provisional Government granted women the right to vote. The date the
women's strike commenced was Sunday 23 February on the Julian calendar then in
use in Russia. This day on the Gregorian calendar in use elsewhere was 8 March.
1918 -
1999
Since its birth in the socialist movement,
International Women's Day has grown to become a global day of recognition and
celebration across developed and developing countries alike. For decades, IWD
has grown from strength to strength annually. For many years the United Nations
has held an annual IWD conference to coordinate international efforts for
women's rights and participation in social, political and economic processes.
1975 was designated as 'International Women's Year' by the United Nations.
Women's organizations and governments around the world have also observed IWD
annually on 8 March by holding large-scale events that honor women's
advancement and while diligently reminding of the continued vigilance and
action required to ensure that women's equality is gained and maintained in all
aspects of life.
2000 and
beyond
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 honoring 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.
The new millennium has witnessed a significant
change and attitudinal shift in both women's and society's thoughts about
women's equality and emancipation. Many from a younger generation feel that
'all the battles have been won for women' while many feminists from the 1970's
know only too well the longevity and ingrained complexity of patriarchy. With
more women in the boardroom, greater equality in legislative rights, and an
increased critical mass of women's visibility as impressive role models in
every aspect of life, one could think that women have gained true equality. The
unfortunate fact is that women are still not paid equally to that of their male
counterparts, women still are not present in equal numbers in business or
politics, and globally women's education, health and the violence against them
is worse than that of men.
However, great improvements have been made. We do
have female astronauts and prime ministers, schoolgirls are welcomed into
university, women can work and have a family, women have real choices. Therefore,
the tone and nature of IWD has, for the past few years, moved from being a
reminder about the negatives to a celebration of the positives.
Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held
throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements. A global web
of rich and diverse local activity connects women from all around the world
ranging from political rallies, business conferences, government activities and
networking events through to local women's craft markets, theatric performances,
fashion parades and more.
Many global corporations have also started to
more actively support IWD by running their own internal events and through
supporting external ones. For example, on 8 March search engine and media giant
Google some years even changes its logo on its global search pages. Year on
year IWD is certainly increasing in status. The United States even designates
the whole month of March as 'Women's History Month'.
References:
United Nations
Internationwomenday
So make a difference, think globally and act locally!!
Make every day International Women's Day. Do your bit to ensure that the future
for girls is bright, equal, safe and rewarding
Thank You!
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