What is International Women's Day?

International Women's Day (IWD) is globally celebrated annually on March 8. It is celebrated to commemorate the cultural, political, and socioeconomic achievements of women. It is also a focal point in the women's rights movement, bringing attention to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women.

Women’s Day theme for 2022

The 2022 UN theme for International Women's Day is "Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow", looking to highlight the contribution of women and girls around the globe, who participate in their communities promoting on climate change adaptation, mitigation, and response, in order to build a more sustainable future for all.

How it was started?

The earliest Women's Day observance called "National Woman's Day", was held on February 28, 1909, in New York City, organized by the Socialist Party of America. In August 1910, an International Socialist Women's Conference was organized ahead of the general meeting of the Socialist Second International in Copenhagen, Denmark. Inspired by the American socialists, German delegates Clara Zetkin, Käte Duncker, Paula Thiede, and others proposed the establishment of an annual "Women's Day". The 100 delegates, representing 17 countries, agreed with the idea as a strategy to promote equal rights, including women's suffrage. Although, no date was set at that time.

The following year, on March 19, 1911, the first International Women's Day was marked by over a million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland. Across Europe, women demanded the right to vote and to hold public office, and protested against employment sex discrimination.

After women gained suffrage in Soviet Russia in 1917, IWD was made a national holiday on March 8. It was subsequently celebrated on that date by the socialist movement and communist countries. IWD became a mainstream global holiday following its adoption by the United Nations in 1977.

Where is International women's day a holiday?

Women’s day is an official holiday in several countries worldwide, including Afghanistan, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, China (for women only), Cuba, Georgia, Germany (Berlin only), Guinea-Bissau, Eritrea, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Madagascar (for women only), Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nepal, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Zambia.

This International Women's Day, 8 March, let’s celebrate the contribution of women and girls who are leading the charge on climate change to build a better future.

Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow! #IWD2022 pic.twitter.com/hItZQGO0Kp

— UN Women (@UN_Women) February 16, 2022