Events,News

International Women’s Day 2010

8 March 2010

Equal rights, equal opportunities, progress for all.

International Women’s Day is a day when women are recognised for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political.  It is an occasion for looking back on past struggles and accomplishments, and more importantly, for looking ahead to the untapped potential and opportunities that await future generations of women.

In 1975, during International Women’s Year, the United Nations began celebrating International Women’s Day on 8 March.  Two years later, in December 1977, the General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace to be observed on any day of the year by Member States, in accordance with their historical and national traditions.  In adopting its resolution, the General Assembly recognised the role of women in peace efforts and development and urged an end to discrimination and an increase of support for women’s full and equal participation.

International Women’s Day first emerged from the activities of labour movements at the turn of the twentieth century in North America and across Europe.  Since those early years, International Women’s Day has assumed a new global dimension for women in developed and developing countries alike.  The growing international women’s movement, which has been strengthened by four global United Nations women’s conferences, has helped make the commemoration a rallying point to build support for women’s rights and participation in the political and economic arenas.  Increasingly, International Women’s Day 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.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the outcome of the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995.

It is also 100 years since Clara Zetkin first proposed the annual “International Women’s Day” at an International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen, a motion unanimously approved by over 100 women from 17 countries.

In recognition of this important anniversary, the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is “Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities: Progress for All”.

See the UN’s website for International Women’s Day for more information about this and past observances, downloadable resources and messages from the UN Secretary-General, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and others.