In news : International Women’s Day has been celebrated on March 8 2021
About International Women’s Day(IWD)
It is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity
This year’s theme: Let’s all choose to challenge: A challenged world is an alert world. And from challenge comes change
Colours of IWD: Purple, green and white are the colors of International Women’s Day. Purple signifies justice and dignity. Green symbolizes hope. White represents purity, albeit a controversial concept. The colors originated from the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) in the UK in 1908.
History & Timeline of International Women’s Day (IWD)
- IWD has been observed since the early 1900’s
- The IWD celebration started with women’s rights movements in the US, Russia and other European countries where they demanded civil, social, political and religious rights for women.
- 1908: Great unrest and critical debate was occurring amongst women, Then in 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights.
- 1909: First National Woman’s Day (NWD) was observed across the United States on February 28
- 1910: 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.
- 1911: Following the decision agreed at Copenhagen in Denmark in 1911, International Women’s Day was honoured the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on 19 March.
- 1913-14: International Women’s Day was agreed to be marked annually on March 8 that translated in the widely adopted Gregorian calendar from February 23 – and this day has remained the global date for International Women’s Day ever since.
- 1975: International Women’s Day was celebrated for the first time by the United Nations in 1975.
Women’s day Celebration in India
India celebrates Sarojini Naidu’s birthday as National Women’s Day every year on February 13. She was born on February 13, 1879. Sarojini Naidu is famous all over the world for her literary contribution. To honor the contributions of Sarojini Naidu, February 13 is observed as National Women’s Day of India
