Celebrating the World's Women - International Women's Day
by Ronnee Ruselle
About IWD
Beginning in the early 1900's, International Women's Day (8 March) began during a time of turbulence and industrial growth. It has often been an ideal time for women to make a political protest about injustice and ill treatment.
It is a great opportunity for women from all continents who are often divided by cultural, linguistic, economic and political differences to come together and celebrate as they look back on the progress that has been achieved over the years by women who struggled for equality, respect, justice, peace and growth.
International Women's Day is an opportunity to appreciate women on several levels. One of these is to understand the efforts of ordinary women who made history by fighting for the right to be treated with respect and participate in their communities equally with men. Another way is to acknowledge women in difficult circumstances around the world. This recognition helps to remove stigma and hidden crimes that contribute to the degradation of women and shows support and solutions for those who need assistance.
This year the United Nation's theme for IWD is 'Ending impunity for violence against women' in an attempt to end what the UN right's chief described as a *"plague of violence against women".
Women in the world today - the facts
**The 2006 Millennium Development Goals Report showed that women living
- in poverty
- with HIV/AIDS
- with persisting gender educational gaps
- with under-representation of women and girls in decision-making
- with gender wage gaps
- and with high maternal mortality rates
were common around the globe. The Secretary-General's in-depth study revealed that violence against women and girls was on the rise, and recent data by the Inter-Parliamentary Union showed that women's political representation remained low, with women currently filling just 16.8 per cent of parliamentary seats, a modest 4 per cent increase since 1999.
While steps are being taken to ensure the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women, and many comprehensive laws on gender equality, equal treatment and domestic violence have been adopted, challenges still remain to women's empowerment.
How IWD is celebrated around the world
In many countries, International Women's Day is celebrated by men giving the women in their lives - mothers, wives, girlfriends, colleagues, etc., flowers and small gifts. In some countries it is considered the equivalent of Mother's Day, where children also give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers in appreciation for how much they do for them.
Today, International Women's Day is considered to be a day for connecting all women around the world and inspiring them to achieve their full potential. It is supported by Governments, Universities, Organisations and the Media worldwide. Each year on 8 March, thousands of events take place worldwide, from small informal gatherings to large-scale well organised events that have been planned throughout the previous year. For information on organised events and information in relation to this day, you can visit www.internationalwomensday.com
* UN News Service: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=21712&Cr=human&Cr1=rights
**United Nations press report on The Commission on the Status of Women - http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/wom1611.doc.htm