WUNRN
History Introduction International Women’s Day is celebrated in many
countries around the world. It is a day when women are recognized 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 recognized 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. History International Women’s Day first emerged from the
activities of labour movements at the turn of the twentieth century in North
America and across 1909: The first
National Woman's Day was observed in the 1910: The
Socialist International, meeting in 1911: As a
result of the 1913-1914:
International Women's Day also became a mechanism for protesting World War I.
As part of the peace movement, Russian women observed their first
International Women’s Day on the last Sunday in February. Elsewhere in 1917: Against
the backdrop of the war, women in 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. The United Nations and
Gender Equality The Charter of the United Nations, signed in 1945, was
the first international agreement to affirm the principle of equality between
women and men. Since then, the UN has helped create a historic legacy of
internationally-agreed strategies, standards, programmes and goals to advance
the status of women worldwide. Over the years, the UN and its technical agencies have
promoted the participation of women as equal partners with men in achieving
sustainable development, peace, security, and full respect for human rights.
The empowerment of women continues to be a central feature of the UN’s
efforts to address social, economic and political challenges across the
globe. |