There are a number of events planned for the 2009 International Women's Day celebrations. View the Calendar of Events here.
The 8th March is a day when women throughout the world come together and celebrate life as women, the progress made to advance equality for women and to assess the challenges that remain. This special day also provides an opportunity to consider steps to bring about equality for women in all their diversity.
International Women's Day was first celebrated in Australia in 1928. A rally was organised by the Militant Women’s Movement in Sydney and called for equal pay for equal work, an 8 hour day for shop girls, no piecework, a basic wage for the unemployed and annual holidays on full pay.
The United Nations declared 1975 as International Women’s Year and in 1977 began sponsoring the 8th March as International Women’s Day. The day is traditionally marked by the UN with an address by the Secretary General.
Why did the United Nations dedicate a day exclusively to the celebration of the world’s women? The General Assembly cited two reasons: “to recognise the fact that securing peace and social progress, and the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms require the active participation, equality and development of women” and “to acknowledge the contribution of women to the strengthening of international peace and security.”
Want to find out more about International Women’s Day? Then visit these sites:
www.un.org/womenwatch
www.unifem.org
www.isis.aust.com/iwd