About International Women's Day
International Women's Day has been observed since the early 1900's and is a national holiday in China, Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. Make sure to visit our Twitter and Facebook pages on March 8th for hourly updates of famous women throughout history.
International Women's Day and Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) and Planned Parenthood affiliates have been promoting women’s health for 94 years in the United States and for more than 40 years around the world. Building on Planned Parenthood’s work in the U.S., which links services and advocacy, the PPFA International Program supports local organizations in the Philippines and in 10 countries in Africa and Latin America to provide high-quality health services to women; advocate for laws, policies, and funding that ensure access to women’s health services and information; and bolster the right of women to reproductive health care.
International Repro Facts
*More than 200 million women worldwide want to use contraception but do not have access to it.
*Every year, more than half a million women die from pregnancy-related causes
*Every year, 20 million women have unsafe abortions.
Moving Forward
We enthusiastically support President Obama’s record budget request of $590 million for international reproductive health and family planning through USAID and $700 million for maternal and child health, which is now making its way through the appropriations process.
On International Women’s Day, we must both celebrate progress and recognize how much work remains, so that all women in the
IWD's Timeline of Events, courtsey of the official International Women's Day website.
1908
Women's oppression and inequality was spurring women to become more vocal and active in campaigning for change. In 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights.
1909
In 1909, the first National Woman's Day (NWD) was observed across the United States on 28 February. Women continued to celebrate NWD on the last Sunday of February until 1913.
1910
In 1910 a second International Conference of Working Women was held in Copenhagen. A woman named a Clara Zetkin (Leader of the 'Women's Office' for the Social Democratic Party in Germany) tabled the idea of an International Women's Day. She proposed that every year in every country there should be a celebration on the same day - a Women's Day - to press for their demands. The conference of over 100 women from 17 countries, representing unions, socialist parties, working women's clubs, and including the first three women elected to the Finnish parliament, greeted Zetkin's suggestion with unanimous approval and thus International Women's Day was the result.
1911
Following the decision agreed at Copenhagen in 1911, International Women's Day (IWD) was honoured the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on 19 March. More than one million women and men attended IWD rallies campaigning for women's rights to work, vote, be trained, to hold public office and end discrimination. However less than a week later on 25 March, the tragic 'Triangle Fire' in New York City took the lives of more than 140 working women, most of them Italian and Jewish immigrants. This disastrous event drew significant attention to working conditions and labour legislation in the United States that became a focus of subsequent International Women's Day events. 1911 also saw women's 'Bread and Roses' campaign.
1913-1914
Russian women observed their first International Women's Day on the last Sunday in February 1913. In 1913 following discussions, International Women's Day was transferred to 8 March and this day has remained the global date for International Wommen's Day ever since.
1917
On the last Sunday of February, Russian women began a strike for "bread and peace" in response to the death over 2 million Russian soldiers in war.
1918 - 1999
Since its birth in the socialist movement, International Women's Day has grown to become a global day of recognition and celebration across developed and developing countries alike. For decades, IWD has grown from strength to strength annually. 1975 was designated as 'International Women's Year' by the United Nations.
2000 and beyond
IWD is now an official holiday in China, Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. The tradition sees men honouring their mothers, wives, girlfriends, colleagues, etc with flowers and small gifts. In some countries IWD has the equivalent status of Mother's Day where children give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers.
Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements. A global web of rich and diverse local activity connects women from all around the world ranging from political rallies, business conferences, government activities and networking events through to local women's craft markets, theatric performances, fashion parades and more.
