The origins and history of International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day (IWD) is observed worldwide on March 8th, every year. This is the period meant to appreciate and recognise women’s achievements in economic, social, cultural, and political fields; as well as promote gender equity through interventions. IWD has its origin in the early 20th century and it remains a testament to women's activism.

In the US National Woman’s Day was initially celebrated on February 28, 1909, when working women went on strike from their jobs demanding better wages and working conditions nationally organised by the US Socialist Party. It was successful with rallies and parades taking place across America.

The idea behind International Women’s Day came from discussions at an International Socialist Women’s Conference held in Copenhagen in 1910. During this meeting, Clara Zetkin suggested having an international Women’s Day each year which had been supported by all delegates.

The first IWD celebrations were held simultaneously across Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland where various groups demonstrated. More than one million men also joined them at different places to advocate for the rights of women as well as achieve gender equity.

During World War I International Women's Day became part of peace movements. In March 1917 Russian women went on strike for "Bread & Peace". The strike began on March 8th henceforth referred to as IWD ever since then.

International Women's Day continued to be celebrated throughout the world in subsequent decades. The United Nations bestowed official recognition upon the day in 1975 followed by it becoming a vital forum for campaigning and activism.

Rallies, marches, conferences, and other events take place throughout the world every year to commemorate International Women’s Day. It is a day that reminds us about our struggle for gender equality that goes on forever; also it reminds us that women play an important role in shaping our world. Besides being a time to acknowledge the accomplishments of women, it serves as a period of rejuvenation when we resolve ourselves to fight for fairness within our societies.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day we should remember those women who were there before us; honor those who are still leading us today; and support all girls so they can become strong-willed leaders tomorrow. We can build a future where every woman gets valued respected empowered or allowed to realize her aspirations.