1913-1914
On the eve of World War I campaigning for
peace, 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
Women's Day ever since. In 1914 further
women across Europe held rallies to
campaign against the war and to express
women's solidarity.
1917
On the last Sunday of February, Russian
women began a strike for 'bred and peace' in
response to the death of over 2 million
Russian soldiers in World War I. Opposed by
political leaders, the women continued to
strike until four days later the Czar was forced
to abdicate and the provisional Government
granted women the right to vote.
1975
International Women's Day was celebrated for
the first time by the United Nations in 1975.
Then 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.
"Where there is a woman
there is a magic"
1996 2000
The UN commenced the
adoption of an annual
theme in 1996 - which
was "Celebrating the past,
Planning for the Future".
This theme was followed
in 1997 with "Women at
the Peace table", and in
1998 with "Women and
Human Rights", and in
1999 with "World Free of
Violence Against Women",
and so on each year until
the current. More recent
themes have included, for
example, "Empower Rural
Women, End Poverty &
Hunger" and " A Promise
is a Promise - Time for
Action to End Violence
Against Women". By the new millennium,
International Women's
Day activity around the
world had stalled in many
countries. The world had
moved on and feminism
wan't a popular topic.
International Women's
Day needed re-ignition.
There was urgent work to
do battles had not been
won and gender parity
had still not been
achieved.