International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8 every year. It commemorates the movement for women's rights. While the first observance of a Women's Day was held on February 28, 1909 in New York, March 8 was suggested by the 1910 International Woman's Conference to become an "International Woman's Day.
" After women gained suffrage in Soviet Russia in 1917, March 8 became a national holiday there. The day was then predominantly celebrated by the socialist movement and communist countries until it was adopted in 1975 by the United Nations.
|
Year |
UN Theme |
|
1996 |
Celebrating the Past, Planning for the Future |
|
1997 |
Women and the Peace Table |
|
1998 |
Women and Human Rights |
|
1999 |
World Free of Violence Against Women |
|
2000 |
Women Uniting for Peace |
|
2001 |
Women and Peace: Women Managing Conflicts |
|
2002 |
Afghan Women Today: Realities and Opportunities |
|
2003 |
Gender Equality and the Millennium Development Goals |
|
2004 |
Women and HIV/AIDS |
|
2005 |
Gender Equality Beyond 2005; Building a More Secure Future |
|
2006 |
Women in Decision-making |
|
2007 |
Ending Impunity for Violence Against Women and Girls |
|
2008 |
Investing in Women and Girls |
|
2009 |
Women and Men United to End Violence Against Women and Girls |
|
2010 |
Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities: Progress for All |
|
2011 |
Equal Access to Education, Training, and Science and Technology: Pathway to Decent Work for Women |
|
2012 |
Empower Rural Women, End Poverty and Hunger |
|
2013 |
A Promise is a Promise: Time for Action to End Violence Against Women |
|
2014 |
Equality for Women is Progress for All |
|
2015 |
Empowering Women, Empowering Humanity: Picture it! |
|
2016 |
Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality |
|
2017 |
Women in the Changing World of Work: Planet 50-50 by 2030 |
|
2018 |
Time is Now: Rural and urban activists transforming women’s lives |