Celebrating 100 years of International Women’s Day
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“The fastest way to change society is to mobilize the women of the world.” – Charles Malik, former president, United Nations General Assembly
The world was a vastly different place in 1911 than it is now. The Mexican Revolution was in full swing, Italy declared war on the Ottoman Empire, the first official air mail flight took place, carrying 6,500 letters 13 kilometres between two Indian cities. Machu Picchu was rediscovered, superconductivity was discovered and revolutionaries under Sun Yat-sen overthrew China’s Qing Dynasty.
It was the year of birth for many world changers like Ronald Reagan, Tennessee Williams, Marshall McLuhan, Lucille Ball, and also Jack Ruby and Josef Mengele.
And, 1911 was the first official celebration of the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future with International Women’s Day.
The idea was brought up in 1910 by Clara Zetkin at the second International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen. Zetkin, Leader of the ‘Women’s Office’ for the Social Democratic Party in Germany, tabled the idea of an International Women’s Day. She suggested that every year in every country there should be a celebration on the same day – a Women’s Day – to press for women’s 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 so International Women’s Day was the result.
Today, 100 years later, every March 8 marks International Women’s Day – a global day of recognition and celebration for women and women’s rights.
Do your bit to ensure that the future for girls is bright, equal, safe and rewarding.
To find International Women’s Day events in your area, click here.
To learn more visit the International Women’s Day website.
