Celebrating progress and advocating for women’s equality

International Women’s Day (IWD) celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women and is a call to action to accelerate gender equality. Rooted in the labor movement of the early 20th century, the day has become a global celebration and reminder of the work that still needs to be done to achieve gender equality.

Internationally, the origins of Women’s Day can be traced back to 1908, when 15,000 women marched in New York City demanding shorter work hours, better wages and the right to vote. The following year, the Socialist Party of the United States designated February 28 as the first National Women’s Day.

Global recognition

In 1910, at the Second International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen, Clara Zetkin proposed the creation of an annual Women’s Day. The idea was unanimously adopted, and the first International Women’s Day was celebrated on March 19, 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland.

Later, the date of International Women’s Day was moved to March 8 and was adopted by the United Nations in 1975 as a globally recognized and celebrated day in conjunction with International Women’s Year. Since then, International Women’s Day has been marked by specific themes, focusing on pressing issues affecting women around the world.

International Women’s Day has multiple purposes, including recognizing the contributions of women in various fields such as politics, business, art and science, drawing attention to issues such as gender inequality, gender-based violence and discrimination, and promoting gender equality and women’s rights worldwide.

International Women’s Day also features a variety of events reflecting different cultural contexts and challenges, including marches and rallies, conferences and panel discussions, cultural performances, and corporate and educational activities.

Closer to life

Women’s Day in South Africa is celebrated on August 9 every year to commemorate the women’s march against apartheid in 1956. This day honours the women who stood up for their courage, strength and tenacity against apartheid and gender inequality, marking a defining moment in the country’s history.

On 9 August 1956, more than 20,000 women from all backgrounds marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria. They were protesting against the oppressive pass laws that required black South Africans to carry domestic passports, restricting their freedom of movement.

The march was organised by the Federation of South African Women (FSAW) and led by celebrities such as Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa and Sophia Williams-De Bruyn.

The women presented a petition with more than 100,000 signatures to then Prime Minister JG Strijdom, challenging the pass laws and demanding equal rights. Their slogan “Wathint’ Abafazi, Wathint’ Imbokodo!” (You hit a woman, you hit a stone) became a powerful symbol of the struggle against apartheid and gender oppression.

Keep going

Women’s Day is not only about celebrating past victories, but also about highlighting the struggles women currently face, including gender-based violence, economic inequality, and lack of education and health care. Activists use the day to draw attention to these challenges and call for continued efforts to achieve gender equality.

Women’s Day is a powerful reminder of the progress made in women’s rights and the work that remains to be done to achieve full gender equality. Women’s Day celebrates the achievements of women while calling for continued action to address the challenges they face. By uniting behind common goals and themes, Women’s Day inspires and mobilizes people to advocate for a more equitable and inclusive world for women and girls.

The idea behind Women’s Day, therefore, highlights the importance of collective efforts in addressing these issues, encouraging individuals, communities and governments to promote equal policies, advocate for laws and policies that support women’s rights and gender equality, invest in programs and initiatives that enhance women’s economic, social and political empowerment, and ultimately challenge stereotypes and prejudices.