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The world celebrates International Women's Day today
11:49 * 08.03.14
The International Women's Day (IWD) has been observed since in the
early 1900's, a time of great expansion and turbulence in the
industrialized world that saw booming population growth and the rise
of radical ideologies.
1908
Great unrest and critical debate was occurring amongst women. Women's
oppression and inequality was spurring women to become more vocal and
active in campaigning for change. Then in 1908, 15,000 women marched
through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting
rights.
1909
In accordance with a declaration by the Socialist Party of America,
the first National Woman's Day (NWD) was observed across the United
States on 28 February. Women continued to celebrate NWD on the last
Sunday of February until 1913.
1910
In 1910 a second International Conference of Working Women was held in
Copenhagen. A woman named a Clara Zetkin (Leader of the 'Women's
Office' for the Social Democratic Party in Germany) tabled the idea of
an International Women's Day. She proposed that every year in every
country there should be a celebration on the same day - a Women's Day
- to press for their 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
thus International Women's Day was the result.
1911
Following the decision agreed at Copenhagen in 1911, International
Women's Day (IWD) was honoured the first time in Austria, Denmark,
Germany and Switzerland on 19 March. More than one million women and
men attended IWD rallies campaigning for women's rights to work, vote,
be trained, to hold public office and end discrimination. However less
than a week later on 25 March, the tragic 'Triangle Fire' in New York
City took the lives of more than 140 working women, most of them
Italian and Jewish immigrants. This disastrous event drew significant
attention to working conditions and labour legislation in the United
States that became a focus of subsequent International Women's Day
events. 1911 also saw women's 'Bread and Roses' campaign.
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
"bread and peace" in response to the death over 2 million Russian
soldiers in war. 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. The date the
women's strike commenced was Sunday 23 February on the Julian calendar
then in use in Russia. This day on the Gregorian calendar in use
elsewhere was 8 March.
1918 - 1999
Since its birth in the socialist movement, International Women's Day
has grown to become a global day of recognition and celebration across
developed and developing countries alike. For decades, IWD has grown
from strength to strength annually. For many years the United Nations
has held an annual IWD conference to coordinate international efforts
for women's rights and participation in social, political and economic
processes. 1975 was designated as 'International Women's Year' by the
United Nations. Women's organisations and governments around the world
have also observed IWD annually on 8 March by holding large-scale
events that honour women's advancement and while diligently reminding
of the continued vigilance and action required to ensure that women's
equality is gained and maintained in all aspects of life.
2000 and beyond
IWD is now an official holiday in many world countries, including
Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Cambodia,
China (for women only), Cuba, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, Eritrea,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Madagascar (for women only), Moldova,
Mongolia, Montenegro, Nepal (for women only), Russia, Tajikistan,
Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Zambia. The
tradition sees men honouring their mothers, wives, girlfriends,
colleagues, etc with flowers and small gifts. In some countries IWD
has the equivalent status of Mother's Day where children give small
presents to their mothers and grandmothers.
See more here
Armenian News - Tert.am
11:49 * 08.03.14
The International Women's Day (IWD) has been observed since in the
early 1900's, a time of great expansion and turbulence in the
industrialized world that saw booming population growth and the rise
of radical ideologies.
1908
Great unrest and critical debate was occurring amongst women. Women's
oppression and inequality was spurring women to become more vocal and
active in campaigning for change. Then in 1908, 15,000 women marched
through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting
rights.
1909
In accordance with a declaration by the Socialist Party of America,
the first National Woman's Day (NWD) was observed across the United
States on 28 February. Women continued to celebrate NWD on the last
Sunday of February until 1913.
1910
In 1910 a second International Conference of Working Women was held in
Copenhagen. A woman named a Clara Zetkin (Leader of the 'Women's
Office' for the Social Democratic Party in Germany) tabled the idea of
an International Women's Day. She proposed that every year in every
country there should be a celebration on the same day - a Women's Day
- to press for their 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
thus International Women's Day was the result.
1911
Following the decision agreed at Copenhagen in 1911, International
Women's Day (IWD) was honoured the first time in Austria, Denmark,
Germany and Switzerland on 19 March. More than one million women and
men attended IWD rallies campaigning for women's rights to work, vote,
be trained, to hold public office and end discrimination. However less
than a week later on 25 March, the tragic 'Triangle Fire' in New York
City took the lives of more than 140 working women, most of them
Italian and Jewish immigrants. This disastrous event drew significant
attention to working conditions and labour legislation in the United
States that became a focus of subsequent International Women's Day
events. 1911 also saw women's 'Bread and Roses' campaign.
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
"bread and peace" in response to the death over 2 million Russian
soldiers in war. 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. The date the
women's strike commenced was Sunday 23 February on the Julian calendar
then in use in Russia. This day on the Gregorian calendar in use
elsewhere was 8 March.
1918 - 1999
Since its birth in the socialist movement, International Women's Day
has grown to become a global day of recognition and celebration across
developed and developing countries alike. For decades, IWD has grown
from strength to strength annually. For many years the United Nations
has held an annual IWD conference to coordinate international efforts
for women's rights and participation in social, political and economic
processes. 1975 was designated as 'International Women's Year' by the
United Nations. Women's organisations and governments around the world
have also observed IWD annually on 8 March by holding large-scale
events that honour women's advancement and while diligently reminding
of the continued vigilance and action required to ensure that women's
equality is gained and maintained in all aspects of life.
2000 and beyond
IWD is now an official holiday in many world countries, including
Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Cambodia,
China (for women only), Cuba, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, Eritrea,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Madagascar (for women only), Moldova,
Mongolia, Montenegro, Nepal (for women only), Russia, Tajikistan,
Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Zambia. The
tradition sees men honouring their mothers, wives, girlfriends,
colleagues, etc with flowers and small gifts. In some countries IWD
has the equivalent status of Mother's Day where children give small
presents to their mothers and grandmothers.
See more here
Armenian News - Tert.am