International Women's Day
A global day celebrating women's social, economic, political, and cultural achievements, and renewing the call for full gender equality.
Date8 March
TopicHuman Rights & Equality
Established1977
Ways to observe this day
- Honor a woman who has influenced your life with a message of appreciation
- Support a small business or initiative led by a woman in your community
- Attend an event or talk discussing gender equality issues
- Talk with the children in your family about the value of equality between women and men
International Women's Day traces its roots to early 20th-century labor movements demanding better rights for working women in Europe and North America, with the first related events held in 1911. The United Nations formally began marking the day in 1975, declared the "International Women's Year," and in December 1977 the General Assembly adopted a resolution inviting member states to proclaim a day for women's rights and world peace, cementing March 8 as its global date.
The day celebrates women's achievements across every field while highlighting the gaps that persist between genders in pay, political representation, protection from violence, and access to education and work. It is marked worldwide through marches, conferences, and media campaigns built around a different theme each year, along with events honoring women who have shaped their communities and discussions on the policies needed to accelerate full gender equality.
