International Women's Day - 8 March
Every year, 8 March is celebrated around the world as International Women's Day. It marks the struggle for gender equality that has gone on for many generations. The day has been celebrated since the early 20th Century by women in North America and across Europe campaigning for women's rights to work, vote, hold public office and for an end to discrimination. Today, thousands of activities occur on the day to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women across the world.
The United Nations has marked International Women’s Day since 1975 and each year the UN focuses on a different theme.The 2017 theme is: “Women in the Changing World of Work: Planet 50-50 by 2030”. The idea of this theme is to consider how to accelerate the 2030 Agenda, building momentum for the effective implementation of the new Sustainable Development Goals, especially goal number 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls; and number 4: Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning. The theme will also focus on new commitments under UN Women’s Step It Up initiative, and other existing commitments on gender equality, women’s empowerment and women’s human rights.
