International Women’s Day is a day of worldwide celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. Celebrated annually on the 8th of March, it is also an opportunity to reflect and continue the fight for gender equality.
Each year this day has a special theme, often related to contemporary events, trends and struggles. This year it is ‘breaking the bias’ – ‘gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow’.
What is the origin of International Women’s Day?
The oldest form of Women’s Day started in 1908, when 15,000 women took part in a march in New York City, USA, demanding shorter working hours, better pay, and voting rights. A year later, Socialist Party of America commemorated the anniversary of the march declaring the first National Women’s Day.
In 1910, Clara Zetkin spoke at the International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen, and suggested to make this event international. The 100 women attending unanimously supported the idea, and 1911 saw the first International Women’s Day, celebrated in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland, as well as USA.
In 1975, United Nations started marking the day and organizing celebrations. In 1996, UN started giving a special theme every year, with the first one being ‘Celebrating the Past, Planning for the Future’.
International Women’s Day 2022
In keeping with the theme of gender equality – and against discrimination – Aruba Today is focusing on the daily life of women in Aruba, in each stage of their life. In this way we lend a voice to the child, teenager, adult and elderly, who are not always heard. By giving space for women to use their own voice to tell their own stories, by giving them space to present their own ideas and creations, we open the road to reach gender equality in all aspects of our society.
