women’s day 2024

International Women’s Day (IWD) stands as an annual celebration on March 8, marking a pivotal moment in the women’s rights movement. Focusing on crucial issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and combating violence against women, IWD originated from early 20th-century labor movements in North America and Europe. The initial “Women’s Day” event occurred on February 28, 1909, organized by the Socialist Party of America in New York City, inspiring the proposal for an annual “Women’s Day” at the 1910 International Socialist Women’s Conference. The first International Women’s Day on March 19, 1911, witnessed over a million people across Austria-Hungary, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland advocating for equal rights, including women’s suffrage. IWD’s association with far-left movements transitioned into mainstream global recognition in the late 1960s and received official endorsement by the United Nations in 1977. As a public holiday in numerous countries, the UN annually observes IWD with a focus on specific issues within the broader context of women’s rights.