A Day for Women: #womensday
International Women’s Day was this past week on March 8th. It’s my 4th favorite celebrated day of the year behind my birthday, Thanksgiving, and Christmas- haha. IWD isn’t celebrated in the States as much as it is in other countries. But, America is where I firstly heard about it when I interned for the Women’s Democracy Network (WDN) in Washington, DC a few years ago. We spent weeks planning for a delegation of 10 women parliamentarians to take part in activities, lectures, trainings, and dinners.
Because my experience with WDN impacted my life to want to celebrate women, every year I try to host an event in some way. And this year, since I’m working at an international bilingual school, I cleared it with my boss, and worked with a colleague to host a special assembly of 5 women panelists for the 3rd – 5th grade students in honor of this day for women. The students loved it and were engaged, asking very detailed questions about women’s disadvantages and struggles.
To make a difference or to host an event doesn’t mean you have to be well-known with a lot of resources at your fingertips. Sure, these things do help! But for IWD, you just need the passion, tenacity, drive, and a good group of women to talk about gender equality, their experiences, and there you go, you will have a successful event. If you build an event people will come.
The 2016 theme for International Women’s Day is “Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality.” The theme reflects on how to accelerate existing commitments on gender equality, women’s empowerment and women’s human rights.
What is International Women’s Day?:
The United Nations began celebrating International Women’s Day (IWD) on 8 March during International Women’s Year 1975. Two years later, in December 1977, the General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace to be observed on any day of the year by Member States, in accordance with their historical and national traditions.
International Women’s Day first emerged from the activities of labour movements at the turn of the twentieth century in North America and across Europe. Since those early years, International Women’s Day has assumed a new global dimension for women in developed and developing countries alike. The growing international women’s movement, which has been strengthened by four global United Nations women’s conferences, has helped make the commemoration a rallying point to build support for women’s rights and participation in the political and economic arenas.
Increasingly, International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities. [1]
So, if you have a passion for something in life. Don't be afraid to host an event and bring awareness to it! Be the change that you wish to see in the world!
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[1]-International Women's Day: http://www.un.org/en/events/womensday/history.shtml