International Women's Day: What and Why?

by RochusWolff CC-Lizenz

International Women's Day (IWD) is marked on March 8th of every year. It is a major day of global celebration for the economic, political and social achievements of women. Started as a political event, the holiday blended in the culture of many countries (primarily Russia and the countries of former Soviet bloc). In some celebrations, the day lost its political flavour, and became simply an occasion for men to express their sympathy and love to the women around them - somewhat similar to Western Mother's Day and St. Valentine's Day mixed together. In others, however, the political and human rights theme as designated by the United Nations runs strong, and political and social awareness of the struggles of women worldwide are brought out and examined in a hopeful manner. The IWD is also celebrated as the first spring holiday, as in the listed countries the first day of March is considered the first day of the spring season.

The first IWD was observed on 28 February 1909 in the United States following a declaration by the Socialist Party of America. Among other relevant historic events, it commemorates the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire (New York, 1911), where over 140 women lost their lives. The idea of having an international women's day was first put forward at the turn of the 20th century amid rapid world industrialization and economic expansion that led to protests over working conditions. Women from clothing and textile factories staged one such protest on 8 March 1857 in New York City. The garment workers were protesting what they saw as very poor working conditions and low wages. The protesters were attacked and dispersed by police. These women established their first labor union in the same month two years later.

More protests followed on 8 March in subsequent years, most notably in 1908 when 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights. In 1910 the first international women's conference was held in Copenhagen (in the labour-movement building located at Jagtvej 69, which today houses Ungdomshuset) by the Socialist International and an 'International Women's Day' was established, which was submitted by the important German Socialist Clara Zetkin. The following year, IWD was marked by over a million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. However, soon thereafter, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City killed over 140 garment workers. A lack of safety measures was blamed for the high death toll. Furthermore, on the eve of World War I, women across Europe held peace rallies on 8 March 1913. In the West, International Women's Day was commemorated during the 1910s and 1920s, but dwindled. It was revived by the rise of feminism in the 1960s.

Source: Wikipedia [International Women's Day]

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Appeals and Statements regarding March 8th, 2007

Education, Gender, and Violence
On International Women's Day, educators worldwide are demanding that governments act to halt violence that endangers women's lives, violates their rights, harms their families and poses an affront to humanity and international law.

Read the statement on the website of [Education International]

Equality, Development and Peace Means Ending Violece Against Women
In honor of the International Women's Day, Noeleen Heyzer, Director of UNIFEM, discusses the relationship between development, peace, and violence against women. The fight against violence against women, requires not only laws but also knowledge and understanding of the problem as well as calling into question such common explanations as culture and tradition.

Read the full statement on the website of [UNIFEM]

Solidarity for...

 ... the Pro-Choice Movement in Poland
Currently, the polish government takes on an extremely restrictive and conservative stance towards abortion. A law passed in 1993 grants women very limited abortion rights and now the right-wing political parties are even trying to ban abortion in the country all together. This has had the consequence that, even in cases when the abortion is legal, it is very hard for women to find a doctor who will perform the procedure.

Action on March 4th, 2007
Shortly before the International Women's Day, various polish organizations are calling for a mass demonstration in Warsaw. Activists from around the world are invited to show their solidarity by participating in the demonstration, by campaigning in front of polish embassies throughout Europe, and by holding their own demonstrations.

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 ... the protection of reproductive rights of women worldwide
Efforts to restrict reproductive rights are a threat not only in Poland. The Parliament in Nicaragua passed a restrictive abortion law in the fall of 2006 and a similar trend is becoming evident in Uruguay. And the list goes on...

Discussion (in Geman) on March 7th, 2007, 7pm
Bans on abortion from the Left?! Feminist Strategies against leftist conservative Gender politics

With Violeta Degado (Nicaragua) and Sarah Diehl (Germany)

Location: KATO Kulturbahnhof, at U-Bahnhof Schlessisches Tor (U1), 10997 Berlin
Please find further information on the websites of the organizers: [Rosa Luxemburg Foundation] and [FDCL]

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 ... No to Violence against Women 
Sexual violence continues to be a taboo in most societies, to varying degrees. An effective way to confront and break these taboos is to point out that sexual violence is often exercised by states and that this violence is usually embedded in the institutions--such as military and police force-- and structure-- such as the laws-- of the state. In this way, sexual violence can no longer be seen as just the arbitrary action of individuals.

Film and discussion (in German) on March 8th, 2007, at 5:30pm
FSK Kino at Oranienplatz, Segitzdamm 2, 10969 Berlin
Documentary film "Wer bist du, dass su sprichst?" by Maria Binder und Verena Franke

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 ... Equal opportunity in Germany 
It has been half a year since the law guaranteeing equal treatment was passed in Germany. In its honor and in honor of the International Women's Day, the Feminist Legal Institute is hosting a seminar on the changes and opportunities this law brings and what legal strategies should be pursued in the fight against discrimination.

Discussion on March 8th, 2007, at 7:00 pm
Cafe Kunst-Nah, Große Bergstraße 152, 22767 Hamburg

Aktualisiert: 22.03.2007, kra