International Women's Day- March 8th

Yesterday was International women's Day (IWD).  Last year (2011), President Barak Obama proclaimed March to be "Women's History Month", calling Americans to mark International women's Day by reflecting on "the extraordinary accomplishments of women" in shaping the country's history. In 2011, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton launched the "100 Women Initiative: Empowering Women and Girls through International Exchanges",


International Women's Day is marked on March 8th every year.  In different regions the focus of the celebrations ranges from general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women to a celebration for women's economic, political and social achievements. Started as a Socialist political event, the holiday blended in the culture of many countries, primarily Eastern Europe, Russia. In many regions, the day lost its political flavour, and became simply an occasion for men to express their love for women in a way somewhat similar to a mixture of Mother's Day or Valentine's Day. In other regions, however, the original political and human rights theme 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.


This year’s theme is empowering rural women to end hunger and poverty.