International Women’s Day 2023

International Women’s Day 2023 will be observed on March 8 under the theme “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”. “This International Women’s Day, 8 March, join UN Women and the world in coming together under the theme “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”, and call for climate action for women, by women,” the United Nations has said.
“Women and girls experience the greatest impacts of the climate crisis as it amplifies existing gender inequalities and puts women’s lives and livelihoods at risk. Across the world, women depend more on, yet have less access to, natural resources, and often bear a disproportionate responsibility for securing food, water, and fuel,” it says and adds that women are essential to leading and driving change in climate adaptation, mitigation and solutions.

“Without the inclusion of half of the world’s population, it is unlikely that solutions for a sustainable planet and a gender equal world tomorrow will be realized,” says the United Nations.

International Women’s Day 2023 is celebrated worldwide. On this day women are recognized for their achievements, contributions and leadership roles.

History of International Women’s Day 2023

International Women’s Day was first officially recognized by the United Nations in 1977.
However, one of the first calls for women’s rights dates back to as early as 1848 when in an anti-slavery convention, Americans Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott gathered hundreds of people in what is said to be first women’s rights convention in the US.
The first time Women’s Day was celebrated was in the United States on February 28, 1909. This day honoured the 1908 garment workers’ strike in New York, where women protested against working conditions.

Years later, in 1917 women in Russia chose to protest and strike for “bread and peace” on the last Sunday of February, which was 23 February; this date was March 8 as per Gregorian calendar. Before the revolution Russia had not adopted the Gregorian calendar therefore in 1917, 23 February in Russia corresponded to 8 March in the other European countries.

This is how the idea of Women’s Day to be celebrated on March 8 was thought of.

1975 was observed as the International Women’s Year and since then March 8 is being celebrated as International Women’s Day.

In India, national women’s day is observed on February 13 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sarojini Naidu, who was a pioneer in advocating for women’s rights. A political leader and a poet as well, Sarojini Naidu was called as the Nightingale of India.

UN on international days and weeks

“International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity,” says the United Nations and adds that the existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool.

Gender equality is of paramount importance in the context of climate change, and environmental and disaster risk reduction. On International Women’s Day 2022 women and girls who have been leading on climate change adaptation and response will be honoured for their leadership and contribution.

Here are the answers to some commonly asked questions about International Women’s Day 2023:

1. When is International Women’s Day observed?
   International Women’s Day is observed on March 8 every year.
2. Why is International Women’s Day observed on March 8?
   This links to the women’s movement in Russia held on 23 February 1917. Since Russia was not using the Gregorian calendar, 23 February in Russia corresponded to March 8 in other European countries. That is how the idea behind choosing March 8 as International Women’s Day came into force. In 1975 while celebrating the International Women’s Year, the United Nations began celebrating March 8 as International Women’s Day.
3. What is the theme of International Women’s Day 2023?
   The theme for International Women’s Day, 8 March 2023 (IWD 2023) is, “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”. This theme is aligned with the priority theme for the upcoming 67th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW-67), “Innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls”.
4. Why is International Women’s Day celebrated?
   International Women’s Day is celebrated to focus on gender equality and spread the message that without the inclusion of half of the population of the globe no vision can ever be fulfilled.
5. When was the first national women’s day observed?
   The first national women’s day was observed in the US on February 28, 1909.
6. When is national women’s day celebrated in India?
   India celebrates national women’s day on February 13 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sarojini Naidu.

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