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| INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR WOMEN | | | Dr. Parveen Kumar, Dr. D. Namgyal | 3/7/2020 11:25:38 PM |
| The International Day for Women celebrated on March 8 every year is a worldwide event that celebrates women’s achievements from the social to the political and at the same time calling for gender equality. The day although not affiliated with any particular group, yet brings together governments, women’s organizations, corporations and charities. The day is marked around the world with awareness drives, live talks, rallies, networking events, conferences and marches.
Since the inception of mankind, the women are facing discrimination. Discrimination against women starts right from the birth. Gender lines are drawn early, and exclusions for women continue throughout adulthood.
Distinction, exclusion or restriction are still made on the basis of sex and gender and that has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, and on a basis of equality between women and men, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field. Although the constitution of every country grants equality to each of its citizen but the harsh reality is that women still are a neglected lot. The original aim to achieve full gender equality for women in the world has still not been realized. Disparity exists in every field. The sex ratio is tilted highly in favour of the males, a gender pay gap persists across the globe, and women are still not present in equal numbers in business or politics. Figures show that globally, women’s education, health and violence towards women is still worse than that of men. Women are also paid less than half than men at some of Britain’s major companies, according to recent gender pay gap figures. According to a 2017 report by the World Economic Forum (WEF), it could still take another 100 years before the global equality gap between men and women disappears entirely.
It’s difficult to say exactly when International Women Day began to be celebrated. It is believed that it originated back in 1908 when some 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding voting rights, better pay and shorter working hours. A year later, the first National Woman’s Day was observed in the United States on February 28, in accordance with a declaration by the Socialist Party of America.
In 1910, a woman called Clara Zetkin leader of the ‘women’s office’ for the Social Democratic Party in Germany came out with the idea of an International Women’s Day. She suggested that every country should celebrate women on one day every year to push for their demands. A conference of more than 100 women from 17 countries agreed to her suggestion and International Women Day was formed. In 1911, it was celebrated for the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on March 19. In 1913, it was decided to celebrate International Women Day on March 8 and since then it has been celebrated on that day. The United Nations recognized this day in 1975 and since it has created a theme each year for the celebration of the day. In 2011, former US President Barack Obama proclaimed March to be ‘Women’s History Month’. Every year the International Women Day is celebrated with a theme. Last year, the theme was ‘Balance for Better’ which aimed to encourage gender balance in boardrooms, in the media and in wealth as a way for economies to thrive. It echoed the aims of the Telegraph’s Women Mean Business campaign which was launched on IWD 2018 to help close the funding gap for female entrepreneurs in Britain.
This year the theme of this day is ‘Each for Equal’, recognizing all of the actions we can take as individuals to challenge stereotypes, fight prejudice and celebrate women’s achievements.
According to the World Economic Forum, the gender gap won’t close until 2186.
On IWD, women across the world come together to force the world to recognize these inequalities while also celebrating the achievements of women who have overcome these barriers. The year 2020 is an important one for gender equality. It is the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the most advanced blueprint for achieving gender equality in the world. It also marks 10 years since the establishment of UN Women, and the 20th anniversary of the UN Security Council resolution 1325 on women, peace and security. This year the celebration of international women day will focus on ‘an equal world is an enabled world’.
It will definitely offer an opportunity to reflect on the progress made, will give a call for change and will serve as a platform to celebrate the acts of courage and determination by those ordinary women who by dint of their hard work and determination rose to new heights and played an extraordinary role in the history of their respective countries and the world.
Around the world and through the decades, the International Women Day has all along been celebrated as a shared history of global struggle for gender equality.
Regardless of the age, country, background or gender, the fight for equal rights is now collectively defining us and represents a manifestation of our actions taken together to achieve gender equality. This day renews our dedication, efforts and commitment to work for a world free of gender discrimination and equal rights for all.
The authors are scientist and Head, KVK-Leh; can be reached at [email protected] |
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