By Paul Whitelock
International Women's Day is celebrated annually on 8 March as a focal point in the women’s rights movement. IWD gives focus to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women.
This important day will be celebrated throughout the world, tomorrow, Saturday.
Origins
Spurred on 
by the universal female suffrage movement, IWD originated from labour movements in North America and Europe during the early 20th century.
The earliest version reported was a "Women’s Day" organised by the Socialist Party of America in New York City on 28 February, 1909.
This inspired German delegates at the 1910 International Socialist Women’s Conference to propose "a special Women's Day" be organised annually.
The following year, 1911, saw the first demonstrations and commemorations of International Women's Day across Europe.
Development
After the Russian Revolution in 1917, IWD was made a national holiday on March 8; it was subsequently celebrated on that date by the socialist movement and communist countries.
To start with the holiday was associated with far-left movements and governments until its adoption by the global feminist movement in the late 1960s.
IWD became a mainstream global holiday following its promotion by the United Nations in 1977.
International Women's Day is a public holiday in several countries. The UN observes the holiday in connection with a particular issue, campaign, or theme in women's rights.
Whilst IWD is not an official holiday in most countries of Europe, it is celebrated nonetheless.
Several countries, including Uruguay, Spain, Italy, France and Algeria, have squares or other public spaces named after 8 March in reference to International Women's Day.
International Women’s Day 2025
The theme for 2025 is: “Her Rights, Our Future, Right Now”, and the campaign theme is; “Accelerate Action”.
In the British House of Commons yesterday MP Jess Phillips, Parlia
mentary Under-Secretary of State for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls in the “newish” Labour government, read out the names of the British women who had been murdered by men in 2024.
There were 95 names – a shocking figure.
Phillips also mentioned other female deaths where the perpetrator has not been convicted .....
..... and also a number of suicides by abused women and girls.
Watch her speech here:
Jess Phillips MP – lists the 95 women killed by men, or where the suspect is a man – March 2025
Note:
This is the 10th year in succession that Jess Phillips has read out the names of those killed in the preceding year.
However, this was the first time that she was able to do so from the despatch box, and not from the back benches as a spokesperson for the opposition.
Epilogue
Whilst IWD is about the positive side of women’s place in society, it is important to be reminded that there is still a lot of work to be done.
Links:
International Women's Day - 8 March 2024 - Help me, Ronda
International Women's Day - 8 March - Secret Serrania de Ronda
International Women’s Day: Spanish Health Minister announces new measures to ensure equal abortion rights - Olive Press News Spain
© The History Man
With thanks to:
Wikipedia for information and most photos
Youtube for the video
Other photos courtesy of BBC, IWD, Facebook, Freepik
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