Women's Day

International Woman's Day is celebrated on March 8 every year. The International Woman's Day (IWD) is celebrated as the first spring holiday. It has been observed since the early 1900's. Started as a political event, the International Women’s Day, has become a major day of global celebration for the economic, political and social achievements of women. This date is commemorated at the United Nations. In many countries, this day is designated as a national holiday.

The theme for 2009 is: "Women and men united to end violence against women and girls."

International Women's Day (8 March) is an occasion that marks the celebration of the womanhood. Women's groups around the world take great pride in rejoicing the day with great pleasure. Women across the world is divided by national boundaries and the ethnic, cultural, economic, political and linguistic differences, but they all come together and join hands to celebrate International Women’s Day. It is the day to look back and applaud the centuries-old struggle of women for equality, justice, peace and development.

First Women’s Day celebration: The first International Women’s (IWD) was observed across the United States on 28 February 1909, in accordance with a declaration by the Socialist Party of America.

2009 International Women's Day : Like every year, 2009 International Women's Day, seems to be celebrated with great joy and rejoice. All over the world, various cultural events are staged. There’s a great availability of special gifts for the womenfolk. From Women’s Day greeting cards and flowers to chocolates and apparels are purchased. There are heavy discounts, sale, special offers on various items to attract the young girls and women. On this occasion the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has stressed on the specific health-care needs of women that’s often ignored or insufficiently taken into account in war situations.

The Role of the United Nations :
United Nations have made a major contribution to support the campaign of the equal rights of women. The Charter of the United Nations, signed in San Francisco in 1945, was the first international agreement to proclaim gender equality as a fundamental human right. United Nations has internationally agreed strategies, standards, programs and goals for the advancement of the status of women worldwide. The organization works on the full participation, and the empowerment, of the women worldwide. In the past, United Nations worked diligently for the advancement of women and worked on four directions: promotion of legal measures; mobilization of public opinion and international action; training and research, including the compilation of gender desegregated statistics; and direct assistance to disadvantaged groups.