International Women's Day to be observed on Mar, 8

ISLAMABAD:would be observed on March 8 worldwide including Pakistan

to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.

Every year on 8th of March, International Women’s Day is celebrated worldwide  to honour women’s accomplishments from political to social achievements and thus raising voice for gender equality. It has been observed since the early 1900s and is now recognized each year on March 8, Private news channel reported.

This day is not affiliated with any one group, but brings together governments, women’s organizations and other civil rights institutions to praise women for being role models despite hurdles and societal pressures.

In Pakistan working women in formal and informal sectors celebrate International Women s Day every year to commemorate their ongoing struggle for due rights, despite facing many restrictions.

It is not known when this day originated but its roots can be traced to 1908, when 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 US 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 tabled the idea of an International Women’s Day .

She suggested that every country should praise 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’s 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 transfer IWD to March 8, and it has been celebrated on this date ever since.

The day was recognized by the United Nations in 1975, but ever since it has created a theme each year for the celebration.

The theme for IWD 2017 is “Be bold for change” thus encouraging people to step up and take ground breaking action to help drive gender equality. The original aim of this day is to achieve full gender equality for women around the world which has still not been realized.

A gender pay gap persists across the globe and women are still not present in equal numbers in business or politics.

A number of functions including thought-provoking dialogue sessions and other activities would also be held to pay tribute to women’s struggle for their rights.