Why do we celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8?

·

International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8 every year and is a focal point in the movement for women’s rights.

But why do we celebrate on March 8?

The UN began celebrating International Women’s Day in the International Women’s Year – 1975. In 1977, the UN General Assembly invited member states to proclaim March 8 as the UN Day for women’s rights and world peace.

In Australia, International Women’s Day has been informally celebrated since the early 1920s.

International Women’s Day rally, Melbourne 1975.

The first Australian IWD rally, organised by the Militant Women’s Movement of the Communist Party of Australia, took place on March 25, 1928 in the Sydney Domain.

IWD gained momentum in Australia around the time of the Second World War. Activists such as Jessie Street campaigned for women’s rights as workers because women at the time were often paid only 54 percent of men’s wages.

These days, International Women’s Day is marked in Australia with a diverse array of events including marches, rallies and fundraising events.

Source: SAGE.

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Latest News

Kalamata mural of Maria Callas wins 2025 street art cities best mural award

A monumental mural depicting legendary opera singer Maria Callas in the city of Kalamata has been awarded Best Mural of the Year.

Bethlehem’s Grotto of the Nativity to undergo first restoration in six centuries

The restoration was announced on January 23 by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Custody of the Holy Land.

Greece and Italy join forces to protect cultural heritage

Greece and Italy have agreed to deepen their cooperation on the protection of cultural heritage by establishing a joint working group.

Greece records EU’s highest rate of home heating hardship

Almost one in five people in Greece were unable to adequately heat their homes in 2024, according to data released by Eurostat.

Oldest wooden tools discovered at Greek Archaeological site

Scientists have recovered what are believed to be the oldest wooden tools ever found, dating back about 430,000 years.

You May Also Like

King Charles III wraps up Australian visit with a nod to Greece

As King Charles III and Queen Camilla wrapped up their visit to Australia, the King donned a tie adorned with the Greek flag.

Napoleon Perdis on ‘evolving’ after his makeup empire collapsed in Australia

Napoleon Perdis details how his 'world evolved' once his make-up empire collapsed in Australia in January 2019.

Erdogan says US sanctions a ‘hostile attack’ on Turkish rights as Greece praises the move

Erdogan has said that US sanctions imposed on Turkey over its purchase of Russian defense systems were an attack on Ankara’s sovereign rights