10 interesting and revealing facts you should know about International Women's Day
The event, popularly known as International Women's Day (IWD) celebration first started as a global campaign for better pay and fundamental rights for women, is now aimed at inspiring females globally. This key objective perfectly coincides with the year's theme of the time-honoured day: #PressforProgress.
In the spirit of progress for womanhood, it is important to pay attention to some of the facts about the event. Below is a list of 10 of such facts
1. Its origin
The first National Women’s Day was marked on February 28, 1909, in the United States after a declaration by the Socialist Party of America.
2. Its originator
Clara Zetkin, the leader of the 'Women's Office' for the Social Democratic Party (SDP), in Germany, brought up the idea of an IWD, at an international conference of working women in Copenhagen in 1910. She proposed that every year in every country there should be a celebration on the same day. The idea was met with massive approval.
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3. Its Evolution
IWD has evolved and progresses from an event set for demanding a better pay and voting rights females across the world to a medium for pushing the limits of achieving for women globally.
4. Its first celebration
1911 witnessed IWD honoured for the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on March 19. More than a million people attended rallies campaigning for women's rights to work, vote, be trained, to hold public office and end discrimination.
5. Its first recognition in Russia
On the eve of World War I campaigning for peace, Russian women observed their first International Women's Day on the last Sunday in February 1913. In 1965, it was declared as a non working day in the USSR.
6. Its first change of date
IWD was transferred to March 8, in 1965 and has remained the global date for the event ever since.
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7. Its first sponsorship from United Nations
In 1975, the United Nations gave official sanction to IWD and began sponsoring it.
8. Its extension of celebration
The United States now designates the whole month of March as 'Women's History Month'.
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9. Its recognition in strategic nations
IWD is also an official holiday in 15 countries including China, Ukraine and Vietnam.
10. Its place on Google's site
Over the past few years Google have marked the occasion with a “Google Doodle” for IWD, changing their logo on the search engine’s homepage to reflect and support the occasion.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that the Center for Health Sciences Research, Training and Development (CHESTRAD), had felicitated with the women on the occasion of the 2018 edition of international women's day.
In a statement sent to Legit.ng, the president of CHESTRAD and global director of I Will Give (IWG), initiative Lola Dare, in a goodwill message, admonished the womenfolk to celebrate the modest progress that had been achieved in promoting women’s inclusion and economic empowerment.
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Source: Legit.ng
