We've come a long way ... or have we? Remove politics from the situation.
Of course, this day brings me to the Israeli women (young and old) that were brutally raped, murdered and still being held hostage by Hamas terrorists. International Women's Day? Where is the outrage? Where are the massive marches calling for the freedom of these women?
Are Israeli, female hostages excluded?
What happened to the "equal and safe" for ALL women in the IWD doctrine (last paragraph below)?
Where is the outrage of 5 months of rape and torture of women - young and old?
If you're curious, here's how International Women's Day (IWD) began ....
The question is ... who will step up to protect ALL women? Regardless of race, religion or color of skin?
1908: Great unrest and critical debate were occurring among women. Women's oppression and inequality were spurring women to become more vocal and active in campaigning for change. Then in 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay, and voting rights.
1910: A second International Conference of Working Women was held in Copenhagen. A woman named 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 proposed that every year in every country there should be a celebration on the same day - a Women's Day - to press for their demands. The conference of over 100 women from 17 countries greeted Zetkin's suggestion with unanimous approval and thus International Women's Day was the result.
1913-1914: On the eve of World War I campaigning for peace, Russian women observed their first International Women's Day on February 23, the last Sunday in February. Following discussions, International Women's Day was agreed to be marked annually on March 8 translated into the widely adopted Gregorian calendar from February 23 - and this day has remained the global date for International Women's Day ever since. In 1914, women across Europe held rallies to campaign against the war and to express women's solidarity.
Fast forward to 1975 and the UN
1975: International Women's Day was marked for the first time by the United Nations. December 1977, the General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace to be observed on any day of the year by Member States, in accordance with their historical and national traditions.
1996 - 1999: The UN announced its first annual theme "Celebrating the past, Planning for the Future" which was followed in 1997 with "Women at the Peace Table", in 1998 with "Women and Human Rights", in 1999 with "World Free of Violence Against Women", and so on each year. (Curious to know why this does not apply to those today being held hostage?)
2001: Internationalwomensday.com platform was launched with the specific aim of re-energizing the day and inviting mass participation, a focus which continues to this day, by celebrating and making visible the achievements of women, while continuing the call for accelerating gender parity.
2024 and beyond ... From the IWD Platform:
The world has witnessed a significant change and attitudinal shift in both women's and society's thoughts about women's equality and emancipation. The unfortunate fact is that women are still not paid equally to that of their male counterparts, women still are not present in equal numbers in business or politics, and globally women's education, health and the violence against them is worse than that of men. A global web of rich and diverse local activity connects women from all around the world. IWD is a powerful movement increasing in status. So make a difference, think globally and act locally.All choices of IWD activity are valid, that's what makes IWD so inclusive.
There's a space and place for everyone to help fight the good fight. That's the spirit of abundance. Do your bit to ensure that the future for girls is bright, equal, safe, and rewarding.
The silence is deafening!
