International Women's Day 2002

Saving Women's Lives: Resources Fact Sheets in English, Spanish, and French Experts and Spokespeople: Supporting the Girl Child: Leslie Wright, Representative, World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts Mary Purcell, UN Representative, International Federation of University Women Education: Vicki Sant, President, The Summit Foundation Mary Purcell, UN Representative, International Federation of University Women Marilyn Fowler, President/CEO, Women's Intercultural Network Martha Burke, Chair, National Council of Women's Organizations Jill Sheffield, President, Family Care International Ellen Sweet, Vice President of Public Affairs, International Women's Health Coalition United Nations Population Fund: Sarah Craven, U.S. Committee for UNFPA Microbicides: Carole Mahoney, International Center for Research on Women

Click here for a list of events, resources and statements addressing International Women's Day 2002

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March 4 - International Women’s Day (March 8) is an occasion marked by women’s groups around the world. The date is commemorated at the United Nations and is designated in many countries as a national holiday. Women on all continents, often divided by national boundaries, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic and political differences, come together to celebrate their day and look back to a tradition that represents at least eight decades of struggle for equality, justice, peace and development.

The story can be traced to the “Folkets Hus” in Copenhagen, Denmark, where International Women’s Day was proclaimed in 1910 due to the efforts of Clara Zetkin, a member of the International Ladies Garments Workers’ Union. It was at her urging that the Second International Conference of Socialist Women passed a resolution proposing that an “annual Women’s Day – a unified international demonstration” – should be celebrated in honour of the movement for women’s rights and freedom.

The adoption of the resolution by more than one hundred delegates from 17 countries brought to fruition acts of courage demonstrated by generations of women before then:

1789: During the French Revolution, Parisian women calling for “liberty, equality, fraternity” demanded women’s suffrage fro the first time as they marched to Versailles;

1857: On 8th March, female members of the textile and clothing industry demonstrated in the streets of New York, demanding the right to work as well as the guarantee of more humane working conditions;

1866: The First Congress on the International Worker’s Association adopted a resolution on women’s professional work, thus openly challenging the tradition that a woman’s place is in the home;

1889: On 19th July, Clara Zetkin delivered her first speech on the problems of women to the Founding Congress of the second International in Paris. She advocated women’s rights to work and protection of mothers and children, as well as women’s broad participation in national and international events;

1899: At the Hague, Netherlands, a women’s conference against war marked the starting point of an anti-war movement which gathered momentum into the 20th century;

1911: As a result of the decision by the Copenhagen Conference, International Women’s Day was marked for the first time in March 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland where over one million men and women attended rallies. In additional to the right to vote and to hold public office, they demanded the right to work, to vocational training and to an end to discrimination on the job. In the following year, observances spread to France, the Netherlands and Sweden, in 1913 the first rally for International Women’s Day was held in St Petersberg, Russia, despite police intimidation;

1914: International Women’s Day was held under the banner of the peace movement to protest the war that was brewing in Europe.

Since those early years, the significance of the event has grown as women in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean have begun to coordinate efforts to review progress in their fight for equal rights and economic and social progress sand to intensify efforts for the full realization of their human rights.

In the area of health, governments have been forced to address the HIV/AIDS pandemic as an economic issue. The fact that women in the 15 – 24 age group are most affected is cause for concern since unequal power relations between men and women deny women and girls the right to say no to unwanted and unprotected sex.

In spite of this, there are still questions and taboos around including sex education on the school curriculum while not ensuring that parents are equipped and willing to impact the knowledge to their children. The resultant gap in information leads to teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS, and homelessness for many children orphaned by the epidemic.

A critical issue is that the various macro-economic development policies and agreements adopted by our governments do not take women’s needs into account. Although there is much lobbying against this situation, change is slow, due in part to the low involvement of women in politics and decision-making. Women are not at the table when critical decisions are taken that affect their lives.

International Women’s Day is an occasion to draw attention to the barriers that hinder the advancement of women. Collective action by Governments, non-governmental organization and the private sector to address the critical areas of concern as outlined in the Beijing Platform for Action, including:

The persistent and increasing burden of poverty on women.

Inequalities and inadequacies in and unequal access to education and training.

Inequalities and inadequacies in and unequal access to health care and related services.

Violence against women.

The effects of armed or other kinds of conflicts on women, including those living under foreign occupation.

Inequality in economic structures and policies, in all forms of productive activities and in access to resources.

Inequalities between men and women in the sharing of power and decision-making at all levels.

Insufficient mechanisms at levels to promote the advancement of women.

Lack of respect for and inadequate promotion and protection of human rights of women.

Stereotyping of women and inequality in women’s access to and participation in all communication systems, especially in the media the safeguarding of the environment.

Persistent discrimination against the violation of the rights of the girl-child.

(Written by The Caribbean Association for Feminist Research and Action (CAFRA)

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