International Women’s Day 2019 is being Celebrated in CHT
News Desk:
International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8 every year. It is a focal point in the movement for women’s rights. After the Socialist Party of America organized a Women’s Day on February 28, 1909 in New York, the 1910 International Socialist Woman’s Conference suggested a Women’s Day be held annually. After women gained suffrage in Soviet Russia in 1917, March 8 became a national holiday there. The day was then predominantly celebrated by the socialist movement and communist countries until it was adopted in 1975 by the United Nations.
Today, International Women’s Day is a public holiday in some countries and largely ignored elsewhere. In some places, it is a day of protest; in others, it is a day that celebrates womanhood.
Eight fascinating facts about International Women’s Day might be noted:
• The first modern International Women’s Day was held in 1914, four years after its conception. March 8, 1914 was chosen because it was a Sunday, which a majority of women would have off from work and thus would be able to participate in marches and other events. March 8 was then chosen to be the date for International Women’s Day.
• International Women’s Day was celebrated for the first time by the United Nations in 1975, which was designated as International Women’s Year.
• On 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.
• It’s an official holiday in 27 countries including China, Vietnam, Uganda, Afghanistan, Cuba, and Russia.
• The meaning of the holiday has evolved. It began as a massive protest by women who wanted better working conditions, better pay, and the right to vote. But since then, the holiday has evolved into a day of awareness on women’s progress in the ongoing fight for gender equality, and a day to address issues across the globe that directly affects women.
• It started as a day, and is now celebrated all month long. President Obama was responsible for making March Women’s History Month, starting in 2011. And even though IWD was created by women for women, it is honored each year by more and more men who understand the importance of gender equality.
• The 2016 theme for International Women’s Day is “Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality”. The United Nations observance on 8 March will reflect on how to accelerate the 2030 Agenda, building momentum for the effective implementation of the new Sustainable Development Goals.
• The International Women’s Day logo is in purple and white and features the symbol of Venus, the female symbol.
There were rally and discussion meeting in Khagrachari Sadar and Laxmichari. The rally started from Surjo Shikha club led by JSS(R) Organizing Secretary Profullo Chakma and it went upto Marma Sangshad, Milonpur. There were presence of 350 to 400 people. In Laxmichari, a convention has been arranged at Laxmichari Upazilla Community Center which was inaugurated Mrs. Hassina Akhter, Upazilla Women Related Officer.