INTERNATIONAL Women's Day is TODAY (March 8), and people all over the world will be celebrating at events organised for the occasion. But what is the day, why is it celebrated and how do people mark it? Here's what we know. 4 Thousands of demonstrators attend a rally for International Women's Day on March 8, 2017, in Melbourne, Australia Credit: Getty Images When is International Women's Day 2019 and what is it? International Women’s Day is held each year on March 8 - TODAY. It is a worldwide event that celebrates women’s achievements and calls for gender equality. The day has been observed since the early 1900s and aims to bring together governments, women's organisations and charities. In 2019, Berlin has become the first region within the European Union to mark Women's Day with a public holiday. 4 A group of women are arrested after blocking the street at Columbus Circle during a rally and protest marking International Women's Day in New York Credit: EPA How is International Women's Day celebrated? Women have been encouraged to celebrate the event by taking the day off work to demonstrate how valuable they are to the economy. Both women and men celebrate the occasion by speaking out for equality, sharing information and support online, and making their voice heard. Large numbers of women take part in marches on International Women's Day. Some years women have even gone on strike. Marches and strikes take place for multiple causes: ending gender violence, reproductive justice, body autonomy and freedom of choice for all women, labour rights and equal pay for equal work, environmental justice and recognition of its links with social inequality, ending racism and police brutality. 4 Women and supporters rally and dance on International Women's Day on March 8, 2017, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Protestors rallied across the country for increased rights and protections for women Credit: Getty Images Many workplaces celebrate the day in the office with a themed morning tea or lunch, possibly with women speakers or a film screening on women's issues. Another way to celebrate the day by yourself is to read a compelling book by a female author, or watch a film directed by and starring women. You could even watch TED talk by an inspiring woman. Other ways include: attending a women's networking event, donating to a local women's refuge, or simply do something kind for a woman you love. If you want to organise your own event for International Women's Day you can order a kit from the official website. 4 Nationwide protest Day Without a Woman at the International Women's Day 2017 in New York City Credit: Barcroft Media What is the 2019 theme? The International Women's Day website has the theme for 2019 as #BalanceforBetter. In 2018 the official UN theme was Time is Now: Rural and urban activists changing women's lives. But in 2019 there are three focuses to the UN theme: Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change. MORE ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY EUREKA! Female scientists who changed the world – from HIV tests to Covid-19 vaccines HELL HATH NO FURY Russian Army tells women to get draft-dodging exes CONSCRIPTED in revenge STRONG WOMEN 11 female founded brands to love this International Women's Day FEMALE FORCE Scientists to shop workers — heroines who have helped Britain beat Covid Comment LAURA BATES Everyday sexism is real: I’ve been spat at, followed & assaulted since I was 14 Exclusive JAB WELL DONE There are so many badass women in science, we just don’t see much of them How did International Women's Day begin? The day can be traced back to 1908 when 15,000 women marched through New York City calling for voting rights, shorter working hours and better pay. On March 8, 1914, there was a march from Bow to Trafalgar Square in support of women's suffrage. Suffragette Sylvia Pankhurst was notoriously arrested in front of Charing Cross station, on her way to speak in the central London square. In the following years, a form of women’s day was held on varying dates in different countries, but by 1913 it was decided that March 8 would officially be International Women’s Day - and it has been that way ever since. Girls talk equality and career plans for International Women's Day We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.<doc-sep>International Women's Day 2019: The celebrations continue to grow from strength to strength every year. International Women's Day is observed across the world on March 8. It is a global day that celebrates social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a "call to action" to increase gender equality. Historically, International Women's Day first emerged from the activities of labour movements at the turn of the twentieth century in North America and across Europe. The celebrations continue to grow from strength to strength every year and various programmes are organised at local and international level to mark International Women's Day. Here's A Look At How International Women's Day Emerged: In 1909, the first National Woman's Day was observed in the United States on February 28. The Socialist Party of America designated this day in honour of the 1908 garment workers' strike in New York, where women protested against working conditions. After Copenhagen's initiative in 1910, International Women's Day was marked for the first time on March 19 in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland, where more than one million women and men attended rallies. They demanded women's rights to work, to vocational training and to an end to discrimination on the job. In 1913-1914, International Women's Day became a mechanism for protesting during World War I. In Europe, on or around March 8, women held rallies either to protest the war or to express solidarity with other activists. Against the backdrop of the war, women in Russia chose to protest and strike for "Bread and Peace" on the last Sunday in February 19117 (which fell on 8 March on the Gregorian calendar). In 1975, during International Women's Year, the United Nations began celebrating International Women's Day 8 March 8. In 1977, the United Nations General Assembly invited member states to proclaim March 8 as the UN Day for women's rights and world peace. Later in 1995, a historic roadmap was signed by 189 governments during the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action which envisioned a world where each woman and girl can exercise her choices, such as participating in politics, getting an education, having an income, and living in societies free from violence and discrimination. Women across generations had to struggle to bring about a day to recognise and celebrate women in the world. It's time to appreciate special women in your lives. Happy Women's Day 2019!<doc-sep>International Women’s Day has celebrated the economic, cultural, political and social achievements of women for more than 100 years. From Greta Thunberg becoming an international sensation with her campaign for climate change last year to Chloe Kim snowboarding loops around Olympic records at the PyeongChang Games in 2018, women across the globe have been challenging stereotypes and the status quo. The day isn’t simply a celebration — it’s a call to action for everyone to continue to push for complete gender equality. 1. What is its history? The early 20th century was a time when women were becoming more active in their protests against oppression and gender inequality, leading marches and campaigns to demand equal rights. According to the official International Women's Day website, during the International Conference of Working Women in 1910, Clara Zetkin of Germany's Social Democratic Party proposed that a day be set aside every year across the world to celebrate women and reinforce their demands. The proposal was ultimately accepted and put into practice, starting in Germany and Europe and spreading across the globe over the years. ... the length of time between when a constitutional amendment granting a woman’s right to vote was introduced in the U.S. Congress (Jan. 10, 1878) and when it was finally ratified (Aug. 26, 1920). Feminist activist Gloria Steinem joins marchers before the International Women's Day March in New York in 1975. Bettmann Archive via Getty Images file 2. When is it observed? The first International Women’s Day was observed March 8, 1914. Even though International Women’s Day was decided upon in 1910, the tradition of celebrating it on March 8 took a few more years to decide upon. In 1975, the United Nations announced that International Women’s Day would be an official day of observance for all of its member countries. Years later, the world body also instituted annual themes to promote the celebration of the day, such as “Celebrating the Past, Planning for the Future” and “World Free of Violence Against Women.” ... of the U.S. workforce is made up of women. 3. What is the 2019 theme? This year's theme is #BalanceforBetter, meant to promote a future in which both men and women are equal in professional status, media perception, the positions they hold in government and more. Whether it’s men supporting their female coworkers or women pushing into the STEM field, everyone has a part in promoting #BalanceforBetter. STEM programs stress education in science, technology, engineering and math. ... the ratio of active duty female U.S. military service members to their male counterparts. 4. What about a color? Purple is the internationally recognized color to symbolize women while the combination of the colors green, purple and white is meant to represent women’s equality, according to the IWD website. Purple, or the combination of those colors, may be displayed to celebrate International Women’s Day. ... of U.S. couples in which the wife earned at least $30,000 more than her husband. A demonstrator chants during a march for International Women's Day in Madrid on March 8, 2018. Pablo Cuadra / Getty Images file 5. How is it celebrated? Every country has its own special tradition for celebrating International Women’s Day. In Italy, for example, the day is celebrated by giving women a mimosa blossom. You can celebrate the day on social media by posting pictures of yourself with your hand out like a set of scales and using the hashtags #BalanceforBetter and #IWD2019. People also share posts of themselves celebrating the women in their lives and showing how they are actively working to support women. ... women with children younger than 18 who participate in the U.S. labor force 6. Why is it still observed? Women have come a long way since that conference in 1910, and many people believe that most of the battles have already been won for women. But according to the IWD website, women are still not getting equal pay, there are lower proportions of women to men in government positions, and women’s education is still being withheld across the world. Battles have been won, but the battles aren't over yet.<doc-sep>
The holiday celebrating women around the world is observed on March 8 every year What to Know About International Women's Day 2019 On Friday, March 8, women across the world will celebrate International Women’s Day 2019 with rallies, panels, social media tributes and by spending time with the other fearless females they love and admire. What’s the history of this holiday, and what does it stand for? Here’s everything you need to know. What is International Women’s Day? International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8 every year. According to the day’s official website, the holiday is “a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.” It is not hosted by any specific country, group or organization, so the day “belongs to all groups collectively everywhere.” The organizers of the day encourage women across the world to host events and celebrate women in a way that encourages “unity, celebration, reflection, advocacy and action.” RELATED VIDEO: See Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Step Out Together for International Women’s Day When was International Women’s Day first celebrated? International Women’s Day has been being celebrated for over a century. According to the website, the first unofficial celebration of the day in the United States was in 1908, when 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding voting rights and fair wages. In 1909, the Socialist Party of America declared the first National Woman’s Day on Feb. 28. Women continued to celebrate National Women’s Day on the last Sunday of February each year until 1913. The first global celebration of International Women’s Day was in 1911. In 1913 — once the holiday had become more widespread across the world — the date was changed to March 8. What is the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day? The theme of the 2019 International Women’s Day is #BalanceforBetter. According to the holiday’s website, #BalanceforBetter advocates for gender balance in all areas of the world: from government offices to board rooms to media coverage. To celebrate online, organizers are encouraging people to use the hashtag #BalanceforBetter in any International Women’s Day posts. “From grassroots activism to worldwide action, we are entering an exciting period of history where the world expects balance,” the website reads. “We notice its absence and celebrate its presence.” Where are International Women’s Day celebrations taking place? Each year, different International Women’s Day celebrations take place across the world in different forms — from conferences and panels, to rallies and protests. Notable events this year include a march and rally in Los Angeles, a celebration in New York City where each woman will receive a flower with an inspirational message, and an International Women’s Day tea party for small business owners in Atlanta. To see what events are happening in your city, you can check here. What will celebs be doing to celebrate International Women’s Day? On Friday morning, Emma Watson posted an Instagram tribute for International Women’s day, writing, “Whether you’re marching, dancing, rising, resisting, protesting, striking, uniting or celebrating, wishing you all a wonderful #internationalwomensday.” This year, Meghan Markle kicked off International Women’s Day by doing what she loves — using her voice to empower young women. The Duchess of Sussex joined a panel discussion on Friday hosted by King’s College London. Others on the panel included musician and activist Annie Lennox, model and activist Adwoa Aboah and former Prime Minister of Australia Julia Gillard.