International Women’s Day (IWD) has been observed since the early 1900’s – and today, stands as a collective day of global celebration and a call for gender parity. No one government, NGO, charity, corporation, academic institution, network or media hub is solely responsible for International Women’s Day, however many organizations celebrate in a variety of ways and declare an IWD theme that supports a specific cause or agenda.

Read a Message from the Soroptimist International President, Yvonne Simpson for International Women’s Day on the President’s Page by clicking here.

The United Nations theme for International Women’s Day, 8 March, 2017, will focus on ‘Women in the Changing World of Work: Planet 50:50 by 2030’ and calls upon all actors to Step It Up for Gender Equality towards a Planet 50:50 by 2030. International Women’s Day was celebrated for the first time by the United Nations in 1975 and in 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.

The world of work is changing, and with significant implications for women. On one hand, we have globalization, technological and digital revolution and the opportunities they bring, and on the other hand, the growing informality of labour, unstable livelihoods and incomes, new fiscal and trade policies and environmental impacts—all of which must be addressed in the context of women’s economic empowerment. Source UN Women.

Read a message from UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka on International Women’s Day, 8 March 2017 at http://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2017/2/statement-ed-phumzile-iwd-2017

Infographic courtesy of UN Women

Visit http://www.unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus/international-womens-day for further information.

IWD – Be Bold For Change!

#BeBoldForChange is a 2017 campaign that calls on the masses to help forge a better working world – a more gender inclusive world. At internationalwomensday.com you can find a host of useful resources to help you on your way to becoming a vehicle for change. Find out more at https://www.internationalwomensday.com

In the run up to International Women’s Day and CSW61, Soroptimist International has released a statement regarding Women’s Economic Empowerment in the World of Work which can be found by visiting the CSW pages of our website or by clicking here.