International Women's Day

Equal access to education, training and science and technology: Pathway to decent work for women

2011 year marks the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day. The day was commemorated for the first time on 19 March 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland, following its establishment during the Socialist International meeting the prior year. More than one million women and men attended rallies on that first commemoration..

Celebrated on 8 March, International Women's Day (IWD) is the global day connecting all women around the world and inspiring them to achieve their full potential. IWD celebrates the collective power of women past, present and future ...

Originally called International Working Women’s Day IWD is a major day of global celebration of women. In different regions the focus of the celebrations ranges from general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women to a celebration for women's economic, political and social achievements.

The United Nations theme for this IWD is Equal access to education, training and science and technology: Pathway to decent work for women.

Did you know that purple, green and white are the official international women's colours?

Learn more about International Women's Day