Today is International Women's Day!

Today (Friday 8 March) is International Women's Day, and this years theme is "Inspire Inclusion" and "Invest in women: Accelerate progress".

Some key data to consider this International Women's Day include:

• an additional $360 billion is needed per year to achieve gender equality;
• closing gender gaps in employment could boost gross domestic product (GDP) per capita by 20%;
• closing gaps in care and expanding services with decent jobs could spark almost 300 million jobs by 2035.

In a world facing multiple crises that are putting immense pressure on communities, achieving gender quality is more vital than ever. Ensuring women's and girls' rights across all aspects of life is the only way to secure prosperous and just economies, and a healthy planet for future generations.

History and origin

The origin of International Women's Day can be traced back to the early 20th century, marked by women's movements advocating for better working conditions, suffrage and social equality.

In 1910, during the International Conference of Working Women held in Copenhagen, Clara Zetkin proposed establishing an annual Women's Day to advocate for women's right and suffrage. The proposal was met with unanimous approval, leading to the first International Women's Day being celebrated in 1911 by over a million people across Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland.

Significance

International Women's Day holds immense significance as a point of gender equality and women's rights. It serves as a platform to raise awareness about the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women worldwide.

The day also provides an opportunity to highlight the persistent challenges and barriers that women face, including gender-based discrimination, violence and unequal access to education and employment opportunities. It provides a potent platform for bringing attention to the obstacles and injustices that women experience, including:

• limited economic opportunities;
• gender-based violence; and
• unequal access to healthcare and education.

It is an opportunity to take stock of our accomplishments and renew our commitment to finding solutions that advance gender equality and give women and girls more power.

Inspire Inclusion

The "Inspire Inclusion" theme underscores the importance of creating an inclusive society where women are valued, respected, and empowered to participate fully in all aspects of life. By inspiring others to understand and embrace women's inclusion, we can collectively make a more equitable and just world.

When women feel included, they experience a sense of belonging, relevance, and empowerment, contributing to their overall well-being and the prosperity of society as a whole.

Invest in women: Accelerate progress

One of the key challenges in achieving gender equality by 2030 is an alarming lack of financing, so the United Nations (UN) is calling for people to "Invest in women: Accelerate progress", as the overarching theme for International Women's Day 2024.

This theme emphasises the critical role of investing in women's education, healthcare, economic empowerment, and leadership development to accelerate progress towards gender equality. By investing in women, we not only enhance their individual opportunities and livelihoods, but also drive positive social and economic outcomes for communities and nations.

Commenting on International Women's Day 2024, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, said: "It is more important than ever that we stand firm to champion the rights of every woman and girl child by investing more to accelerate progress".

"We will continue pushing – and working for – the gender agenda in health care, stand firm on our achievements, and create a world where:

• women are equal partners with men in all aspects of healthcare;
• women are entrusted with leadership positions based on their performance;
• women live without discrimination, harassment, and violence".

Celebrating International Women's Day

On International Women's Day, various events, activities and initiatives are organised worldwide to:

• celebrate women's achievements;
• raise awareness about gender equality issues; and
• advocate for positive change.

These may include:

• panel discussions;
• workshops;
• art exhibitions;
• film screenings;
• marches; and
• social media campaigns.

Additionally, individuals and organisations often use this day to honour inspirational women in their lives and communities, amplify women's voices, and pledge support for gender equality initiatives.

What can businesses do on International Women's Day?

Achieving gender equality requires the involvement and support of men and allies. By promoting allies in the fight for gender equality, businesses can encourage dismantling patriarchal systems and creating a space for women to thrive.

Businesses can do this by:

• listening to their female employees and colleagues, and their experiences;
• amplifying their voices; and
• actively working towards creating a more inclusive and equitable workplace.

To celebrate the day, activities in the workplace could include:

• holding a meeting to explore significant women of past and present;
• encouraging staff to attend online panel events and webinars celebrating International Women's Day;
• providing information on current inequalities and issues women face today;
• encouraging your staff to research and attend interesting events in your industry or community;
• celebrating and showing appreciation to the women in your workplace;
• hosting a fundraising event for women's charities;
• reviewing your internal diversity and inclusion strategy for a long-term commitment to women's advancement.

For more information on this subject, see:

• Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The gender snapshot 2023;
• Women in the Workplace 2023.