International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day (IWD), celebrated annually on March 8, honors the achievements of women across all aspects of life – social, economic, cultural, and political – while also advocating for gender equality.

What is IWD?

IWD is a specific day dedicated to the advancement of women worldwide.

Marked by millions of people on March 8, IWD celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender equality.

IWD provides an important platform to engage with communities, reflect on progress, and commit to positive action. Participation in IWD ensures progress toward equality remains on the global agenda and positive action prevails.

IWD has a long and powerful history of collective action, with many groups, countries, and bodies having actively contributed to its evolution. Today, IWD is a highly visible worldwide occurrence with significant mainstream awareness, marked by groups worldwide in a wide variety of ways.

What are the aims of IWD?

IWD can mean different things to various groups, yet the overarching aims of IWD are to:

• Celebrate women’s achievements through recognizing and appreciating the contributions of women in various fields, highlighting their influence and successes throughout history and in the present day.
• Raise awareness of gender inequality through shining a light on persistent issues like the gender pay gap, lack of representation in leadership roles, gender-based violence, and unequal access to education and opportunities.
• Mobilize action for equality through encouraging individuals, communities, and organizations to take steps toward creating a more inclusive and equitable world for women.
• Donate and fundraise for women-focused charities, and elevate the visibility of their work.
• Foster solidarity among people of all genders in support of women’s rights and gender parity worldwide.

What’s IWD’s timeline, and how did it all start?

IWD has occurred for well over a century, with the very first IWD held in 1911.

Learn about IWD’s timeline from its historic socialist roots, through to current mainstream awareness and participation. Access the IWD timeline from 1776 – 2025 here.