2012 International Women's Day - March 8

International Women's Day (IWD), originally called International Working Women’s Day, is marked on March 8 every year.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.
In many regions, the day lost its political flavour, and became simply an occasion for men to express their love for women. However, the original political and human rights theme designated by the UN runs strong, and political and social awareness of the struggles of women worldwide are brought out and examined in a hopeful manner.

The1st National Women's Day was observed on Feb 28, 1909 in the United States following a declaration by the Socialist Party of America.
 
In August 1910, an International Women's Conference was organized to precede the general meeting of the Socialist Second International in Copenhagen,Denmark.
Inspired in part by the American socialists, German Socialist Luise Zietz proposed the establishment of an annual 'International Woman's Day' (singular) and was seconded by Clara Zetkin, although no date was specified at that conference.Delegates (100 women from 17 countries) agreed with the idea as a strategy to promote equal rights, including Suffrage(Civil Right to Vote), for women.

On March 18, 1911, International Women's Day  was marked for the first time, by over a million people in Austria,Denmark,Germany and Switzerland.

In 1913 Russian Women observed their first International Women's Day on the last Sunday in February (by Julian Calendar then used in Russia)

On May 8, 1965 by the decree of the USSR Presidium of the Supreme Soviet International Women's Day was declared a non working day in the USSR "in commemoration of the outstanding merits of Soviet women in communistic construction, in the defense of their Fatherland during the Great Patriotic War, in their heroism and selflessness at the front and in the rear, and also marking the great contribution of women to strengthening friendship between peoples, and the struggle for peace.

1975 was designated as International Women’s Year and the UN gave official sanction to, and began sponsoring, International Women's Day.Many Countries issued Stamps commemorating IWD

March 8 is an Official Holiday in -

Afganistan;Armenia;Azerbaijan;Belarus;Burkina Faso;Cambodia;China(for women only);Cuba;Georgia;Guinea - Bissau;Eritrea;Kazakhastan;Kyrgyzstan;Laos;Macedonia(for women only);Madagascar(for women only);Moldova;Mangolia;Montenegra;Nepal(for women only);Russia;Tajikistan;Turkmenistan;Uganda;Ukraine;Uzbekistan;Vietnam and Zambia

Events took place in more than 100 countries on March 8, 2011 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day.

 

In Istanbul, the Ukrainian women's rights activists, Femen, staged a topless demonstration in bruise-like makeup to protest against domestic violence.
Brazil's first female president, Dilma Rousseff, announced tougher measures against men responsible for domestic abuse.
Tahiland and Philippines tied as holding the highest number of women in senior management positions (at 39%, they rank second in the world behind Russia), the number of women in senior positions across south-east Asia decreased from an average 36% in 2009 to 32% in 2012, according to the latest research from business group Grant Thornton.
In Singapore, domestic workers – who number 206,000 and hail mostly from the Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and India– celebrated a parliamentary proposal announced Monday to legislate a weeekly day off for workers  starting 1 January 2013, after a 10-year-long campaign calling for fairer work rights.

Official UN Themes

1996	Celebrating the Past, Planning for the Future
1997	Women and the Peace Table
1998	Women and Human Rights
1999	World Free of Violence Against Women
2000	Women Uniting for Peace
2001	Women and Peace: Women Managing Conflicts
2002	Afghan Women Today: Realities and Opportunities
2003	Gender Equality and the Millennium Development Goals
2004	Women and HIV/AIDS
2005	Gender Equality Beyond 2005; Building a More Secure Future
2006	Women in Decision-making
2007	Ending Impunity for Violence Against Women and Girls
2008	Investing in Women and Girls
2009	Women and Men United to End Violence Against Women and Girls
2010	Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities: Progress for All
2011	Equal Access to Education, Training, and Science and Technology: Pathway to Decent Work for Women
2012	Empower Rural Women, End Poverty and Hunger