We should dedicate a day exclusively for the celebration of the world’s women, because, women constitute more or less 50% of population in a country and in the world, but their social status in respect of men in some countries is miserable. In some other countries some progress has been achieved, but no-where can it be claimed that they have same status, as men.

Women throughout the globe are more or less deprived of their due share. Even today -- in many countries the percentage of women literacy is less than men, because in these countries heads of many families consider that girls need not get education or that boys should get education first, then girls should. In many countries dowry is a system prohibited by Law, but it is still going on uninterrupted, in some of these countries. In many families women members are compelled to work hard, they are tortured or even beaten for petty causes. Some of the women commit suicide finding no other means to escape. In many families sometimes female embryos are aborted also in many families girl child are not allowed same advantage as boy child, to grow up.

In view to focus all these United Nations general assembly composed of delegates from every member states celebrates International Women’s Day to acknowledge the contribution of women for international peace and security and in recognition that peace and social progress in every sphere of life and every region of the world is not possible without active participation of women. Apart from rights to be achieved celebration of women’s day is necessary to maintain the rights and privileges, already achieved. 

How translated to International Women’s Day? 

From times immemorial ordinary (not famous) women of different parts of the world struggled to get their position in the society on an equal footing with men. The struggle made by them were local, on local issues, so chain reaction of the struggle were not found but surely it had impact on future movement. One such local but remarkable struggle took place between 1857 to 1859 when garment workers of New York City in the United States staged protest against in- human working condition and succeed to gain some basic rights at the work place. Actual organized struggle started from 1908. On 8th march 1908 fifteen thousand women marched through New York City demanding shorter working hours, better pay, voting rights and end to child labors. In May,1908 the socialist party of America designated the last Sunday of February as National Women’s Day , since then it was being observed on last Sunday of February till 1930.

In 1910 a conference International in character was held in Copenhagen, Denmark, by the socialist organization, all around the world. In the conference it was resolved to observe an International Day to mark the strike of garment workers, but no date was fixed for the observance. In the following year i.e., in 1911, International women’s day was observed for the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on 19th March. On the day, over a million of men and women joined in rallies. The agitators voiced for right to vote, right to hold public offices, right to work, right for vocational training and end to discrimination on job between men and women.

Russian women observed their first International Women’s Day on last Sunday of February in 1913, on the eve of world war I, in 1917 being shocked at the disaster of world war I when about two million Russian soldiers were dead, Russian women observed strike the same day as in 1913 i.e. last Sunday of February, for bread and peace. The strike marked a great impact on the administration. That was a great victory in the history of women’s struggle, the administration granted Women the right to vote. That historic Sunday fell on 23rd February according to Julian Calendar, then in use in Russia, but it was 8th March according to Gregorian Calendar, in use else where.

This 8th March is accepted by the World Body to observe as International Women’s Day.

How the international day observed?

On this day women’s around the world come together to celebrate women’s struggle. On this day they look back to traditions that represents at least nine decades of struggle for equality, justice, peace and development. It is also a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and celebrate act of courage and determination by ordinary (not famous) women who have played an extraordinary role in establishing women’s right.

How United Nations helps in the struggle?

The Charter of the United Nations signed in San Francisco in 1945, was the first International agreement to proclaim gender equality as a fundamental human right. Since then, the organization has helped to create a historic legacy of Internationally agreed strategies, standards, programs, and goals to advance this status of women, worldwide.

Over the years United Nation’s action for the advancement for the women has four clear directions. 1. Promotion of legal measures. 2. Mobilization of public opinion and international action. 3. Training and research including compilation of gender desegregated statistic and 4. Direct assistance to disadvantaged groups. Today a central organizing principal of the work of the United Nations is that no enduring solution to the society’s most threatening social, economic and political problem can be found without full participation and full empowerment of world’s women.

View…….. 

Problems standing on the way to achieving equal footing with men in society are not the same throughout the world. It differs from country to country. Moreover the problems are different for different regions within the same country. Even it is different in different families within the same region.

A country may enact some laws in favor of women but these may not come to the benefit of women because, - firstly they may not be aware of such laws. Secondly – their master in family or in society may ignore the law. This happens in the life of women in many countries. 

So, the women groups which take lead in observing International Women’s Day has to keep all such social problems in mind. To progress effectively there should be women’s organizations at the International level, others at the country level and branches spread up to the base level.

The movement of each country and base level organizations has to be drawn on basis of Laws of the country and social setup of the region. The International organization will help and monitor other sister organizations and utilize United Nations on basis of the Charter signed in San Francisco in 1945, to press Government of concerned country to formulate laws in favor of women. Once the laws are formulated the country and base level organizations are to fight to implement it.

Conclusion: 

While demanding / protesting for any legislation or taking up any agitation program in favor of women, it should be borne in mind that nature plays a vital role in playing harmony between men and women. The role of men and women in society and family is complementary not competitive. Swami Vivekananda – The world renowned spiritual luminary – said, “Women are as courageous as men. Each is equally good in his or her own way. What man can bring up a child with such patience, endurance and love, as the women can! The one has developed the power of doing, the other the power of suffering. If women cannot act neither can man suffer. The universe is on perfect balance….”

The world famous poet Rabindranath Tagore said “Paschate rakhicho jare, se tomare paschate taniche.” That means – The person whom you are keeping behind, he is dragging you back. Tagore had the feeling in respect of all sections of down trodden, be it male or female.

Now to give boost to women’s movement education should be the first and foremost instrument to elevate status of women in society. This education should be not be for women only; it should be for men also, because proper education only can uncover the good sense which is already in man. The uncovered good sense of men for women will accelerate the process of equality. Education has many advantages it helps in curbing unplanned population growth, unplanned growth of population increases unemployment, hampers economic growth. It is a statistical record that if 1.0% increase in women’s 
secondary education is achieved, the countries economic growth increases by 0.3%.


ref:www.u.n.org.