8 March: International Women's Day

« Invest in rural women. Eliminate discrimination against them in law and in practice. Ensure that policies respond to their needs. Give them equal access to ressources. Provide rural women with a rôle in decision-making. »

Ban Ki-Moon, UN Secretary-General

This year's official theme for International Women's Day (UN theme) is « Empower rural women – End Hunger and Poverty ».

Women's Day, a day of reflexion on challenges faced every day by women all over the world. How can poverty and hunger in rural area be eradicated? In what way enable a true empowerment of rural women? The day of a rural woman is far longer than the day of a man, indeed after/before their daily work they have to do their housework. Women do not have equal access than man in terms of cares and in rural area they are more affected by hunger. In view of all this inequalities how address these challenges? Solutions must be handle by women themselves, they must bring development and initiatives. Whether they are rural or urban women, a lot of work still remain to be done in favor of equality and of the respect of their rights.

8 March, a symbolic date, but also the ideal time to think about the progress accomplished and the ones that still need to be done, to question ourselves on the issues faced by women around the world and to celebrate women's determination who change everyday the history of other women.. Like all symbolic dates, it allows public opinion awareness and let speak about international actions. But this date and these reflections have to be included in a daily dynamic toward equality and respect of women's rights and respect of everyone's rights.

It is today, but also every day of the year that we must ask ourselves about how we can take up these challenges that will allow tomorrow every women to obtain equal rights in health care access, adequate food and good education. It is today and every day of the year that we have to support these women who are fighting for coming out of the shadow and encourage them in their actions.

Brief history

Date celebrated by women's group all over the world, by the UN and by national holiday in many countries, 8 march is a tradition that appeared at the beginning of last century. It is a symbol for the recognition of the women's fight for gender equality, respect of their rights, courage to make their own history.

In 1910, in Copenhagen, at the second international conference of socialist women, the proposal of the German Clara Zetkin is adopted, there is no date set yet but a women's day is born with the major aim of obtain universal suffrage for women. The following year, rallies were held in Europe, women claiming for the right to work, right to vote, defending their rights. More than a million people are attending these rallies. On 8 March 1921, Lenine declare 8 march as women's international day , in 1924 China celebrate this date.

It is also a 8 march that Léon Blum chose to acknowledge the importance of women in the resistance: March 8, 1947. In 1974, during the International Year of Women, the UN begin to celebrate this day and it will be in december 1977 that the UN General Assembly adopt a resolution proclaiming the “UN Day for Women's Right and International Peace”.

In France, François Mitterrand gave an official status to the women's day in March 8, 1982.