International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated on 8 March, and commemorates women’s fight for equality and liberation, drawing attention to such issues as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence & abuse against women.
This year’s theme is ‘Give To Gain’, and encourages a mindset of generosity and collaboration, emphasising the power of reciprocity and support. “When people, organisations and communities give generously, opportunities and support for women increase”, says the IWD website. And when women thrive, we all do.
The date of March 8 grew out of the Russian revolution. On 8 March 1917, women textile workers in Petrograd began a demonstration that eventually engulfed the whole city, demanding “Bread and Peace”— an end to World War I, to food shortages, and to Tsarism. The Bolsheviks then began to celebrate International Women’s Day on 8 March as it marked the beginning of Russia’s revolutionary changes.
For more information, consult the IWD website here. Read about the history and background to International Women’s Day here.
Picture above: Celebrating International Women’s Day in Punta del Diabolo, Uruguay 2025