What has happened in Gaza is a marker of how the world is run and how women and children and their lives and security are evaluated. And hence we must on this year’s international women’s day raise our voices against the military occupation and unimaginable violence in Gaza.

Worldwide, women are still awaiting their freedom for which they had unleashed many agitations. Hundred years of wandering at shut doors, the possibility has arisen now to reach out to those who need help.

Going back to history, the idea to make it an international possibility, initiative came from Clara Zetkin, a communist activist and advocate for women’s rights. In 1910, she raised it at an International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen. Her suggestion was unanimously backed by the 100 women from 17 countries, who were present there at the conference. The first International Women’s Day was celebrated in 1911, in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. It was a phase when Russia was preparing for the first Socialist Democratic revolution to build up a new society. Kollontai, Elena, Stosama, Nadezda Krupskaya were among those Communist leaders who prepared the blue print of the women’s movement and were discussing the practical aspects of it. Voting rights for women and many other issues were discussed. In fact the first salvo of the revolution came from the women workers only just before the February revolution.

Clara Zetkin’s original idea for an international celebration was not tied to a particular day. The date of March 8 was selected after Russian women demanded “bread and peace” during a war-time strike in 1917. Four days into the strike, the Tsar was forced to abdicate. According to the Julian calendar which was then in use in Russia, the women’s strike had begun in February and in the Gregorian calendar used in much of the rest of the world, that date is March 8.

International Women’s Day is a national holiday in many countries. In China, many women are given a half-day off work, as advised by the State Council. Thousands of events take place globally, including marches, talks, concerts, exhibitions and debates.

In Italy, IWD is called Festadella Donna, and mimosa blossoms are a popular gift. Flower sales in Russia typically double around International Women’s Day.

In the US, March is Women’s ‘History Month’. In India, women were actively taking part in the freedom struggle and also for their own cause. National Federation of Indian Women was organised only after independence, 1954. The year 2025 is a turning point in the global pursuit of gender equality and women’s empowerment, as it marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995 in Beijing, China, by 189 governments, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action remains the most progressive and widely endorsed blueprint for women’s and girls’ rights worldwide.

The 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action also comes amid growing insecurity and compounding crises, diminishing trust in democracy and shrinking civic space. Last year alone, 612 million women and girls lived amidst the brutal realities of armed conflict, a disturbing 50 percent increase in just a decade. A significant portion of these women and girls belong to Gaza.

The Day for Women in fact assimilates many other aspects of life since they are the ones always involved at the centre. The call, therefore, is to unite and join to celebrate International Women’s Day under the theme: ”For All Women and Girls: Rights, Equality, Empowerment”.

Under the banner of UN Women’s global campaign to mark the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, “For ALL Women and Girls”, this year’s International Women’s Day is a rallying cry to take action in three key areas, and that are assert women’s and girls’ rights, fight relentlessly for women’s and girls’ full range of human rights, challenging all forms of violence, discrimination, and exploitation.

To promote gender equality, systemic barriers have to be addressed, patriarchy has to be dismantled, entrenched inequities have to be transformed, and voices of marginalized women and girls, including young people has to be listened before its final precipitation into an act, to ensure inclusivity and empowerment. It is also important to redefine power structures by ensuring access to education, employment, leadership, and decision-making spaces and to prioritize opportunities for young women and girls to lead and innovate.

Despite significant progress for women’s rights since the adoption of the Beijing Platform for Action in 1995, the world is experiencing new and overlapping crises and the erosion of rights. This International Women’s Day, it is imperative for women to march forward for their rights as the world cannot afford a step back.

To celebrate the Day, there are three colours suggested by IWD to wear and these are white, purple, and green. The colours have their own significance, like purple is for justice and dignity, green for hope and white represents purity. All these colours were also used by the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU). It was a group in UK in 1903 to fight for women’s vote.

The International Women’s Day website has chosen the theme “Inspire Inclusion”. It says organisers and events aim to “break down barriers, challenge stereotypes, and create environments where all women are valued and respected.” (IPA Service)