Social feeds will be filling up with a lot of posts about International Women’s Day this week. But if we go beyond the hashtags, smiling faces and feel-good vibes, what exactly is at its core?
What is International Women’s Day? Where did it come from? Why does it matter? We spoke to Pippa Marler, our EDI Manager, about the campaign’s background, purpose and how we can support its urgent call to action in our own communities.
What’s the purpose of International Women’s Day?
International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global event to remember the progress made to defend women’s rights while also making commitments to improve them further.
Can we have a mini history lesson? When was the first one?
There’s no straightforward answer to this one! 1909 saw the first ‘Women’s Day’ in New York, organised by the Socialist Party of America, the focus being very much on women’s right to vote. In 1910 we saw the first international event, held in Denmark that hosted 100 delegates from 17 countries.
While further events occurred over the following years, it was Lenin who officially declared March 8 as IWD in 1922, to honour the role women played in the start of the 1917 Russian Revolution. It became a mainstream, globally recognised event following its promotion by the United Nations in 1977.
Why is IWD so important?
While we know that immense progress has been made over these last 116 years, we can also see that we are currently experiencing a backlash to women’s rights and safety. As this report shows, violence against women and girls (VAWG) in the UK is getting worse, not better.
What can we do about this?
The UN calls to action this year are:
- Advance 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.
- Promote gender equality: Address systemic barriers, dismantle patriarchy, transform entrenched inequities, and elevate the voices of marginalised women and girls, including young people, to ensure inclusivity and empowerment.
- Foster empowerment: Redefine power structures by ensuring inclusive access to education, employment, leadership, and decision-making spaces. Prioritise opportunities for young women and girls to lead and innovate.
What opportunities are there for me to support these actions? How can I get involved here where I live?
There are a number of organisations and events you can look into in the Knowsley Borough and wider Liverpool City Region.
Here’s a couple of incredible ones to get you started:
| Hillside neighbourhood Centre |
| Girls on the Go Liverpool |
| Liverpool Ladies Network |
| International Women’s Day event for 11- 19 year olds |
| Knowsley Young Minds |
| Soul Sisters |
| Teen Souls Sisters |
