International Women’s Day (IWD), originally called International Working Women’s Day, is celebrated on March 8 every year. It commemorates the struggle for women’s rights.
The earliest Women’s Day observance was held on February 28, 1909, in New York and organized by the Socialist Party of America.
March 8, 1917 in the capital of Russian Empire, Petrograd, began a demonstration of women textile workers, covering the whole city. This was the beginning of the Russian Revolution. Seven days later, the Emperor of Russia Nicholas II abdicated and the provisional Government granted women the right to vote.
March 8 declared a national holiday in the Soviet Russia in 1917, it was predominantly celebrated by the socialist movement and communist countries until it was adopted in 1975 by the United Nations.
| Year | UN Theme |
| 1996 | Celebrating the Past, Planning for the Future |
| 1997 | Women and the Peace Table |
| 1998 | Women and Human Rights |
| 1999 | World Free of Violence Against Women |
| 2000 | Women Uniting for Peace |
| 2001 | Women and Peace: Women Managing Conflicts |
| 2002 | Afghan Women Today: Realities and Opportunities |
| 2003 | Gender Equality and the Millennium Development Goals |
| 2004 | Women and HIV/AIDS |
| 2005 | Gender Equality Beyond 2005; Building a More Secure Future |
| 2006 | Women in Decision-making |
| 2007 | Ending Impunity for Violence Against Women and Girls |
| 2008 | Investing in Women and Girls |
| 2009 | Women and Men United to End Violence Against Women and Girls |
| 2010 | Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities: Progress for All |
| 2011 | Equal Access to Education, Training, and Science and Technology: Pathway to Decent Work for Women |
| 2012 | Empower Rural Women, End Poverty and Hunger |
| 2013 | A Promise is a Promise: Time for Action to End Violence Against Women |
| 2014 | Equality for Women is Progress for All |
| 2015 | Empowering Women, Empowering Humanity: Picture it! |
| 2016 | Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality |
| 2017 | Women in the Changing World of Work: Planet 50-50 by 2030 |