INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2021 – CHOOSE TO CHALLENGE
Women are the backbone of society; throughout history they have been pivotal to ensure stability, progress and long term development of nations. Notably women are seen as caretakers of the household and all their responsibilities being limited to the family in which they belong, for this society has overlooked women throughout history.
International women’s day began in the year 1911, a day dedicated to recognizing the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women globally, it is also a day for a call to action for gender parity. The international women’s day was given life by the women’s office leader of the social democratic party in Germany, Clara Zetkin, who suggested a celebration in every country on the same day for women to press their demands. The first international women’s day was celebrated on march 19, 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. Campaigns across Europe that were against WWI inspired women in other countries to adopt international women’s day. Later the International Women’s Day was moved to March 8 in 1913, and the United Nations first celebrated the International Women’s Day in 1975, but the annual theme was introduced in 1996.
ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN DURING WOMENS DAY 2021
Fund raiser at the Chanika Maternity Hospital in Tanzania
Integrating Capacity and Community Advancement Organization (ICCAO), a non-government organization dedicated to ensuring women have a voice in society. In celebrating the International Women’s Day 2021, ICCAO organized a fund raiser at the Chanika Maternity Hospital in Tanzania, where the organization spent time with new mothers, offered counseling and baby products.
THEME FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN DAY 2021
This year, the theme for the International Women’s Day is Choose To Challenge, meaning change that matters comes from challenge. This will be the spirit ICCAO administers throughout the month of March. A challenged world is an alert world; we can all choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality. Gender parity in government, workplaces, healthcare, sports and media coverage is achievable through individual change.
