International Womens Day © Fefelov Maxim, 11A, Gymnasium 7, 09/10 year

International Women's Day (IWD) is marked on March 8 every year. It is a major day of global celebration for the economic, political and social achievements of women.

The first IWD was observed on 28 February 1909 in the United States following a declaration by the Socialist Party of America. Among other relevant historic events, it came to commemorate the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. It was one of the largest industrial disasters in the history of the city of New York city, causing the death of 146 garment workers, almost all of them women, who either died from the fire or jumped from the fatal height.

The idea of having an international women's day was first put forward at the turn of the 19th century amid rapid world industrialization and economic expansion that led to protests over working conditions. In 1910 the first international women's conference was held in Copenhagen by the Second International and an 'International Women's Day' was established, which was submitted by the important German Socialist Clara Zetkin, although no date was specified. Clara Zetkin & Rose Luxemburg, 1910

Demonstrations marking International Women's Day in Russia proved to be one the first stage of the Russian Revolution of Following the October Revolution, the Bolshevik feminist Alexandra Kollontai persuaded Lenin to make it an official holiday in the Soviet Union, and it was established, but was a working day until 1965.

On May 8, 1965 by the decree of the USSR Presidium of the Supreme Soviet International Women's Day was declared as a non working day in the USSR "in commemoration of the outstanding merits of Soviet women in communistic construction, in the defense of their Motherland during the Great Patriotic War, in their heroism and selflessness at the front and in the rear, and also marking the great contribution of women to strengthening friendship between peoples, and the struggle for peace."

The day is an official holiday in: AngolaArmeniaAzerbaijanBelarus Burkina Faso Cambodia, China CroatiaCubaGeorgiaGuinea-BissauEritreaKazakhstanKyrgyzstanLithuaniaLaosMadagascarMoldovaMongoliaMontenegroNepalPolandRussiaSerbiaTajikistanTurkmenistanUgandaUkraineUzbekistanVietnamZambia.

On this day it is customary for men to give the women in their lives - mothers, wives, girlfriends, daughters, colleagues, etc - flowers and small gifts. In some countries (such as Romania) it is also observed as an equivalent of Mother's Day, where children also give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers.

In Italy, to celebrate the day, men give yellow mimosas to women. Yellow mimosas and chocolate are also one of the most common March 8 presents in Russia and Albania. In many counties of East Europe the custom of giving women flowers still prevails. Women sometimes get gifts from their employers too. Schoolchildren often bring gifts for their teachers as well.

In 1975, which had been designated as International Womens Year, the United Nations gave official sanction to and began sponsoring International Women's Day.

Interesting facts about Woman's * Women use 20,000 words a day while men only use 7,000 * Women use 20,000 words a day while men only use 7,000 Global Issues... * Females in developing countries on average carry 20 litres of water per day over 6 km * Females in developing countries on average carry 20 litres of water per day over 6 km * Pregnant women in Africa are 180 times more likely to die than in Western Europe * Pregnant women in Africa are 180 times more likely to die than in Western Europe * 530,000 women die in pregnancy or childbirth each year * 530,000 women die in pregnancy or childbirth each year * Of 1.2 billion people living in poverty worldwide, 70% are women * Of 1.2 billion people living in poverty worldwide, 70% are women * 80% of the world's 27 million refugees are women * 80% of the world's 27 million refugees are women * Women own around only 1% of the world's land * Women own around only 1% of the world's land * Women are 2/3 of the 1 billion - illiterate adults who have no access to basic education * Women are 2/3 of the 1 billion - illiterate adults who have no access to basic education

Innovation... * Globally women comprise 42% internet users (Italy 37%... US & Canada 51%) * Globally women comprise 42% internet users (Italy 37%... US & Canada 51%) * Women's representation in computer and information sciences workforce is around 30% globally * Women's representation in computer and information sciences workforce is around 30% globally Business / Finance... * Women control $14 trillion in assets and this should grow to $22 trillion over next 10 years * Women control $14 trillion in assets and this should grow to $22 trillion over next 10 years * Only in Japan and Peru are women more active in starting a business than men * Only in Japan and Peru are women more active in starting a business than men * Women spend more time researching before they invest than men do * Women spend more time researching before they invest than men do Work... * Women do two-thirds of the world's work but receive only 10% of the world's income * Women do two-thirds of the world's work but receive only 10% of the world's income * Women's education is the most powerful predictor of lower fertility rates * Women's education is the most powerful predictor of lower fertility rates

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