International Women’s Day 2024: Inspire Inclusion and Celebrate Achievements

International Women’s Day (IWD), observed annually on March 8, is a global event that celebrates the achievements of women and calls for gender equality. It’s a day to focus on the women’s rights movement and make the inequality visible all over the world . Let’s delve into the significance, history, and ways to participate in this empowering day.

The Origins and History of IWD

The roots of International Women’s Day trace back to the early 20th century. Here are some key moments in its history:

1908: 15,000 women marched through New York City, demanding better working conditions, shorter hours, and the right to vote. This event marked the first National Women’s Day in the United States.

1910: The International Women’s Conference in Copenhagen, led by Clara Zetkin, proposed an annual International Women’s Day to advocate for women’s rights and suffrage.

1911: On March 19, the first official International Women’s Day was celebrated in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland. More than a million people participated in rallies and demonstrations.

1914: World War One: The need for workers in factories, especially for munitions production, led to a surge of women entering the workforce. Women working in munitions factories experienced newfound freedom. They had more money and leisure time. Women’s football emerged during this period, raising funds for soldiers and families. Some women over 30 who were householders gained the right to vote. The fight for full voting rights continued beyond the war but the war marked a giant leap forward for women’s rights.

1975: The United Nations officially recognized International Women’s Day, emphasizing its global importance.

Theme for 2024: “Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women’s equality.

How St Martin’s anticipate in protecting woman’s rights in employment?

• Advocate: Speak up against discrimination, gender bias, and violence policies and initiatives that empower women.
• Maternity leave: St Martin’s offers 52 weeks of maternity leave in order to protect health and safety of all pregnant employees.
• In our organisation we do anything possible; where necessary we are happy to further support an expected mother by changing working conditions and terms, working hours or even suspension from duties on full payment in order to mitigate risk at work.
• In addition, we offer reasonable adjustments in the work place environment to ensure all needs are catered for and employees feel considered and empowered.
• Menopause leave: Hormonal change, mental and physical symptoms that impact female, transgender or non-binary employees are not taken lightly. St Martin’s has a menopause policy in place in order to further support employees and their rights in the work place.
• Adoption leave: St Martin’s strongly advocates the importance of childcare and family and for that we have an adoption policy that protects all employees and their rights for absence from work while dealing with the adoption process.
• Lastly, St Martin’s recognize the accomplishments of women in the workplace and community.

St Martin of Tours raises a toast today to express gratitude to the women who have paved the way for progress and defended women’s rights in employment and community.

As Gloria Steinem once said, “The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.” So let’s make International Women’s Day our day and collectively make a positive difference for women everywhere “.

References:

International Women’s Day 2024

International Women’s Day – Wikipedia

The origins and history of International Women’s Day – BBC