Woman with a megaphone. Woman with a megaphone shouting slogans during act by reducing public transport fares organized by social organizations of the city FernandoPodolski/Getty Images
International Women's Day (IWD), marked annually on March 8, is a global day of recognition celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women while also calling for increased gender equality.
This day has evolved from its early 20th-century socialist roots to a worldwide observance embraced by the United Nations and countless organizations globally.
Why It Matters
IWD is not just a day to celebrate women's achievements—it's a call to action to accelerate gender equality and address ongoing challenges in women's rights worldwide.
Recognized internationally, this day showcases the crucial role women play in advancing societal, economic and political changes but also highlights the barriers women continue to face.
When Is International Women's Day?
International Women's Day is celebrated on March 8 every year. The observance dates back to the first International Women's Day in 1911 when over one million people across Europe protested for women's suffrage and labor rights, according to UN Women.
A few years later in 1917, Russian women held a strike on March 8 for "bread and peace" during World War I, according to BBC. This led to Russian Czar Alexander's abdication four days later and helped pave the way for women to gain the right to vote in Russia.
According to the United Nations (UN), the organization officially began to observe International Women's Day on March 8 starting in 1975 and formally established the day in 1977.
Who Started International Women's Day?
The origins of IWD can be traced back to Clara Zetkin, a prominent German socialist. According to BCC, Zetkin proposed the idea in 1910 at an International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The proposal was met with universal approval by over 100 women from 17 countries, setting the stage for the first IWD in 1911—and highlighting the widespread support for addressing women's issues and advocating for their rights at an international level.
Who Celebrates International Women's Day?
Today, IWD is celebrated in numerous countries around the world and is an official holiday in over 20 countries, including Burkina Faso, Cuba, Russia and Ukraine, according to the AP. The day is marked by a range of activities including marches, talks, campaigns and events aimed at raising awareness of women's issues and pushing for gender equality.
Though IWD was celebrated in Afghanistan as recently as 2021, Jennifer L. Fluri, a professor and chair of the department of geography at the University of Colorado-Boulder, told Newsweek that's no longer the case.
"International Women's Day is not currently recognized as a national holiday in Taliban controlled Afghanistan. It was previously recognized during the U.S. backed governments of Hamid Karzai (2002-2004 interim government, and 2004-2014) and Ashraf Ghani (2014-2021)," Fluri said.
Since the Taliban's takeover, there has been a stringent crackdown on the freedoms and rights of women, reversing many of the advancements made in gender equality over the past decades—including severe restrictions on education, employment and public life.
What Happens Next
As gender disparities persist, the observance of International Women's Day serves as a crucial reminder of the work still required to achieve gender equality. Each year, themes focusing on specific issues related to women's rights help to direct advocacy and action, making each observance of IWD a potent tool for societal change.
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This story was originally published March 8, 2025 at 7:00 AM.