The world celebrates womanhood each year on 8 March as International Women’s Day (IWD). On this day, we come together to honor the achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. The story behind celebrating 8 March as IWD is also very interesting.

The story dates back to 1917 after women gained suffrage in Soviet Russia – 8 March became a national holiday. Since then, this day was predominantly celebrated by the communist countries and socialists movement until in 1967 it was adopted by the feminist movement. In 1977, United Nations recognized the day and started celebrating the day as International Women’s Day.

This year, the theme for International Women’s Day (8 March), “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world,” celebrates the tremendous efforts by women and girls around the world in shaping a more equal future and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and highlights the gaps that remain.

Women’s full and effective participation and leadership in of all areas of life drives progress for everyone.