Oscars 2010 heroine
Kathryn Bigelow couldn’t have timed her historic first-female-director win better, because today the world is celebrating International Women’s Day 2010.
The 100th anniversary of the occasion, marked with the slogan ‘Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities: Progress for All’, will see rallies, seminars and assemblies take place around the globe.
So, what makes 8th March so significant?
First proposed in 1910 and launched in 1911, International Women’s Day came about because of a woman namedClara Zetkin(leader of the ‘Women’s Office’ for Germany’s Social Democratic Party), who thought every country should mark an annualWomen’s Dayto press for her gender’s demands.
1975was designated ‘International Women’s Year’ by theUnited Nations, which officially sanctioned the day and started sponsoring it. Annual events are now organised by various bodies that work for the welfare of women and campaign for gender equality.
Though it originally came into existence because of women’s fight forbetter pay, voting rights and an end to discrimination, the annual celebration is now largely dedicated to inspiring women worldwide and celebrating their achievements.
Search giantGooglehas taken to celebrating International Women’s Day with aGoogle Doodleon its homepage, while an all female line-up marks a nod bySky Newsto the occasion.
InAmerica, the whole of March is designated‘Women’s History Month’, while the 8th is an official holiday in 15 countries includingChina, Ukraine and Vietnam.
This year, a coalition of campaign groups includingOxfam,Amnesty InternationalandWhite Ribbon Allianceare using International Women’s Day to call for more action to reduce deaths among pregnant women in developing nations. Expectant mothers there face the same risk of death as UK women did100 years ago.
Sarah Brown, wife of prime minister Gordon, is patron of the White Ribbon Alliance, which campaigns for safe motherhood.
Check out photos from International Women’s Day in our picture gallery below