International Women’s Day
International Women's Day, celebrated internationally on 8 March every year, will be observed at the United Nations this year on 5 March. The theme for 2009 is “Women and Men United to End Violence against Women and Girls.” Click here for events sponsored by UNIFEM and National Committees for UNIFEM around International Women's Day.
 UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:“We must stop the habitual and socially ingrained violence that mars lives, destroys health, perpetuates poverty and prevents us from achieving women’s equality and empowerment. ... We must work together to state loud and clear, at the highest level, that violence against women will not be tolerated, in any form, in any context, in any circumstance. We need economic and social policies that support women’s empowerment. We need programmes and budgets that promote non-violence. We need a positive image of women in the media. We need laws that say violence is a crime, that hold perpetrators accountable and are enforced.” more » [ ar | en | es | fr | ru | zh ] |
 UNIFEM
Executive Director Inés Alberdi:“Violence against women undermines poverty reduction and development efforts; hampers women’s agency and productivity; destroys their health; prevents girls from attending school, and being safe; and has been a silent driver of the rapid feminization of HIV and AIDS. ... It is no coincidence that the deadline for the Secretary-General’s UNiTE to End Violence against Women Campaign is 2015, the deadline to achieve the eight Millennium Development Goals. ... Mid-way to 2015, the momentum is building. ...” more » [ en | es ] |
In 1977 the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution inviting Member States to proclaim a United Nations Day for Women's Rights and International Peace — International Women's Day — to be observed on any day of the year in accordance with their historical and national traditions. Since then, the United Nations Organization has observed March 8th as International Women's Day. The purpose of this day is to recognize the fact that securing peace and social progress and the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms require the active participation, equality and development of women; and to acknowledge the contribution of women to the strengthening of international peace and security.
For the women of the world, the symbolism of International Women's Day has a wider meaning: It is an occasion to review how far women have come in their struggle for equality, peace and development. It is also an opportunity to unite, network and mobilize for meaningful change.
IWD Events Sponsored by UNIFEM and National Committees for UNIFEM
| Date | Event | Location |
| Mar (various) |
IWD Seminars: Violence Against Women During the 70s and 80s Co–sponsored with: The Consultative Council on Human Rights, CCDH |
North Africa |
| 2 Mar | Official Launch: One Million Signature Campaign to Say NO to Violence Against Women Quezon city |
Philippines |
| 3-4 Mar | National Conference for Young Prosecutors and Legal Officers on CEDAW, the Law on Gender Equality, the Law on Domestic Violence and the Law on HIV/AIDS Host: Vietnam's Supreme Court, Ha Long city |
Vietnam |
| 4 Mar | High–School and College Essay-Writing Competition in Dili Co–organised by: The National Parliament's Committee on Gender Equality, UNDP |
Timor–Leste |
| 5 Mar |
Investing in Women and Girls Co–sponsored by: UN Theme Group on Gender, All China Women's Federation |
China |
| 6 Mar | Documentary Film Screening and Press Conference: Family Code: The Law and Lives of Women Co–sponsored with: Anaruz (National Network of Centres for Women Victims of Violence) |
North Africa |
| Women Mean Business: Celebrating International Women's Day 2009 Registration required Co–sponsored with: The Singapore National Committee for UNIFEM, the Australian High Commission |
Singapore | |
| Film Screening: The Little Heart Co–sponsored with: The United Nations Gender Program Coordination Group 10:00-12:00, Cinemateque, Hanoi |
Vietnam | |
| 7 Mar | National Seminar: The Second Sensitisation Campaign for the Promotion of Women Political Participation Co–sponsored with: The Ministry of Social Development, Family and Solidarity (MSDFS) |
North Africa |
| 8 Mar | Well Behaved Women Rarely Make History Co-sponsored with: The Alliance of Women's Legislative Initiatives, UN Gender Theme Group |
Kyrgyzstan |
| 9 Mar | IWD Celebration 14:30–17:30, Obrigado Barracks Special Representative of the Secretary-General Atul Khare will open and facilitate a panel discussion on UNiTE to End Violence Against Women. There will also be a UN Award ceremony. Co–sponsored with: UNMIT, UN Country Team |
Timor–Leste |
| Panel Discussion: How the Economic Crisis Impacts Women from a Variety of Perspectives Half–day morning event, UN Conference Centre, Bangkok |
Thailand | |
| 10 Mar | Special Plenary Session to Celebrate IWD Host: The National Parliament |
Timor–Leste |
| 11 Mar | Conmemoración del Día Internacional de la Mujer (Theater play "La Madre" at the Museo Nacional) Co–sponsored with: ACNUR |
Colombia |
| Why Women Mean Business: The Emergence of Our Next Economic Revolution Seminar Registration required |
Singapore | |
| 16 Mar | Forum: Women and Men Working Together to End Violence Against Women and Girls 09:00–16:00, Venture Hotel, Dili Co–sponsored with: UN agencies, parliament and civil society organisations |
Timor–Leste |
| 17 Mar | Seminar: Improvement of Women Participation in the Personnel Structures Co–sponsored with: The Ministry of Employment |
North Africa |
| 18 Mar | Informational Seminar: Projects of Modernisation of the Family Justice Co–sponsored with: The Ministry of Justice |
North Africa |
| 25 Mar | Feedback Forum: The Equal Sharing of Responsibilities Between Women and Men, including Caregiving in the Context of HIV/AIDS Host: The International Labour Organization Co–sponsored with: the UN Gender Mainstreaming Committee |
Philippines |
| 31 Mar | Brown Bag Session with UN Staff on the IWD Theme: Men and Women's Shared Responsibilities in Domestic Work Location: ILO Auditorium Host: The International Labour Organization (ILO) Co–sponsored with: the UN Gender Mainstreaming Committee |
Philippines |
Resources on this year's theme of the IWD
Facts & Figures on Violence Against Women Violence against women and girls is a problem of pandemic proportions. At least one out of every three women around the world has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime — with the abuser usually someone known to her. Perhaps the most pervasive human rights violation that we know today, it devastates lives, fractures communities, and stalls development.
UNiTE to End Violence against Women On 25 February 2008, the UN Secretary-General launched the Campaign UNiTE to End Violence against Women, 2008-2015, with the overall objective of raising public awareness and increasing political will and resources for preventing and responding to all forms of violence against women and girls – in all parts of the world. The Framework for Action provides an overall “umbrella” for the efforts to be undertaken at global, regional, national and local levels. It identifies five key outcomes as benchmarks for the Campaign, to be achieved in all countries by 2015, and outlines a UN Programme of Activities and expected Outputs.
Say NO to Violence against Women UNIFEM's global advocacy campaign, Say NO to Violence against Women supports the Secretary-General's campaign and aims to demonstrate that there is a global movement of people who demand that ending violence against women be a top priority for governments. More than five million people have joined in the campaign including high-level government representatives around the world.