Gains | Challenges | History of International Women's Day
National Women's History Project Resource Center

March 8, International Women’s Day and Women's History Month

Each year on March 8th, women across the globe recognize International Women’s Day. In 2002, the theme was "Afghanistan is Everywhere," which recognizes that the human rights violations and misogyny faced by Afghan women under the Taliban are faced to some extent by women in all societies. Rape, trafficking, harassment, honor crimes, legal and education discrimination are challenges faced by females--including educators and female students.

In the words of Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations:

Violence against women is perhaps the most shameful
human rights violation. It knows no boundaries of
geography, culture or wealth. As long as it continues,
we cannot claim to be making real progress towards
equality, development, and peace.

It is important to recognize the gains made and the persistent challenges faced by women and girls across the globe. Gender equality is a global issue with roots within the family and the community. Actions must be taken at every level of government to establish nurturing environments for girls and boys which foster respect and equality. It is the responsibility of educators, through our vast network of over 24 million teachers within Education International, to ensure that gender-fair education is put into practice in schools.

Gains

Presidents, Prime Ministers, and Parliamentary Leaders Currently, there are women presidents in six nations: Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Panama, Philippines, and Sri Lanka. Women in three nations hold the post of prime minister: Bangladesh, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka. There are 46 nations that have more women elected to their national parliament or congress than the United States with its 13.3%. The top 10 nations for women’s leadership at the parliament level are: 1. Sweden, 42.7% 2. Denmark, 37.4% 3. Finland, 36.5% 4. Norway, 36.4% 5. Netherlands, 36% 6. Iceland, 34.9% 7. Germany, 30.9% 8. South Africa, 30% 9. New Zealand, 29.2% 10. Bosnia & Herzegovina and Venezuela, 28.6% 46. United States, 13.3%

Challenges

• Education. Girls represent two of every three children in the developing world who do not receive primary education (approximately 73 million girls).
  
• Equal Rights. The United States has yet to enact the Equal Rights Amendment or ratify the U.N. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, CEDAW.
  
• Suffrage. In Kuwait and United Arab Emirates, women do not have the right to vote.
  
• Rape. This form of violence is used as an act of war as is evidenced in recent years in Bosnia, Kosovo, Algeria, and Sierra Leone.
  
• Trafficking of Women. The U.S. Department of State estimates that more that 700,000 women are trafficked each year across borders and forced into prostitution, domestic labor, and sweatshop labor.
  
• Harassment and Violence at Work. In the U.S., the leading cause of death for women at the job site is murder.
  
• Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Although laws forbidding its practice have been established in countries such as Senegal and Egypt, female genital mutilation is still a common cultural practice.
  
• Honor Crimes. In Jordan, Pakistan, and India, governments continue to ignore crimes committed by men who have been shamed or embarrassed by female relatives, including murder.