The United Nations has celebrated International Women's Day since the International Women's Year in 1975, recognizing the traditional struggle of ordinary women for equal participation in society. In 1997, the General Assembly adopted a resolution requesting each country to select a day during the year according to its own historical and ethnic traditions and customs, and declare it as the United Nations Day for the Rights of Women and Peace in the World. The United Nations' initiative led to the establishment of a national legal framework for achieving gender equality and raised public awareness of the urgent need to elevate the status of women in all aspects.
On March 8, 1857, female garment and textile workers in New York City held a protest against inhumane working conditions, 12-hour workdays, and low wages. The demonstrators were surrounded and dispersed by police. Two years later, again in March, these women organized the first union.
On March 8, 1908, 1,500 women marched in New York City, demanding shorter working hours, higher wages, voting rights, and the prohibition of child labor. Their slogan was "Bread and Roses," with bread symbolizing economic security and roses representing a better quality of life. In May, the American Socialist Party decided to designate the last Sunday of February as the National Women's Day in the country.
Before the First World War, the shadow of war loomed over the world, and imperialism sought to divide colonies. In August 1910, the Second International Women's Congress of Socialists was held in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark. Representatives from 17 countries attended the meeting. The main issue discussed was opposing imperialist military build-up and safeguarding world peace. The conference also addressed issues such as protecting women and children's rights, advocating for an eight-hour workday, and women's suffrage. Clara Zetkin, a renowned German socialist revolutionary and outstanding communist fighter, proposed that March 8th of each year be designated as the day of struggle for women worldwide, which received unanimous support from the participants. Since then, "March 8th" has become the festival for women around the world to fight for their rights and liberation. In 1917, Russian women called for strikes on February 23rd to demand "bread and peace," protesting poor working conditions and food shortages. At that time, according to the Julian calendar used in Russia, it was the last Sunday of the month, which converted to the Gregorian calendar widely used in Europe is March 8th.
March 8, 1911 was the first International Women's Day.
In 1917, female workers in Petrograd, Russia courageously raised the battle flag of "March 8th," holding demonstrations against imperialist wars, the tsarist system, and hunger.
The first "March 8th" Women's Day commemorative activities held by Chinese women took place in 1924, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, Guangzhou working women held a commemoration meeting and parade. The meeting was presided over by He Xiangning, a pioneer of China's women's movement. At the meeting, slogans such as "Overthrow Imperialism" and "Protect Women and Children" were put forward. This event demonstrated the awakening and strength of Chinese working women.
On December 1949, the State Council of the Central People's Government stipulated that March 8th of each year according to the Gregorian calendar is Women's Day. The United Nations has celebrated International Women's Day since the International Women's Year in 1975, confirming the tradition of ordinary women fighting for equal participation in society. In 1977, the General Assembly adopted a resolution requesting each country to select a day during the year according to its own historical and ethnic traditions and customs, and declare it as the United Nations Day for the Rights of Women and Peace in the World. For the United Nations, International Women's Day is set as March 8th according to the Gregorian calendar.