LifeHubber Team
International Women’s Day (IWD), observed on March 8th annually, is a pivotal day dedicated to celebrating the remarkable contributions of women across various fields while advocating for accelerated gender equality.
The origins of IWD trace back to the early 20th century, rooted in the labor movements in North America and Europe. The first IWD gathering in 1911 saw over a million people advocating for women’s rights to work, vote, be trained, hold public office, and end discrimination.
Over a century later, IWD has evolved into a global day of recognition and celebration, acknowledging the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women, and underscoring the ongoing fight for gender parity.
IWD 2024 Theme: Inspire Inclusion
The campaign theme for International Women’s Day 2024 is “Inspire Inclusion.” This theme encourages everyone to embrace and understand the value of women’s inclusion across all spectrums of society. The aim is to create a world where women feel a sense of belonging, relevance, and empowerment. The #InspireInclusion campaign promotes a unified effort to forge a more inclusive world for women by raising awareness, celebrating women’s achievements, and taking action to drive gender parity.
Notable Events and Initiatives
IWD 2024 will be marked by events, discussions, and campaigns worldwide, focusing on diverse themes like women’s empowerment, health, sports, and technology. A significant highlight is the call to “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress,” emphasizing the critical need for increased funding towards achieving gender equality. The initiative underscores the importance of economic rights, bodily autonomy for women, and addressing the digital gender divide.
This year, UN Women specifically highlights the urgency of investing in women as a cornerstone for building inclusive societies, ending poverty, implementing gender-responsive financing, shifting towards a green economy, and supporting feminist change makers.
Public Reaction and Participation
International Women’s Day serves as a global platform for raising awareness and encouraging action toward gender equality. Public participation varies from online campaigns to street marches, cultural performances, and academic discussions. Social media plays a crucial role in spreading the message, with hashtags like #InspireInclusion and #InvestInWomen garnering significant attention. The day unites individuals, organizations, and governments in a shared commitment to women’s rights and gender equality.
Hubbers’ Takeaway
With its theme “Inspire Inclusion”, International Women’s Day 2024 invites us all to contribute towards creating a gender-equal world. It’s a call to acknowledge and celebrate women’s achievements, address biases, and work collectively towards an inclusive, equitable society. Whether through supporting women-led businesses, advocating for gender-responsive policies, or simply educating oneself and others about gender equality, every action counts.
As Hubbers, let’s join in this global movement, inspiring and championing inclusion in every walk of life.
