“The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.” Gloria Steinem

The Official United Nations theme for International Women’s Day 2014 is “Equality for women is progress for all.” Celebrated by women’s rights activists across the world annually on March 8, International Women’s Day has been marked by the UN since 1975.

International Women’s Day first emerged from the activities of labor movements at the turn of the twentieth century in North America and across Europe. Since those early years, International Women’s Day has assumed a new global dimension for women in developed and developing countries alike. The growing international women’s movement, which has been strengthened by four global United Nations women’s conferences, has helped make the commemoration a rallying point to build support for women’s rights and participation in the political and economic arenas.

Increasingly, International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.

For more, see the United Nations Website: www.un.org