History of International Women's Day in Timeline
International Women's Day (IWD), celebrated annually on March 8th, is a focal point in the women's rights movement. Originating from labor movements in the early 20th century Europe and North America, spurred by the universal female suffrage movement, IWD highlights critical issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and the elimination of violence and abuse against women. Vladimir Lenin declared the modern holiday.
February 28, 1909: Woman's Day Organized in New York City
On February 28, 1909, the Socialist Party of America organized a "Woman's Day" in New York City. This event served as the earliest reported version of what would evolve into International Women's Day.
August 1910: International Socialist Women's Conference Organized
In August 1910, the International Socialist Women's Conference was organized in Copenhagen, Denmark. German delegates proposed the establishment of an annual "Women's Day" to promote equal rights, including women's suffrage.
1910: Proposal for a Special Women's Day
In 1910, at the International Socialist Women's Conference in Copenhagen, German delegates proposed that "a special Women's Day" be organized annually to promote equal rights, but without a set date.
March 19, 1911: First International Women's Day Marked
On March 19, 1911, over a million people in Austria-Hungary, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland marked the first International Women's Day. Women demanded the right to vote, to hold public office, and protested against employment sex discrimination.
1913: First IWD in Russia
In 1913, Russia observed International Women's Day for the first time on the last Saturday in February (Julian calendar), which corresponded to March 8 in the Gregorian calendar.
1914: First IWD Held on March 8 in Germany
In 1914, International Women's Day was held on March 8 for the first time in Germany, dedicated to women's right to vote. Concurrently, there was a march in London in support of women's suffrage, during which Sylvia Pankhurst was arrested.
February 23, 1917: Women's Demonstration Begins February Revolution
On February 23, 1917 (March 8 on the Gregorian calendar), women textile workers in Petrograd began a demonstration demanding "Bread and Peace," which led to the February Revolution. Seven days later, Tsar Nicholas II abdicated, and the provisional Government granted women the right to vote.
March 8, 1917: Women's Demonstration Begins February Revolution
On March 8, 1917 (February 23 on the Julian calendar), women textile workers in Petrograd began a demonstration demanding "Bread and Peace," which led to the February Revolution. Seven days later, Tsar Nicholas II abdicated, and the provisional Government granted women the right to vote.
1917: Revolutionary Changes in Russia
In 1917, International Women's day marked the beginning of revolutionary changes in Russia.
1917: Women's Role in Russian Revolution
In 1917, International Women's day marked the beginning of revolutionary changes in Russia.
1918: German Women Win the Right to Vote
In 1918, German women were granted the right to vote.
March 1919: Resolution on the Role of Working Women
In March 1919, the first congress of the Communist International adopted a brief "Resolution on the Role of Working Women", which made no mention of 8 March or IWD.
1921: Methods and Forms of Work Among Communist Party Women: Theses
In 1921, the third world congress of Communist International adopted "Methods and Forms of Work Among Communist Party Women: Theses".
1922: Chinese Communists Observe IWD
In 1922, Chinese communists began observing International Women's Day.
1922: Lenin Declares March 8th as IWD
In 1922, Vladimir Lenin declared March 8th as International Women's Day (IWD) to honor the role of women in the 1917 Russian Revolution. It was subsequently celebrated on that date by the socialist movement and communist countries.
1927: Guangzhou March
In 1927, Guangzhou saw a march of 25,000 women and male supporters.
1927: Hujum Initiated by Joseph Stalin
In 1927, Joseph Stalin initiated Hujum, a series of policies and actions to remove gender inequality in Central Asia, particularly female veiling and seclusion, on International Women's Day.
1928: Australia First Observed International Women's Day
In 1928, Australia first observed International Women's Day with a rally in Sydney organized by the Militant Women's Group of the Communist Party.
1931: First IWD Marches in Sydney and Melbourne
In 1931, the first International Women's Day marches happened in Sydney and Melbourne.
1936: Women's March in Madrid Led by Dolores Ibárruri
In 1936, Communist leader Dolores Ibárruri led a women's march in Madrid on the eve of the Spanish Civil War.
1938: First Major IWD Meeting in Perth
In 1938, the first major International Women's Day meeting in Perth was held with women from various organizations in attendance.
1945: Women's International Democratic Federation Founding Conference
Following the 1945 founding conference of the Women's International Democratic Federation in Paris, the Congress of American Women was founded in New York on International Women's Day.
1946: Mimosa chosen as symbol of IWD in Italy
In 1946, communist politician Teresa Mattei chose the mimosa as the symbol of International Women's Day in Italy, as a more accessible alternative to violets and lilies of the valley.
1946: Congress of American Women Founded
In 1946, the Congress of American Women was founded in New York on International Women's Day.
1948: Organization Attacked as a Communist Front Organization
In 1948 the Congress of American Women was attacked as a communist front organization by the House Un-American Activities Committee and was forced to register as a "subversive" organization.
October 1, 1949: People's Republic of China Founding
On October 1, 1949, following the founding of the People's Republic of China, March 8 was proclaimed an official holiday, with women given a half-day off.
1950: Organization Dissolved
In 1950, the Congress of American Women dissolved.
1956: Women's League within People's Action Party Created
In 1956 in Singapore, Chan Choy Siong, along with Ho Puay Choo and Oh Siew Chen, created the Women's League within the People's Action Party. To recognize International Women's Day that year, the League organized four rallies across Singapore, which attracted more than 2,000 people in total.
1958: First International Women's Day Observance in Trinidad and Tobago
In 1958, Christina F. Lewis organized the first International Women's Day observance in Trinidad and Tobago.
May 8, 1965: IWD Declared Non-Working Public Holiday in Soviet Union
On May 8, 1965, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet made March 8, International Women's Day, a non-working public holiday.
1965: First IWD Observance in Afghanistan
In 1965, Anahita Ratebzad and other members of the Democratic Organisation of Afghan Women (DOAW) organized a protest march on March 8 in Kabul, which was the first observance of International Women's Day in Afghanistan.
1967: Second-Wave Feminists Adopt IWD
Around 1967, International Women's Day was adopted by second-wave feminists. The day re-emerged as a day of activism, and is sometimes known in Europe as the "Women's International Day of Struggle".
1968: The Women's History Research Center Created
The Women's History Research Center was created from 1968 to 1974.
1969: March in Berkeley, California
In 1969, an activist called Laura X organized a march in Berkeley, California, on International Women's Day.
1972: Large IWD Marches Begin in Australia
In Australia, 1972 was when large International Women's Day marches began.
1974: The Women's History Research Center Created
The Women's History Research Center was created from 1968 to 1974.
1975: United Nations began celebrating International Women's Day
In 1975, the United Nations began celebrating International Women's Day, which was proclaimed as the International Women's Year.
1977: UN General Assembly invited member states to proclaim a UN Day for Women's Rights and International Peace
In 1977, the United Nations General Assembly invited member states to proclaim a day of the year as the United Nations Day for Women's Rights and International Peace. March 8 is traditionally recognised as the day for International Women’s Days by the UN.
1977: UN Promotes IWD as a Global Holiday
In 1977, the United Nations promoted International Women's Day, transforming it into a mainstream global holiday.
1978: Women's Work Committee in Palestine
Announced in 1978 on International Women's Day, the Women's Work Committee in Palestine came to represent an association willing to develop a strategy to combine national liberation and women's liberation.
March 1979: Women's March in Tehran Protests Mandatory Hijab
In March 1979, a women's march in Tehran originally intended to celebrate International Women's Day, transformed into protests against mandatory hijab (veiling), which had been announced the day before.
1980: Lobbying for IWD recognition in United States begins
Starting in the 1980's, actress and human rights activist Beata Pozniak began lobbying members of the US Congress to propose the first official IWD bill in the history of US Congress.
March 8, 1984: First International Women's Day demonstrations since end of military regime in Argentina
On March 8, 1984, the first International Women's Day demonstrations since the end of Argentina's military regime took place in the Congressional Plaza, organized by the Multisectorial de la Mujer. The protest featured activist María Elena Oddone, who raised a controversial banner, sparking debate within and outside the feminist movement.
1994: Bill introduced to recognize IWD in United States
In 1994, Representative Maxine Waters introduced H. J. Res. 316 bill to recognize March 8 as International Women's Day, following a suggestion by Beata Pozniak.
1995: Plaque erected beside The Suffrage Oak
In 1995, on International Women's Day, Glasgow City Council's Women's Committee erected a plaque beside The Suffrage Oak, commemorating the granting of votes to women in 1918.
1996: First publication of Gába
In 1996, Gába, a bilingual Sámi magazine published by the Sámi women's forum Sami Nisson Forum, was released for the first time on International Women's Day. The articles mainly deal with the everyday life of the Sámi from a woman's perspective.
2001: Launch of internationalwomensday.com
In 2001, the website internationalwomensday.com was established by Aurora Ventures, a British marketing firm, with corporate sponsorship. It promoted hashtags as themes, separate from the UN theme, leading to criticism of commercialization.
2003: IWD Rally held in Tehran
In 2003, a rally for International Women's Day was held in Tehran. In 2007, a subsequent rally was broken up by police.
2003: Benefit concert for Afghan women refugees
On International Women's Day in 2003, Marcheline Bertrand and John Trudell produced a benefit concert for Afghan women refugees in conjunction with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
2004: International Women's Day re-established in Czech Republic
In 2004, International Women's Day was re-established as an official "important day" by the Parliament of the Czech Republic, provoking controversy due to its association with the nation's Communist past.
March 8, 2006: Vandalism of The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen
On March 8, 2006, in Copenhagen, The Little Mermaid statue was vandalized with a dildo attached to its hand and green paint dumped over it, with the date March 8 written on it. It is suspected that this vandalism was connected with International Women's Day.
March 4, 2007: Violence erupts at IWD rally in Tehran
On March 4, 2007, police in Tehran, Iran, used violence to disperse hundreds of men and women planning an International Women's Day rally.
March 19, 2007: Activists released after hunger strike
On March 19, 2007, Shadi Sadr, Mahbubeh Abbasgholizadeh and several other community activists were released in Tehran, Iran, ending a fifteen-day hunger strike following arrests at the IWD rally.
2008: Wajeha al-Huwaider drove in protest of Saudi ban on women driving
In 2008, on International Women's Day, Wajeha al-Huwaider drove in Saudi Arabia, in protest of the ban on women driving, attracting international media attention.
2009: Sara Azmeh Rasmussen set fire to a veil on International Women's Day
In 2009, Sara Azmeh Rasmussen set fire to a veil on International Women's Day in Norway, gaining international attention, but also facing death threats and hate emails.
2010: Launch of Women's WorldWide Web (W4)
On International Women's Day in 2010, Lindsey Nefesh-Clarke officially launched Women's WorldWide Web (W4), a European crowdfunding platform dedicated to women's empowerment.
2010: ICRC drew attention to hardships displaced women endure
On International Women's Day in 2010, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) drew attention to the hardships displaced women endure, noting that they constitute a large percentage of internally displaced persons.
March 8, 2011: 100th anniversary of International Women's Day commemorated worldwide
On March 8, 2011, events took place in more than 100 countries to commemorate the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day.
March 2011: President Obama proclaimed Women's History Month
In March 2011, President Barack Obama proclaimed March 2011 to be "Women's History Month", calling Americans to mark IWD by reflecting on "the extraordinary accomplishments of women" in shaping the country's history.
2011: Australia issued IWD commemorative coin
In 2011, Australia issued an IWD 100th anniversary commemorative 20-cent coin. Also, the Australian Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry was launched on 2011's International Women's Day.
2011: Founding of the Suffrage Science award
In 2011, on the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day, the Suffrage Science award was founded by the MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences (LMS) as a prize for women in science, engineering, and computing.
2011: Formation of the National Network to Combat Violence Against Women in Iraq
On International Women's Day in 2011, a coalition of 17 Iraqi women's rights groups formed the National Network to Combat Violence Against Women in Iraq.
2012: Avon launched the Pass It On campaign to highlight domestic abuse issues
On International Women's Day in 2012, Alesha Dixon launched Avon's Pass It On campaign to highlight domestic abuse issues in the United Kingdom by encouraging the purchase of a necklace, the proceeds from which were donated to Refuge and Women's Aid.
2012: Opening of Kabul's first internet cafe for women
On International Women's Day in 2012, Kabul's first internet cafe for women, named the Sahar Gul internet cafe, was opened.
2012: ICRC called for more action to help mothers and wives of missing persons during armed conflict
On International Women's Day in 2012, the ICRC called for more action to help the mothers and wives of people who have gone missing during armed conflict, underlining the duty of parties to this conflict to search for the missing and provide information to the families.
2013: UN focused attention on ending violence against women
Following the brutal attack on Malala Yousafzai in October 2012, the UN focused its attention on ending violence against women and made this the central theme for International Women's Day in 2013.
2013: Inauguration of Bhagat Phool Singh Government Medical College for Women
On International Women's Day in 2013, Bhagat Phool Singh Government Medical College for Women was inaugurated as the first women's Government Medical College of independent India.
2013: Bobbi Brown Cosmetics launched the Pretty Powerful Campaign for Women & Girls
On International Women's Day in 2013, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics launched the Pretty Powerful Campaign for Women & Girls, supporting organizations empowering women through job skills training and girls through education.
2014: First International Women's Collaboration Brew Day
Since 2014, the International Women's Collaboration Brew Day takes place each year on International Women's Day, when women brewers around the world brew the same beer, with proceeds donated to charity, to raise awareness of women in the brewing industry.
2015: Nari Shakti Puraskar was renamed and reorganized
In 2015, the Nari Shakti Puraskar, the highest civilian honor for women in India, was renamed and reorganized from Stree Shakti Puraskar. The Nari Shakti Puraskar is presented by the president of India on International Women's Day.
2015: Amnesty International Australia collaborated with Tinder to raise awareness of women's rights
On International Women's Day in 2015, Amnesty International Australia collaborated with Tinder to raise awareness of women's rights, using slogans like "Not all women have the power to choose like you do".
2015: Launch of The Female Lead educational charity
On International Women's Day in 2015, The Female Lead, an educational charity, was launched in the United Kingdom to increase the visibility of women's success stories.
2015: Renaming ceremony of the British Ambassador's residence in Belgrade to "Elsie Inglis House"
On International Women's Day in 2015, the British Ambassador's residence in Belgrade was renamed "Elsie Inglis House" after Elsie Inglis, a doctor and campaigner for women's suffrage and founder of the Scottish Women's Hospitals in Serbia.
2015: Formation of the Women's Classical Committee
On International Women's Day in 2015, the Women's Classical Committee was formed at the Institute of Classical Studies, London, to support women in Classics and promote feminist perspectives.
March 2016: Kanhaiya Kumar Criticized for Remarks on Kashmiri Women
In March 2016, Kanhaiya Kumar's speech in India on International Women's Day, referencing the rape of Kashmiri women by Indian Army personnel, sparked controversy. Accusations of being "anti-national" followed, leading to complaints, a sedition and defamation case, and a physical attack on March 10, 2016.
2016: One Campaign relaunched Poverty is Sexist campaign
On International Women's Day in 2016, One Campaign relaunched their Poverty is Sexist campaign, revealing that half a billion women still couldn't read and girls accounted for 74% of new HIV infections among African adolescents.
March 4, 2017: First Jakarta Women's March
On March 4, 2017, the first Jakarta Women's March was held in commemoration of International Women's Day. The march was held in front of the State Palace as a part of the 2017 Women's March movement in the United States, and delivered eight demands to the government, including tolerance, diversity, women's health rights, elimination of violence against women, environmental protection, female worker's rights, and improved political representation.
2017: Founding of the SahibaSisters Foundation
In 2017, on International Women's Day, the SahibaSisters Foundation, Tanzania's first feminist activist institute, was founded.
2017: International Women's Strike Movement
In 2017, the International Women's Strike, also known as Paro Internacional de Mujeres, was a global movement coordinated across over 50 countries on International Women's Day.
2017: Symbolic Remains Transferred to National Pantheon of Venezuela
On International Women's Day in 2017, the Venezuelan government moved the symbolic remains of Apacuana and African slaves Hipólita and Matea to the National Pantheon of Venezuela.
March 8, 2018: Overlooked No More Feature Introduced by The New York Times
On March 8, 2018, for International Women's Day, The New York Times introduced "Overlooked No More", a recurring obituary feature honoring remarkable women whose deaths were previously overlooked.
March 2018: First Aurat March held in Pakistan
In March 2018, the first Aurat March was held in Karachi, Pakistan, by women's collectives in parallel with the Pakistani #MeToo movement on International Women's Day.
2018: McDonald's Flips Arches for International Women's Day
In 2018, McDonald's flipped its arches on social media and at a Lynwood, California franchise in celebration of International Women's Day, prompting some backlash.
2018: Founding of Women Democratic Front in Pakistan
In 2018, on International Women's Day, the Women Democratic Front (WDF), a socialist-feminist organization in Pakistan, was founded to unite women and transform the International Women's Day celebration into real means of action.
2018: International Women's Strike and Sex/Work Strike
In 2018, the International Women's Strike continued, and the Sex/Work Strike began as part of the International Women's Strike, advocating for the decriminalization of sex work.
2018: Billboards Protest Domestic Violence in Pristina
On International Women's Day in 2018, in Pristina, Kosovo, billboards were erected to protest the deaths of two women from domestic violence.
March 2019: Antimonumenta Erected in Mexico City
In March 2019, during the International Women's Day march in Mexico City, an Antimonumenta was erected on Juárez Avenue to protest gender violence.
2019: McDonald's Flips Arches for International Women's Day
In 2019, McDonald's flipped its arches on social media accounts in celebration of International Women's Day, changing the "M" to a "W."
2019: Protests Against Burning Sun Scandal in South Korea
In 2019, on International Women's Day, the Burning Sun scandal led to a street protest in Gangnam, South Korea, against the Burning Sun and other nightclubs, calling for an end to a culture treating women as sexual objects.
2019: Berlin Marks International Women's Day as Public Holiday
In 2019, the federal state of Berlin marked International Women's Day as a public holiday for the first time, after parliament approved it in January of that year, making Berlin the first German state to do so.
2019: Women Protest Oppression in Tehran Unveiled
In Tehran, Iran on International Women's Day 2019, women protested the oppression of women. Groups of women appeared unveiled in public places and handed out flowers to passengers in Tehran.
2020: Women Protest Gender Violence in Mexico
In 2020, on International Women's Day, women in Mexico protested to demand government accountability for gender violence. The following day, a protest called "Un Día Sin Mujeres" (A Day Without Women) took place, simulating a world without women.
2020: Jakarta Women's March Demands End to Violence Against Women
In 2020, the Jakarta Women's March, expanded to over 60 civil rights organizations, protested to demand that the government put a stop to systematic violence against women and pass the sexual assault eradication bill.
2020: Founding of The Women's Party in South Korea
On International Women's Day in 2020, The Women's Party, a South Korean single-issue political party advocating for feminism, was founded.
2020: Witches of Scotland Campaign Launched
On International Women's Day in 2020, the Witches of Scotland campaign was launched, seeking legal pardons and justice for those convicted of witchcraft in Scotland.
2021: Vandalism of Concepción Feminist Mural in Spain
In the early hours of International Women's Day in 2021, the Concepción Feminist Mural in Spain was vandalized by extreme right-wing groups.
2021: Women March for Abortion Decriminalization in San Salvador
On International Women's Day in 2021, 5,000 women marched in San Salvador demanding decriminalization of abortion and an end to violence against women.
2021: Dave Sharma Criticized for Handing Out Flowers
On International Women's Day in 2021, Australian politician Dave Sharma faced criticism for handing out flowers to women amidst scrutiny over the government's handling of sexual misconduct allegations.
2021: Burger King Tweet Controversy
On International Women's Day in 2021, Burger King faced backlash for a tweet stating "Women belong in the kitchen," which was later deleted with an apology.
2021: Protest Against Violence Against Women in Guatemala City
On International Women's Day in 2021, a thousand women and men marched in Guatemala City demanding an end to violence against women.
2021: Installation of Antimonumenta in Morelia, Mexico
On International Women's Day in 2021, an Antimonumenta was installed in Morelia, Mexico, symbolizing the demand for justice for women who suffer from violence.
2021: Uyghur Women Protest Abuse by Chinese Government
On International Women's Day in 2021, several hundred Uyghur women protested the abuse of Uyghurs by the Chinese government.
2021: Women Divers Hall of Fame Announces Research Grant
On International Women's Day in 2021, the Women Divers Hall of Fame announced a new research grant in the name of Simone Melchior-Cousteau.
March 9, 2022: CEO makes sexist remarks at BC Tourism and Hospitality Conference
On March 9, 2022, Vivek Sharma, CEO of Fairmont Hot Springs resort, made sexist remarks at the BC Tourism and Hospitality Conference, telling women to "go clean some rooms and do some dishes" after being asked to stand in honor of International Women's Day.
March 2022: Tanzanian President accused of using IWD event for political gain
In March 2022, following the release of Freeman Mbowe, his first appearance was at the International Women's Day event in Iringa. Critics accused President Samia Suluhu of releasing Mbowe on condition of support for Western feminist policies.
2022: Feminist Anti-War Resistance Organized Laying of Flowers
In 2022 on International Women's Day, Feminist Anti-War Resistance organized the laying of flowers – chrysanthemums and tulips bound with blue and yellow ribbons – by women at war monuments.
2022: International Women's Day becomes public holiday in Germany
In 2022, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's state parliament in Germany voted to make International Women's Day a public holiday.
2023: Japanese women's rights groups rally for civil code change
In 2023 in Japan, a rally recognizing International Women's Day featured a statement delivered to lawmakers by women's rights groups, advocating for changes to the Japanese civil code regarding married couples' last names.
2023: Bills introduced for referendums on constitutional amendments related to family and care
In 2023, in Ireland, the Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill and the Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill were introduced which were voted on in 2024.
2024: Ireland holds referendums on constitutional amendments related to family and care
On International Women's Day in 2024, Ireland held two referendums on proposed amendments to the Constitution of Ireland. The Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023 proposed to expand the constitutional definition of family to include durable relationships outside marriage and the Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023 proposed to replace a reference to women's "life within the home" with a gender-neutral article on supporting care within the family.
2024: France enshrines abortion rights in constitution
On International Women's Day in 2024, a ceremony presided over by President Emmanuel Macron marked France becoming the first nation to guarantee the right to an abortion in its constitution.
