# Explainer-International Women’s Day: date, history and this year’s theme Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2023-03-07 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: International Women's Day 2022: Theme, History & Meta Description: Discover the significance of International Women's Day, this year's theme 'DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality', and why URL: https://financedigest.com/explainer-international-womens-day-date-history-and-this-years-themehtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2023-03-06t234455z2lynxmpej250snrtroptp4womens-day-explainer-1736814369884-compressed.jpg) By Josie Kao (Reuters) – As the world gears up to celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) on Wednesday, here is a look at what the global event stands for, this year’s theme and the issues that activists are focusing on. WHAT IS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY? IWD is an [annual event to celebrate the achievements of women](https://www.financedigest.com/bloom-uk-launches-fourth-annual-co-mentoring-scheme-the-exchange-for-senior-and-c-suite-men-and-women.html "Bloom UK launches fourth annual co-mentoring scheme, The Exchange, for senior and C-suite men and women") and push for rights progress. It has roots in the U.S. socialist and labour movements of the early 20th century, particularly as [women were fighting for better working conditions and the right to vote](https://www.financedigest.com/ireland-to-vote-on-removing-outmoded-references-to-women-from-constitution.html "Ireland to vote on removing ‘outmoded’ references to women from constitution"). The first recorded celebration was in 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland when over a [million people rallied to support](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-gives-bbc-world-service-20-million-pounds-to-support-english-language-broadcasting.html "UK gives BBC World Service 20 million pounds to support English language broadcasting") women’s rights. Since then, the event has grown not only in size but also in its scope. Focus has [expanded to issues ranging](https://www.financedigest.com/jewellery-maker-pandora-to-expand-lab-made-diamond-range.html "Jewellery maker Pandora to expand lab-made diamond range") from violence against women to parity in the workplace. While no single group has ownership of the event, the United [Nations is often at the forefront of celebrations after it officially](https://www.financedigest.com/quebecs-elected-officials-must-swear-oath-to-king-charles-to-sit-in-national-assembly.html "Quebec’s elected officials must swear oath to King Charles to sit in National Assembly") recognized IWD in 1977. However, celebrations [around the world](https://www.financedigest.com/old-trafford-attracting-not-just-footballers-from-around-the-world-but-also-investors.html "Old Trafford attracting not just footballers from around the world, but also investors") are usually decentralized, though some countries recognize IWD as a public holiday, including China, Russia and Uganda. WHAT IS THIS [YEAR’S INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY](https://www.financedigest.com/tall-marks-its-25th-year-with-celebration-day.html "TALL Marks its 25th Year with Celebration Day ") THEME? The U.N.’s theme this year is “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality.” The topic highlights how technology is crucial to advancing rights but a growing digital gender gap is impacting everything from women’s [job opportunities to safety](https://www.financedigest.com/philips-to-cut-13-of-jobs-in-safety-and-profitability-drive.html "Philips to cut 13% of jobs in safety and profitability drive") online. According to the U.N., 259 million fewer waomen have [access to the internet](https://www.financedigest.com/51-of-brits-support-teresa-may-and-would-grant-access-to-their-personal-communication-and-internet-browsing-history-as-part-of-the-snoopers-charter.html "51%* of Brits support Teresa May and would grant access to their personal communication and internet browsing history as part of the Snooper’s Charter ") than men, and women are largely underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers. Bringing women into technology results in more creative solutions and has greater potential for innovations that meet [women’s needs](https://www.financedigest.com/5-reasons-why-women-need-to-get-into-property-investing.html "5 Reasons why women need to get into property investing") and promote gender equality,” says the U.N.’s website. “Their lack of inclusion, by contrast, comes with massive costs.” Previous U.N. themes have included [climate change](https://www.financedigest.com/deloitte-research-reveals-inaction-on-climate-change-could-cost-the-worlds-economy-us178-trillion-by-2070.html "Deloitte research reveals inaction on climate change could cost the world’s economy US8 trillion by 2070"), rural women and HIV/AIDS. WHY IS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY IMPORTANT? While the U.N.’s theme this year underscores how the fight for gender equality has evolved in the [21st century](https://www.financedigest.com/taking-the-pain-out-of-payments-for-the-21st-century-worker.html "TAKING THE PAIN OUT OF PAYMENTS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY WORKER"), celebrations around the world are also focused on longstanding issues including poverty and violence. A [World Health](https://www.financedigest.com/breaking-the-stigma-men-and-mental-health-in-the-world-of-investments.html "Breaking the Stigma: Men and Mental Health in the World of Investments") Organization report in 2021 found that nearly one in three women worldwide is subjected to physical or sexual violence during her lifetime, an issue that ties in with women’s economic opportunities, access to sex education and reproductive rights. In recent years, there has also been a push to make IWD more inclusive of racialized women as well as of transgender, non-binary and gender non-conforming people, [since the early](https://www.financedigest.com/first-quarter-dash-for-cash-largest-since-early-2020-bofa.html "First quarter ‘dash for cash’ largest since early 2020 -BofA") movement was largely focused on cisgender white women fighting for voting rights. While IWD is a chance to raise awareness on rights gaps, organizers also use the day to [celebrate progress and the achievements of individual women](https://www.financedigest.com/higher-education-institutions-launch-wonderwomen-initiative-to-celebrate-international-womens-week.html "Higher education institutions launch #WonderWomen initiative to celebrate International Women’s Week"). (Reporting by Josie Kao in Toronto; Editing by Lisa Shumaker) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---