International Women’s Day Celebrated

Source: PIB
GS I:  Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies

Overview

1. News in Brief
2. About International Women’s Day
3. Origins, Evolution and Modern Observance of International Women’s Day
4. Major Schemes for Women Empowerment in India

Why in the News?

International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated annually on March 8th.

News in Brief

• The day raises awareness of several issues, including violence and abuse against women, women’s reproductive rights, gender equality and women’s achievements in various fields.
• International Women’s Day is not only a day to celebrate the achievements of women but also a reminder of the work that still needs to be done to achieve gender equality worldwide.
• It is a time to reflect on the progress made and the challenges that lie ahead in ensuring that women and girls everywhere can live free from discrimination and enjoy equal rights and opportunities.

About International Women’s Day

• International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated annually on March 8th to honour the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women worldwide.
• It also serves as a call to action for gender equality and the advancement of women’s rights.
• This day has been observed since the early 1900s and has grown into a global movement advocating for women’s empowerment and gender parity.

Key Facts

• Origins: The roots of International Women’s Day can be traced back to the early 20th-century women’s labour movement in North America and Europe.
• Official Recognition: The United Nations officially recognized International Women’s Day in 1977, marking it as a day of celebration and activism.
• Theme: Each year, International Women’s Day is celebrated with a specific theme that highlights various aspects of gender equality and women’s rights.
  • Theme for International Women’s Day Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress.
• Global Impact: IWD is celebrated in many countries around the world, with events ranging from rallies and marches to conferences and cultural performances.
• Progress and Challenges: While significant progress has been made in advancing women’s rights, gender inequality and discrimination persist in many parts of the world.

Origins, Evolution and Modern Observance of International Women’s Day

• Early 20th Century: The early 20th century witnessed significant social and political changes, including the rise of labor movements and calls for women’s suffrage.
• First Celebrations: The first National Women’s Day was observed in the United States on February 28, 1909, organized by the Socialist Party of America to honor a garment workers’ strike in New York.
• International Women’s Conference: In 1910, at the International Conference of Working Women held in Copenhagen, Denmark, Clara Zetkin, a German socialist and advocate for women’s rights, proposed the idea of an annual International Women’s Day to promote equal rights, including suffrage, for women around the world. The proposal was met with unanimous approval.

Early Observances:

• First International Women’s Day: On March 19, 1911, International Women’s Day was celebrated for the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland. Over a million people attended rallies and demonstrations to demand women’s rights, including suffrage, the right to work, and an end to discrimination.
• Continued Growth: International Women’s Day quickly gained momentum, with observances spreading to other countries across Europe and beyond.

Evolution:

• Suffrage Movement: In the years leading up to World War I, International Women’s Day became closely associated with the suffrage movement, as women around the world fought for the right to vote.
• Post-World War I: After World War I, International Women’s Day took on new significance as women continued to advocate for their rights, including equal pay and improved working conditions.
• United Nations Recognition: In 1977, the United Nations officially recognized March 8th as International Women’s Day, marking it as a day to celebrate women’s achievements and promote gender equality.

Modern Observance:

• Global Celebration: Today, International Women’s Day is celebrated in countries around the world, with events ranging from rallies and marches to conferences, panel discussions, and cultural performances.
• 1996 Theme Adoption: The UN adopted an official theme for IWD for the first time, continuing this tradition annually.Each year, International Women’s Day is celebrated with a specific theme that highlights various aspects of women’s rights and empowerment. Recent themes have focused on issues such as gender equality in the workplace, ending violence against women, and promoting women’s leadership.
• Call to Action: International Women’s Day serves as a call to action for gender equality and the advancement of women’s rights. It is a time to reflect on progress made and to renew efforts to address ongoing challenges and inequalities.
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 5 specifically focuses on achieving women’s empowerment and gender equality.

Major Schemes for Women Empowerment in India

One Stop Centre and Universalization of Women Helplines

• The Ministry of WCD is administering two schemes from the Nirbhaya Fund namely One Stop Centre and Universalization of Women Helplines.
• The One Stop Centres (OSCs), popularly known as Sakhi Centres.
• It aims to facilitate women affected by violence (including domestic violence) with a range of integrated services under one roof such as Police facilitation, medical aid, legal aid and legal counselling, psycho-social counselling, temporary shelter etc.
• The Women Helpline (WHL) Scheme provides 24-hour emergency and non-emergency response to women affected by violence, both in public and private spaces by linking them with appropriate authorities such as Police, One Stop Centre, Hospital, Legal Services etc. 

Swadhar Greh Scheme

• The Swadhar Greh Scheme is being implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for women who are victims of difficult circumstances and in need of institutional support for rehabilitation so that they can lead their lives with dignity.

Ujjawala Scheme

• The Ujjawala Scheme is being implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for the Prevention of trafficking and for the Rescue, Rehabilitation, Reintegration and Repatriation of victims of trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation.

Working Women Hostel

• Working Women Hostel Scheme is implemented by the Government with the objective to providing safe and conveniently located accommodation for working women, with daycare facilities for their children, wherever possible, in urban, semi-urban, or even rural areas where employment opportunities for women exist.

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao(BBBP)

• Beti Bachao Beti Padhao(BBBP) Scheme was launched on 22nd January 2015 to address the declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR) and related issues of empowerment of girls and women over a life cycle continuum.
• The objectives of the scheme are, to prevent gender-biased sex selective elimination, to ensure the survival and protection of the girl child and to ensure the education and participation of the girl child.

Mahila Shakti Kendra (MSK)

• The Mahila Shakti Kendra (MSK) Scheme was approved in November 2017 as a centrally sponsored scheme to empower rural women through community participation.
• The aim is to facilitate inter-sectoral convergence of schemes and programs meant for women.
• The scheme is implemented through State Governments and UT Administrations with a cost-sharing ratio of 60:40 between Centre and States except for North East & Special Category States where the funding ratio is 90:10.
• For Union Territories, 100% central funding is provided.

Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)

• Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) is a Centrally Sponsored Conditional Cash Transfer Scheme, for implementation across the country with effect from 01.01.2017.
• The maternity benefit under PMMVY is available to all Pregnant Women & Lactating Mothers (PW&LM), excluding PW&LM who are in regular employment with the Central Government or the State Governments or Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) or those who receive similar benefits under any law for the time being in force, for first living child of family.
• Under the scheme, Rs.5,000/- are provided to the eligible beneficiary in three instalments during pregnancy and lactation in response to the individual fulfilling certain nutrition and health-seeking conditions.
• The eligible beneficiary also receives the remaining cash incentive as per approved norms towards maternity benefits under Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) after institutional delivery so that on average, a woman gets Rs.6,000/-.

Mahila E-Haat

• To facilitate entrepreneurship opportunities online for women.
• To educate women on various aspects of online selling and help them establish their venture.

Daily Current Affairs: Click Here

Rate this Article and Leave a Feedback