WOMEN'SINTERNATIONAL

DAY

5 fast facts about

1. It started as a protest

IWD began as a huge protest in

1908 by women who wanted

better pay, better working

conditions and the right to vote.

But the official International

Women's Day was honoured for

the first time in Austria, Denmark,

Germany and Switzerland on 19

March 1911.

2. IWD is now a recognisedholiday in 27 countries

In its first year,International Women's

Day was recognised onlyin a few countries. But it

is now a recognisedholiday in 27 countries,

including China, Uganda,Afghanistan and Russia.

3. Observed as aglobal event in 1977

International Women’s Daywas first recognised as aglobal event by westernnations when the United

Nations General Assemblyinvited its members to

dedicate March 8 as the UNDay for women’s rights in

1977.

4. The year was 2011

2011 was the 100 year centenary ofInternational Women's Day. In theUnited States, President Barack

Obama proclaimed March 2011 tobe "Women's History Month". AndHillary Clinton, the then Secretary

of State, launched the "100 WomenInitiative: Empowering Women and

Girls through InternationalExchanges".

5. The Google Doodle

Each year Google celebrates IWD with a speciallydesigned doodle. The 2015 doodle featured women in arange of different careers from an astronaut to a judge,

a scientist and a chef.

Head over to theInternationalWomen’s Day

website to find outhow you can take

action.