United Nations(UN)’s International Women’s Day (IWD) is annually observed across the globe on 8th March to recognise the achievements of the women regardless of their nation, ethnic, language, culture, economic or political.
The International Women’s Day on 8th March 2021 celebrates the efforts of the women and girls across the globe towards shaping an equal future and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The theme of International Women’s Day 2021 is “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world”.
- The theme of IWD 2021 is in line with the theme of the 65th Session of the commission on the Status of Women “Women in public life, equal participation in decision making”.
- The theme of the International Women’s Day Campaign is “#ChoosetoChallenge”.
Background:
i.As a part of the peace movement protesting against world war I in 1913, The first International Women’s Day was observed by the Russian Women on the last Sunday of February.
ii.The Russian women again protested for “Bread and Peace” on the last Sunday of February 1917(8th March on Gregorian calendar).
iii.Following which the Czar abdicated and the provisional government granted the right to vote for women.
iv.After World War II, the 8th March was widely observed as the International women’s in many countries.
v.During the International Women’s Year, 1975, The United Nations started to celebrate Women Day on 8th March.
vi.In December 1977, The United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) adopted the resolution and invited the members to proclaim any day of the year, in accordance with their history, traditions and customs, as United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace.
Why 8th March?
i.Russia did not adopt the Gregorian calendar until February 1918.
ii.The 23rd February 1917(Julian calendar) in Russia corresponds to the 8th March (Gregorian Calendar) in the other European countries.
Grant Thornton’s Women in Business 2021 report:
The Grant Thornton, a global accounting firm has published the “Women in Business 2021 Report”.
According to the report,
- India is ahead of the world’s Average on women in senior management
- Globally, India ranks 3rd with the percentage of women in senior management in India at around 39% where the global average of women in senior management is 31%.
- Around 98% of business in India has women in senior management whereas the global average is around 90%.
- Around 47% of the mid-market businesses of India have women in senior management and the global average is 26%.
All women crew of MT Swarna Krishna:
i.On 6th March 2021, Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of State (Independent Charge) Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways virtually flagged off an all women crew onboard MT (Motor Tanker) Swarna Krishna, a vessel of Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) from Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) Liquid Berth Jetty.
ii.For the first time in the history of world maritime, a ship with only woman officers was sailed.
iii.This was a part of the diamond jubilee celebration of SCI and the commemoration of the International Women’s Day on 8th March 2021.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus lit up pink:
i.Two days ahead of the International women’s day The Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Mumbai, Maharashtra was lit up in pink to celebrate womanhood.
ii.Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus formerly known as Victoria Terminus is one of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage sites.
iii.Started in 1878, The terminus was built over 10 years.
iv.The terminus is an example of the meeting of 2 cultures (British and India), as British architects worked with Indian craftsmen to include the traditions of Indian architecture.
