HAPPY WOMENS DAY TO ALL........ TAKE A LOOK... International Women’s Day, on March 8 in 2014, has been observed since the early 1900s. That was a time of great unrest and debate among women, as they struggled against inequality and oppression. The first time the day was officially observed was in 1909, when it was celebrated on the last Sunday in February. In the present age, it’s an official holiday in a host of countries, including Afghanistan, Russia, and Zambia. “The tradition sees men honoring their mothers, wives, girlfriends, colleagues, etc with flowers and small gifts. In some countries IWD has the equivalent status of Mother’s Day where children give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers,” according to the day’s official website. The United Nations launched a new campaign ahead of the 2014 International Women’s Day, called He for She. It calls for men to help bring about the reduction of discrimination against women. Prominent men such as actors Matt Damon and Antonio Banderas; and United Nations Chief Ban Ki-Moon recorded videos for the campaign. “It’s an objective fact, that if you want to solve some of these huge, kind of bigger problems of extreme poverty, you have to include the women,” said Damon, who has also founded Water.org, a nonprofit group that provides access to safe water and sanitation in Africa, south Asia, and Central America. “They’re the ones who will get it done.” “This is a moment when we review past achievements and look ahead to the challenges that remain, as well as to untapped potential and opportunities. In moving forward, we must ensure that women’s empowerment and gender equality stand at the heart of all of our work to craft a better future.”
Posted on: Sat, 08 Mar 2014 05:50:00 +0000