International Women's Day- 2009

History of International Women's Day

Speech of UNIFEM Executive Director, Ms. Ines Alberdi

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2009

Source http://www.un.org/events/women/iwd/2009/history.shtml

 In 1975, during International Women's Year, the United Nations began celebrating 8 March as International Women's Day. Two years later, in December 1977, the General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women's Rights and International Peace to be observed on any day of the year by Member States, in accordance with their historical and national traditions. For the United Nations, International Women's Day has been observed on 8 March since 1975. The Day is traditionally marked with a message from the Secretary-General.

In adopting its resolution on the observance of Women's Day, the General Assembly cited two reasons: to recognize the fact that securing peace and social progress and the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms require the active participation, equality and development of women; and to acknowledge the contribution of women to the strengthening of international peace and security. For the women of the world, the Day's symbolism has a wider meaning: It is an occasion to review how far they have come in their struggle for equality, peace and development. It is also an opportunity to unite, network and mobilize for meaningful change.

 The theme for 2009 is: "Women and Men: United to End Violence against Women", which is linked with the UN Secretary General’s campaign ‘UNite to End Violence against Women’ (2008-2015). The campaign is a multi-year effort aimed at preventing and eliminating violence against women in all parts of the world. Coinciding with the target of achieving the Millennium Development Goals, the Campaign calls on governments, civil society, women’s organizations, young people, the private sector, the media and the entire UN system to join forces in addressing the global pandemic of violence against women and girls. http://endviolence.un.org/

 

In South Asia region 

In India

UNIFEM South Asia Regional Office and the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, with support from the Royal Norwegian Embassy, joined hands to celebrate International Women’s Day. Together, they organized a Programme on March 8th, 2009 at Siri Fort Auditorium in New Delhi. In India, the focus was on Domestic Violence and the Empowerment of Women, which linked up to the National Media Campaign of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, on the Girl Child, Malnutrition and Domestic Violence, launched in August 2008 by the Honourable Minister, Ms. Renuka Choudhury – and in which, UNIFEM is a close partner.

 

More than 600 people attended the function. Participants included, representatives from the government, civil society partners, representatives from bilateral and UN agencies and women from different walks of life. The programme provided a platform to diverse partners, to showcase an array of achievements. Many of the UNIFEM partners, brought on board to the Ministry’s Campaign on Domestic Violence, were present with the knowledge products developed in partnership. These were shared; partners were provided a space to speak and to showcase their work; excluded women, who are part of a dance and drummer troupe, the Sakthi Folk Cultural Centre from Dindigul, (south of India) had the opportunity to share their messages of empowerment through tribal dance and music; and young artistes shared their dreams, thoughts and hopes through song and guitar.  

 

The Lawyers Collective Manual for Protection Officers for the Protection of Women Domestic Violence Act 2005 (PWDVA), “Ending Domestic Violence through Non-Violence”, was introduced and shared. This had been released by the Honorable Minister of State (IC) Ms. Renuka Choudhury on 28th February 2009 at the State Ministers Meeting held in New Delhi. The Manual has been prepared in association with the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India and the National Commission for Women, supported by the UNIFEM managed UN Trust Fund.

 

Posters on rape and dowry by Multiple Action Research Group (MARG), developed as a follow-up to the UNIFEM led UN inter-agency campaign to eliminate violence against women of 1998, were shared. The pamphlets and TV Spots of the Breakthrough Trust - ‘Ring the Bell to Halt Domestic Violence (Bell Bajao) Campaign (UN Trust Fund grantee), were shared with the Breakthrough Trust, speaking on the Campaign and its partnership with UNIFEM. A survivor of violence, shared her story, facilitated by UNIFEM partner, Shakti Shalini, a civil society organization, which initiates effective action against dowry-related crimes.  Pia Sukanya, a 25 year old singer, songwriter and actor, who last performed on International Women’s Day at the age of 15, when she sang at the UN General Assembly in New York at an international conference on Eliminating Violence against Women, inspired with her singing. She was accompanied by Sanjoy Das, a new age guitar player who has performed with world renowned artists. The publication, ‘Gendering Human Development Indices: Recasting the Gender Development Index (GDI) and Gender Empowerment Measure (GEM) for India – A Summary Report’ a collaboration of the Ministry of Women and Child Development and UNDP was released, as was the publication, “Shakti” by Mr. M.K. Dhar.

 

In Nepal

The National Women's Commission is coordinating the programme this year. More than 120 organizations are coming together to mark the day jointly. This includes, the UN System in Nepal, the Nepal Army, the Nepal Police and the Armed Forces. There will be a live telecast of two hours that day on Nepal Television and for an hour on the radio. 

The Honourable Prime Minister of Nepal, Mr. Puspa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” has sent a message in Nepali for the occasion and will be the chief guest at a programme being organized by the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare on 7th March at the Rashtriya Naach Ghar, Jamal.The main events/programmes/activities with the joint UN support include:

 Developing stickers with messages on violence against women and sharing them with public transportation  (Find attached sticker). Information leaflet and brochure on the White Ribbon Campaign will be printed and disseminated widely in English and Nepali.

Printing of Posters: The poster that had come first in the poster competition organized by Jagaran Nepal, an NGO through the programme supported by UNIFEM during the 16 days of activism, has been selected for the poster. The journal SMARIKA will be published by the National Women's Commission. (Find attached poster)

 6th March 2009, 11.00 AM, Press Meet at National Women's Commission

7th March 2009, 6.00 PM, Programme at Rastriya Nach Ghar: Honouring programme, key note address, cultural programme, book release in the presence of the Hon’ble Prime Minister of Nepal)

8th March 2009, 10:30 AM, Rally: Rally  starts from Bhrikuti Mandap to Shahid Gate, New Road, Indrachowk, Ason and to Khulla Manch

12 March 2009, High level Round Table Discussion on Multi Sect oral Response to GBV at Hotel Annapurna in collaboration with Rotary Club, Kathmandu North East

 

In Pakistan

gender activists called for a coordinated response to end violence against women in Pakistan, in the collaborative event, organized by the Elimination of violence against women (EVAW) Alliance, on 12th March 2009 in Islamabad. Supported by UNIFEM in Pakistan, this was organized to mark International Women’s Day. The aim of the consultation was to identify priorities for the National Plan of Action on Violence against Women, which is being conceptualized by Gender Reform Action Plan (GRAP), Ministry of Women Development, with support from UNIFEM.

The event brought together representatives from NGOs, government, women parliamentary caucus, UN agencies and donors. Presenters included Ms. Rehana Hashmi, National Project Director, GRAP; Dr. Attiya Inayatullah, Member of National Assembly and member of Standing Committee on Women’s Development; Ms. Anbreen Ajaib, NGO representative and Ms. Alice H. Shackelford, Country Porgramme Director, UNIFEM Pakistan.  

The consultation noted that violence against women has increased due to lack of specific legislation on violence against women and weak implementation of existing policies. Key recommendations include: prioritize behavior change campaigns targeting men, enhance women’s knowledge about their legal rights and increase their access to support services, make the findings of first social audit on violence against women public, pay attention to increasing religious fundamentalism in the country and IDP’s issues, strengthen mechanisms for collecting disaggregated data on all forms of violence against women, support National Commission on Status of Women (NCSW) to conduct research on violence against women, strengthen coordination between EVAW Alliance and Standing Committee on Women’s Development etc. 

The UNIFEM-supported documentary ‘Against all Odds’ was also launched with the aim to highlight hidden forms of violence prevalent in Pakistan including dowry-related violence and acid attacks.