What is International Women's Day 2017? 10 facts you should know about why we celebrate World Women's Day

The event first started to campaign for better pay and rights for women, but is now aimed at inspiring females across the world
It is a global celebration which aims to inspire women in countries across the world.

This year International Women's Day falls on Wednesday, March 8.
The tradition began with the first National Women's Day in 1909 and its roots are in campaigning for better pay and voting rights.

This year, events will take place across Britain and the world to celebrate the achievements of women and hopefully inspire others.
Today EasyJet has operated a flight with an all-female crew. The captain, first officer and four cabin crew for the flight from London Gatwick to Madrid were all women.The flight was captained by Kate McWilliams, believed to be the world's youngest female commercial airline captain.
Here, Mirror Online takes a look at 10 things you need to know about the global celebration.



1. While International Women's Day is now largely aimed at inspiring women across the world and celebrating their achievements, its roots are in movements campaigning for better pay and voting rights.

2. The first National Women’s Day was marked on 28 February 1909 in the United States after a declaration by the Socialist Party of America.


3. During an International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen the following year, Clara Zetkin, leader of the 'Women's Office' for the Social Democratic Party in Germany, suggested the idea of an International Women's Day.
She proposed that every year in every country there should be a celebration on the same day. The idea was met with unanimous approval.

4. 1911 saw IWD honoured for the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on March 19. Over a million people attended rallies campaigning for women's rights to work, vote, be trained, to hold public office and end discrimination.

5. On the eve of World War I campaigning for peace, Russian women observed their first International Women's Day on the last Sunday in February 1913. In 1965, it was declared as a non working day in the USSR.

6. International Women's Day was transferred to 8 March that same year and has remained the global date for the event ever since.

7. In 1975, the United Nations gave official sanction to International Women's Day and began sponsoring it.

8. The United States now designates the whole month of March as 'Women's History Month'.

9. IWD is also an official holiday in 15 countries including China, Ukraine and Vietnam.


10. Over the past few years Google have marked the occasion with a “Google Doodle” for International Women's Day, changing their logo on the search engine’s homepage to reflect the occasion. Sky News are marking today's 100th International Women's Day with an all female line-up.

Source Mirror