’ CategoryInternational Women’s Day
Posted in News, Spiritual Growth on March 6, 2010 by admin
International Women’s Day has been observed since in the early
1911 Following the decision agreed at Copenhagen in 1911, International Women’s Day (IWD) was honoured the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on 19 March. More than one million women and men attended IWD rallies campaigning for women’s rights to work, vote, be trained, to hold public office and end discrimination. However less than a week later on 25 March, the tragic ‘Triangle Fire’ in New York City took the lives of more than 140 working women, most of them Italian and Jewish immigrants. This disastrous event drew significant attention to working conditions and labour legislation in the United States that became a focus of subsequent International Women’s Day events. 1911 also saw women’s ‘Bread and Roses‘ campaign.
1913-1914 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 1913 following discussions, International Women’s Day was transferred to 8 March and this day has remained the global date for International Wommen’s Day ever since. In 1914 further women across Europe held rallies to campaign against the war and to express women’s solidarity.
1917 On the last Sunday of February, Russian women began a strike for “bread and peace” in response to the death over 2 million Russian soldiers in war. Opposed by political leaders the women continued to strike until four days later the Czar was forced to abdicate and the provisional Government granted women the right to vote. The date the women’s strike commenced was Sunday 23 February on the Julian calendar then in use in Russia. This day on the Gregorian calendar in use elsewhere was 8 March.
1918 – 1999 Since its birth in the socialist movement, International Women’s Day has grown to become a global day of recognition and celebration across developed and developing countries alike. For decades, IWD has grown from strength to strength annually. For many years the United Nations has held an annual IWD conference to coordinate international efforts for women’s rights and participation in social, political and economic processes.
With more women in the boardroom, greater equality in legislative rights, and an increased critical mass of women’s visibility as impressive role models in every aspect of life, one could think that women have gained true equality. The unfortunate fact is that women are still not paid equally to that of their male counterparts, women still are not present in equal numbers in business or politics, and globally women’s education, health and the violence against them is worse than that of men.
However, great improvements have been made. We do have female astronauts and prime ministers, school girls are welcomed into university, women can work and have a family, women have real choices. And so the tone and nature of IWD has, for the past few years, moved from being a reminder about the negatives to a celebration of the positives.
Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements.
In this opportunity, WiA congratulates and celebrates every woman in South Africa and throughout the world.
Members of WiA from Cape Town have joined the cause and attended to the preparation course to act as Cancer Supporters. They had 04 days of workshops at the offices of CANSA WP and 01 afternoon specifically on Breast Cancer. They completed their race and are now ready to add on emotionally and spiritually to those who are in treatment.
Thousands of women gathered at the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God in Alexandra to find out more about improving their health and lifestyle. This special event which ran for three days from 4th to 6th February 2010 was an opportunity for many women to be tested for different types of diseases.
WIA in partnership with the Cancer Association of South Africa, Breast Cancer Foundation and the Health Department will be hosting a Health Project targeting women from Alexandra Community.
It was with great honor and regard that 20 of our WiA members have joined a workshop on Supporting Cancer patients and after being properly trained our members will be able to better serve our community and to volunteer in shifts at the JHB Gen – oncology ward – every week mornings in full support to patients undergoing cancer treatments.