Women around the world will celebrate the upcoming International Women's Day on March 8, 2007 with the theme, “Ending Impunity for Violence against Women and Girls.” Find out what activities are being lined-up across the globe.

On this year’s International Women’s Day—March 8—various women’s groups around the world will celebrate International Women's Day (IWD) with a global call to stop impunity for perpetrators of violence against women, especially girls. Forums and discussions of issues women face at present, protest rallies, film showings, and social gatherings, are being planned to promote this year’s theme: “Ending Impunity for Violence against Women and Girl.”

Some of this year’s activities include:

1) Afghanistan: “Celebrating IWD for ARRAF Beneficiaries” on March 8, 2007, in Panjsher Province, organised by Afghanistan Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency-Falah (ARRAF), an Afghan NGO working in various fields such  as peace building, democracy, elimination of violence against women.

2) Australia: “Women and the Media - Shaping Our Sense of Self” on March 8, 2007, in Joondalup,organised by Women's Healthworks, a charitable organisation that works to assist women of all ages make informed decisions about their health and well being.

3) Australia: “Afghanistan Today: Women Striving for Human Rights in a 'New Democracy'” on March 12, 2007, in Melbourne, organised by RAWA Supporters Australia, Australian women supporting the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA).

4) Canada: “Film/Discussion Night: Global Migration and Trafficking” on February 15, 2007, in Vancouver, organised by the Grassroots Women, a democratic and anti-imperialist women’s organisation formed to address the systemic marginalisation of working class women, both employed and unemployed, <http://www3.telus.net/grassrootswomen/>.

5) Canada: “Film/Discussion Night: Women Assert Our Basic Human Rights” on March 1, 2007, in Vancouver, organised by the Grassroots Women, <http://www3.telus.net/grassrootswomen/>.

6) Canada: “IWD March and Rally: Strengthen Women's Resistance! Oppose Imperialism’s Intensifying Attacks! Assert Women’s Basic Human Rights!” on March 8, 2007, in Vancouver, organised by the Grassroots Women, <http://www3.telus.net/grassrootswomen/>.

7) India: “International Women's Day Celebration-VSS” on March 8, 2007, in Andhra Pradesh (South India), organised by Viveka Service Society (VSS), an NGO working for the development of women leadership and their participation in community-based organisations.

8) Kenya: “Kebirigo-Nyamira Women's March (a campaign to stop FGM)” on March 8, 2007, in Nyamira, organised by Massaba Rural Development Organisation, a local Kenyan NGO which aims to facilitate good health, economic and social empowerment, <http://www.massaba.org/>.

9) Pakistan: “3 days Exhibition of Entrepreneurs Women, Seminar and Public Rally on Women Participation in Electoral Process and Women Activists Conference” on March 8, 2007, in Narowal City, organised by Narowal Rural Development Program, a non-government, non-profit, non-political organisation working in the remotest areas of Narowal (Punjab).

10) Pakistan: “Workshop on Violence against Women” on March 8, 2007, in Village Guhno Khan Khoso, organised by Soofi Sachal Sar Mast Welfare Association, a community development organisation.

11) The Netherlands: “Women Groundbreakers in the first International Courts and Girl Soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo” on March 8, 2007, in The Hague, organised by Open Society Justice Initiative, an operational program of the Open Society Institute that promotes rights-based law reform and builds knowledge and strengthens legal capacity worldwide and the Network Women's Program which works to promote the advancement of women’s human rights, gender equality, and empowerment as an integral part of the process of democratisation, <http://www.soros.org/initiatives/women/events/groundbreakers_20070308>.

12) United Kingdom: “Human Trafficking: The Action Plan (Panel Discussion)” on March 7, 2007, in London, organised by The Women's Library, London Metropolitan University, which houses the  most extensive collection of women's history in the UK, <http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/thewomenslibrary/>.

13) United Kingdom: “Women's Rights in the Age of Insecurity” on March 8, 2007, in London,  organised by ActionAid UK, a unique partnership of people who are fighting for a world without poverty, <http://www.actionaid.org.uk/100732/international_womens_day.html>.
 
14) United Kingdom: “Women and Men Preventing HIV and AIDS - Issues, Inequalities and Solutions” on March 8, 2007, in London, organised by ActionAid UK, <http://www.actionaid.org.uk/100732/international_womens_day.html>.

15) United Kingdom: “Birds Eye View Film Festival” featuring a selection of films made by women from developing countries, on March 8, 2007, in London, organised by ActionAid UK, <http://www.actionaid.org.uk/100732/international_womens_day.html>.

16) AMARC-WIN International Women's Day Broadcast on UN Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (see related article on CIM section) on March 8, 2007, organised by the Women's International Network of the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC-WIN), <http://www.march8.amarc.org/>.

For more information about IWD 2007 events, visit <http://www.internationalwomensday.com/>.

Backgrounder 

In 1975, during International Women's Year, the United Nations began celebrating March 8 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 March 8 since 1975. 

The General Assembly cited two reasons for adopting the resolution on the observance of Women's Day: 
(1) To recognise 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 
(2) 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 women have come in their struggle for equality, peace, and development. It is also an opportunity to unite, network, and mobilise for meaningful change. 

Source:  Women Watch, <http://www.un.org/womenwatch/feature/iwd/>.