Each year, on March 8, women around the world celebrate International Women’s Day. Originally, it was called the International Working Women’s Day and was organized by socialists.
However, nowadays, this day is more about raising awareness of women’s rights issues and celebrating/appreciating the accomplishments of women.
Nevertheless, due to its socialist roots, this holiday is more ingrained in many of the former communist countries, where men show appreciation to the women in their lives on that day. In countries like Russia, China, Cuba, Ukraine, Moldova, and Kazakhstan, it's an official holiday.
In 2011, women (and some men) in over 100 countries celebrated this holiday.
Click “Start” to see photos of International Women’s Day events around the world.
A Palestinian women hands out flowers during a protest marking International Women's Day in JerusalemReutersPupils wash the feet of their female teachers during an event to mark International Women's Day at a primary school in Xincai county, Henan province, March 7, 2011.ReutersWomen display banners during a rally for International Women's Day at the Democracy Monument in Bangkok March 8, 2011. ReutersFemale street sweepers from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority line up to receive assigned areas to clean before their deployment outside their office in Quezon City, Metro Manila March 8, 2011. The world marks International Women's Day every March 8.ReutersSupporters of the Reproductive Health bill act out the death of women who encounter complications while giving birth during an event to mark International Women's Day in front of Saint Peter's Parish church in Quezon city, Metro Manila March 8, 2011. Lawmakers in the lower house of the Philippine Congress are due to begin a debate on the proposed reproductive health measure, promoting the use of contraceptives, including condoms, but conservative Roman Catholic bishops are expected to oppose the bill, local media reported.ReutersMembers from the Korean Women's Association United attend a flash mob to celebrate International Women's Day in central Seoul March 8, 2011ReutersA woman shout slogans as she marches through central Ankara to commemorate International Women's Day March 8, 2011.ReutersSupporters of Albania's opposition Socialist Party shout slogans during a protest by women to mark International Women's Day in front of the government building in Tirana March 8, 2011. International Women's Day is observed every year across the globe to mark the efforts by women in various fieldsReutersActivists from a local women's organisation hold placards during a protest against the Indian government in demand what they say are the acquisition of basic women's rights on International Women's Day in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad March 8, 2011. International Women's Day (IWD) was honoured the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on March 19, 1911. 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. International Women's Day is observed every year across the globe to mark the efforts by women in various fieldsReutersAn activist from a local women's organisation holds a placard during a protest against the Indian government to demand the acquisition of basic women's rights on International Women's Day in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad March 8, 2011. International Women's Day (IWD) was honoured the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on March 19, 1911. 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. International Women's Day is observed every year across the globe to mark the efforts by women in various fields. ReutersActivists from state-run Anganwadi (kindergarten) groups shout slogans during a protest against the government to demand for their basic rights on International Women's Day in the northern Indian city of Chandigarh March 8, 2011. International Women's Day (IWD) was honoured the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on March 19, 1911. 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. IWD is observed every year across the globe to mark the efforts by women in various fields.ReutersAfghan women listen to President Hamid Karzai's speech during an event to mark International Women's Day in Kabul March 8, 2011.ReutersPalestinian women attend a rally calling for an end to Palestinian divisions, to mark International Women's Day, in Gaza City March 8, 2011. Female protesters rallied to voice their frustrations over the unending split between Hamas and Abbas's Fatah movement and the lack of progress towards a peace that will end Israeli occupation and finally give them a state of their own.ReutersA woman wears a mask while taking part in a protest during International Women's Day in Mexico City March 8, 2011. Activists were calling for a stop to gender killings as International Women's Day marks its 100th anniversary.ReutersPalestinian women take part in a protest marking International Women's Day in front of the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem's Old City, against Israel's occupation of land it captured during the 1967 Middle East War, March 8, 2011.ReutersResearchers at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) have found that one in three young women or 32.9 percent experience post-sex blues.ReutersPeople take part in a demonstration to mark International Women's Day in Madrid March 8, 2011. The banners read "No to wage abuse" (L) and "Machism, crime against everyone."ReutersWomen take part in a demonstration to mark International Women's Day in Madrid March 8, 2011. ReutersWomen carry a representation of women's knickers as they take part in a demonstration to mark International Women's Day in Madrid March 8, 2011. ReutersAn activist makes a cross of flowers during a rally against the femicide in downtown Tegucigalpa March 7, 2011. According to police, 63 women have been killed in 2011 in Honduras so far. The world marks International Women's Day on Tuesday. ReutersWomen in wheelchairs attend a demonstration calling for equal rights in issues such as employment and access to public transportation, on International Women's Day in Lima, March 8, 2011. ReutersA woman holding a sign that reads, "Say no to violence" marches during a demonstration to mark International Women's Day in Lima, March 8, 2011ReutersA child holding flowers walks near her mother during a demonstration to mark International Women's Day in Lima, March 8, 2011.ReutersWomen lie on the floor, as they pretend to be dead, during a protest in Mexico City March 8, 2011. Activists were calling for an end to gender killings as International Women's Day marks its 100th anniversary.ReutersA woman pretends to be gagged while taking part in a protest during International Women's Day in Mexico City March 8, 2011. Activists were calling for a stop to gender killings during the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day. The writing on the woman's chest reads, "Neither a whore, nor crazy, nor a saint, just a woman." Reuters
