Europe 1 6:00 a.m., March 8, 2024

This March 8 is marked by International Women's Day.

Officialized in 1977 by the United Nations, it is an opportunity to organize several events to celebrate progress in women's rights.

And like every year, a theme is chosen.

But what are the origins of this day?

“Investing in women: accelerating the pace.”

For this year 2024, the United Nations (UN) has decided to dedicate the day of March 8 to the advancement of the evolution of their rights in order to “prevent women from being left behind”.

Since this day was made official in 1977 by the UN, the organization sets the tone each year with a theme with the aim of organizing thousands of events. 

Despite certain criticisms of marketing operations, this day remains an important annual meeting to take stock of regressions, but also progress, on the issue.

But what are the historical foundations of this day?

A day that saw the light of day in 1909

You have to fly to the United States and make a detour to Europe to know the origins of International Women's Day.

Its history dates back to workers' struggles and women's protests at the turn of the 20th century in North America and the United Kingdom.

But under the leadership of American socialist women in 1909, things accelerated.

The United States decides to organize each year, on the last Sunday in February, a "National Women's Day" to celebrate equal civil rights.

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A year later, in 1910, during the second international conference of socialist women in Copenhagen, Clara Zetkin, German journalist and activist, called on "socialist women of all countries" to organize an International Women's Day every year.

But no exact date has actually been set to celebrate this day. 

For example, in Austria, Germany, Denmark and Switzerland, the day is set for March 19, 1911, while in Russia, "International Workers' Day" was celebrated on March 3, 1913 and then March 8, 1914.

Why March 8?

The origin of the date March 8 is still the subject of legends, each one more eccentric than the last.

A hypothesis emerges.

On March 8, 1917, women demonstrated in the streets of Saint Petersburg, Russia, to demand "bread and peace", explains historian François Picq in the CNRS journal.

This event marks the beginning of the Russian Revolution and the date of March 8 will be officially celebrated in the Soviet Union from 1921. It will be followed by China and in the Eastern countries after 1945.

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In France, this date of March 8 will be used in 1975 when the Women's Liberation Movement (MLF) demonstrated against the International Women's Year, organized by the UN.

The organization is accused by the movement of co-opting the struggle by many activists. 

In countries where this date is recognized, International Women's Day is an opportunity for the government to announce measures in favor of women.

This year, in France, a “sealing” ceremony of the inclusion of abortion in the Constitution is planned for this Friday, March 8.