On March 8 of each year, the arduous struggle of women for equality, recognition and the exercise of their rights is commemorated throughout the world. It is the day in which we recognize women for their achievements without considering divisions, nationalities, ethnic groups, political thoughts, economic levels or languages.
From 1977 to this day, this day is celebrated, which was instituted by the United Nations as International Women’s Day to remember and celebrate throughout the world they were the pioneers in the demand for equal rights and opportunities.
History of international women’s day
On March 8, 1908, a transcendental event marked the history of labor and the trade union struggle throughout the world: 129 women died in a fire at the Cotton factory in New York, United States, after they went on strike with stay at your place of work.
The reason was due to the search for a reduction in the working day to 10 hours, a salary equal to that received by men who did the same activities, and the poor working conditions they suffered.
The owner of the factory ordered the doors of the building to be closed so that the women would desist and leave the place. However, the result was the death of the workers who were inside the factory.
That same year, on May 3, an act was held for Women’s Day in Chicago, a prelude to February 28, 1909, in New York, being commemorated for the first time as “National Women’s Day”.
With this background, a year later, in 1910, the second International Conference of Socialist Women was held in the Danish capital, Copenhagen. The central theme was universal suffrage for all women, and by motion Clara Zetkin, leader of the “uprising of 20,000”, officially proclaimed March 8 as International Working Women’s Day, in tribute to the fallen women in the strike of 1908.
Closer in time, in 1977, the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) officially designated March 8 as International Women’s Day. Then, in 2011, the centenary of the celebration was celebrated, with the premise of Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women).
Also, there are other versions regarding the origin of the commemoration of International Women’s Day: The struggle of some American women workers in 1857, a massive demonstration of Russian women in 1917 and the second International Conference of Socialist Women in 1910 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
In Peru different activities are carried out in homage to this day, throughout the country festivals, marches and campaigns and concentration activities are held, in which the history and why of this important day are taught.
