International Women’s Day is celebrated globally on 8th March to recognize women’s achievements across cultural, economic, and political spheres.
- 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA), a landmark commitment to advancing women’s rights globally.
International Women’s Day
- A special day dedicated to honoring women’s achievements.
- Highlights gender disparities and advocates for women’s rights in politics, society, and the economy.
- 2025 Theme: “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.”
History:
- Proposed by German activist Clara Zetkin in 1910.
- The first celebrations took place in 1911 in the USA and Europe.
- 1975: The United Nations officially recognized 8th March as International Women’s Day.
Purpose:
- Platform to discuss critical issues like workplace equality, reproductive rights, and leadership representation.
- Governments and organizations promote policies for women’s empowerment and strategies to end gender-based discrimination.
Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA)
- Adopted in 1995 at the 4th World Conference on Women in Beijing, China.
- A key global blueprint for women’s and girls’ rights, focusing on:
- Legal protection
- Access to services
- Youth engagement
- Social change
- India is a signatory to the BPfA.
- Areas for Action:
- Identified 12 key areas for urgent action on gender equality:
- Women and poverty
- Education and training
- Health
- Violence against women
- Political participation
- Economic empowerment, etc.
- Strategies to ensure equal opportunities for all genders.
Beijing+30 Action Agenda (2025):
- Marks the 30th anniversary (1995-2025) of the BPfA.
- Aims to review and appraise the implementation of BPfA’s commitments.
- Focuses on six key areas:
- Digital Revolution
- Freedom from Poverty
- Zero Violence Against Women
- Full and Equal Decision-Making Power
- Peace and Security
- Climate Justice
