Why we celebrate International Women's Day
On International Women's Day, we celebrate the achievements of women and raise awareness about issues which affect them. This year's theme is #AccelerateAction, which calls for action to speed up the rate of progress towards gender equality worldwide. At Your Students' Union, we have planned a variety of activities across our sites, aiming to bring together women across Coventry University to share their experiences and take part in some fun activities!
The History of International Women's Day
International Women's Day has been marked for over 100 years, with the earliest recorded celebrations taking place in 1909 in New York. In 1911, demonstrations took place across Europe with women demanding the right to vote. International Women's Day initially had no set date, but in 1977 the UN invited member states to proclaim 8 March as a holiday for women's rights. Read more about International Women's Day here
Womens' Safety Project
Your Women's Community Enagagement Lead has been running events to raise awareness about safety. Here are some resources and organisations supporting Women's safety: