Born at a time of great social turbulence and crisis in early 20th century, the International Women’s Day inherited a tradition of protest, political activism and solidarity. The women all over the world celebrate the women’s day on the 8-th of March and focus on their equality and full participation. The theme of International Women´s Day for 2006 is “Women in decision-making: meeting challenges, creating change”. (09-MAR-2006)
Written by HRH Baku / Shahla Ismailova, photo: International Women´s Day Intenational.
In the Beijing Platform for Action, it is stated that: “Women´s equal participation in decision-making is not only a demand for simple justice or democracy, but can also be seen as a necessary condition for women´s interest to be taken into account. Without the active participation of women and the incorporation of women´s perspective at all levels of decision-making, the goals of equality, development, and peace can not be achieved.”
Background of the International Women’s Day
In 1910 Clara Zetkin, inspired by the actions of women workers and their socialist sisters framed a proposal to put to the conference of socialist women that women throughout the world should focus on a particular day each year to press for their demands. The conference of over 100 women from 17 countries, representing unions, socialist parties, working women´s clubs, and including the first three women elected to the Finnish parliament, greeted Zetkin´s suggestion with unanimous approval and International Women´s Day was the result.
The first IWD was held on March 19, 1911 in Germany, Austria, Denmark and some other European countries. This date was chosen by German women because, on that date in 1848, the Prussian king, faced with an armed uprising, had promised many reforms, including an unfulfilled one of votes for women. A million leaflets calling for action on the right to vote were distributed throughout Germany before IWD in 1911.
On the 50th anniversary of IWD in 1960, 729 delegates from 73 countries, including Queenslander Doris Webb from the Union of Australian Women, met in a conference in Copenhagen. It adopted a general declaration of support for the political, economic and social rights of women. During International Women´s Year in 1975, IWD was given official recognition by the United Nations and was taken up by many governments who had not previously known of its existence.
Women’s Day in Azerbaijan: History
In 1918 creation of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic opened wide opportunities for transformation of an Azerbaijan woman into the active member of the democratic society. During the years of soviet power Azerbaijan woman also passed the extremely difficult and honorable way. The main accomplishments of this period are woman’s emancipation, elimination of illiteracy among women in the shortest time, introducing women to the professions of teacher, doctor, engineer and poet as well as to equal rights with men in the society, opportunity to realize their talents and skills. The year 1921 came into the history of Azerbaijan as a year of the first women’s congress. The main purpose of the congress, where Nariman Narmanov came out with the report, was ideas of women emancipation. Within a short period of time after the congress, there was done big work in the field of enlightening Azerbaijan women and raising public activity. The Institute of Pre-school Education, created for girls in 1921, a year later was reorganized into High Women’s Pedagogical Institute. The first woman club, created on the initiative of Jeyran Bayramova, played an important role in the development of women’s movement in that period. In 1923 the publication of “Sharg Gadini” [“Eastern Woman”] magazine became a significant event in the history of women’s movement in Azerbaijan.
Congresses of Azerbaijan women, held in the soviet period in 1957, 1967 and 1972, also played important role in the development of Azerbaijan women’s movement and acquisition of a more organized form. In XX century Azerbaijan women passed the way of development equaled to centuries. Fundamental changes took place in their position in the society, public life, family.
Modern times
Nowadays, in Azerbaijan the 8-th of March is a day off for women in the overwhelming majority of state institutions as well as in private or public companies. Depending on the gender policy of the institution, the women get additional benefits on this day. The national legislation includes a number of valuable acts, which should secure the women’s rights and equality in the work place and in the family.
In 2006 as usually the women were not only given the compliments, gifts and flowers, but also their work and contribution to the society and country development was recognized and appreciated. A number of women’s organization held round tables on the theme of women’s rights and equality. The theme of International Women´s Day for 2006 is “Women in decision-making: meeting challenges, creating change”, adopted by the UN was also a topic for discussions. Some women’s NGO-s in Azerbaijan took part in the international campaigns of signing the petitions, raising the voices in support of less advantaged women’s groups or big fundraising events.
In 2006 Azerbaijan´s president Ilham Aliyev congratulated women on the occasion of Women´s Day, observed on March 8. He noted women’s role in the formation of the moral value system. He noted that Azerbaijani people always appreciated women´s role in society and the family. “The Women´s Movement played an active role in the process of nation building and democratization. Achievements by women in science, education, medicine and other spheres demonstrate their great potential”, Aliyev said.
