INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY SPEECH

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY SPEECH

A very good morning to everyone present out here. First of all let me wish a very happy women's day to all the beautiful and incredible women with us right now. 

I am extremely glad to be given this opportunity to deliver a speech on this incredible International Women's Day. 

The international women's day is celebrated every year globally on 8th of March. It lays emphasis on promoting gender equality, highlighting and recognizing the great achievements of all the wonder women we have across the globe working in various fields. 

But why this day is so important? 

If we go back to history, women have had to fight for the freedom and basic rights or privilege that we enjoy today. A hundred and fifty years ago women had been deprived of getting basic education or proper medical care. They couldn't vote or own property. They were excluded from parliament so the list is quite long. A hundred and fifty years ago women lived in a very bizarre and disparate world than what we know today. 

Now the question comes, how did the things changed? 

So change occurred not eventually but gradually through the tireless efforts of brave women fighting and collaborating together for what is right. 

In the late 1900s, the fight for women's suffrage was at peak because at this time only men had the right to vote. 

In the year 1908 women working in garment industry marched through New York City protesting against inequality and discrimination which was going on in their work place. 

The Socialist Party of America observed the first National Women's Day on 28th February 1909 in New York City demanding shorter working hours, better pay and voting rights. 

But the credit of proposing the very idea of an International Women's Day goes to Clara Zetkin, the leader of the Women's Office for the Social Democratic Party in Germany. She suggested the idea of celebrating the same in every country every year in the year 1910 at an International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen. There were 100 women from 17 countries and they agreed on her idea unanimously. 

As per the proposal, the first International Women's Day was held on March 19,1911 in Germany, Switzerland, Austria an d Denmark. 

In 1913 following discussions, International Women's Day was transferred on 8th March. Since then March 8th remained the global date for International Women's Day. But it was only in the year 1975 that the United Nations gave official sanction to International Women's Day and began sponsoring it. 

Today International Women's Day is a day of celebration around the world and an official holiday in several countries like Afghanistan, Ukraine, Cuba, Russia, Vietnam. 

Empowering women is a great responsibility at present 21st century. In the olden days women were confined within the four walls of their home. But in present scenario, women have realized their vigor and worth and now they are no longer dependent. 

Modern women are robust, confident and self reliant. We should respect each of them for their individuality and identity. Today's women do not fail to make a dent wherever they can be it Kalpana Chawla, Kiran Bedi, Malala Yousafzai, Wilma Rudolph, Michelle Obama or Hillary Clinton. 

So on this International Women's Day, let's recognize the significance of women in our lives and to the society and motivate them for greater future accomplishments. 

Let us all not limit the respect and appreciation towards women only for this particular day because everyday is a celebration of humanity and if you respect, honor and empower women you empower the whole humanity. 

With this I would like to conclude my speech. 

Thank You