Yesterday (March 8, 2009) was International Women's Day. In the spirit of starting a new tradition, let us honor the women of the Swash Zone, including our contributors Maleeper, Rockync, and Squid; our daughters, mothers, sisters, and wives; and our friends across the blogosphere, Cara, Interrobang, Jennifer, Libby, and Lindsay, and others too numerous to mention.
In 1975, International Women’s Day won official recognition by the United Nations and is now a national holiday in 16 countries including Canada, China, Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam … but sadly not the United States.
Below are some of the global United Nation themes used in past International Women's Day commemerations:
- 2008: Investing in Women and GirlsThe question for today: What would be an appropriate theme for International Women's Day 2009?
- 2007: Ending Impunity for Violence against Women and Girls
- 2006: Women in decision-making
- 2005: Gender Equality Beyond 2005: Building a More Secure Future
- 2004: Women and HIV/AIDS
- 2003: Gender Equality and the Millennium Development Goals
- 2002: Afghan Women Today: Realities and Opportunities
- 2001: Women and Peace: Women Managing Conflicts
- 2000: Women Uniting for Peace
- 1999: World Free of Violence against Women
- 1998: Women and Human Rights
- 1997: Women at the Peace Table
- 1996: Celebrating the Past, Planning for the Future
