Across the world on March 8, women are being celebrated on International Women’s Day, but various countries across different continents will do so in different ways. From social, political and cultural achievements, the day marks a celebration of women’s successes but also shines a spotlight on the progression (or lack of) for women’s rights, too.
This year’s theme of #BalanceForBetter encourages people around the world to take action towards achieving gender balance. But in recent years the day has started to take a different shape as a direct result of the #MeToo movement, with both parties and protests taking place. In the UK, the day was celebrated last year by the House of Commons holding a debate on women’s rights and an International Women’s Day flag flying above parliament. From Italy to Nepal and Uganda, countries continue to mark the day in their own unique (and vocal) ways.
Poland
In Poland, women take to the streets every year to protest for women’s rights. In 2018, over 2,000 women marched in Warsaw, lobbying (once again) against the country’s strict anti-abortion laws. In 2017, actor Jessica Chastain also participated in the march.
Italy
In Italy, International Women’s Day (or La Festa Della Donna) has always been celebrated by women (and men) giving each other a mimosa blossom (a yellow flower). Many consider the bloom to hold the same symbolic meaning as presenting a red rose on Valentine’s Day. People are unsure of how or why exactly the tradition originated but it’s believed it started in Rome after World War Two. In 2018, women also marked the day by protesting outside of hospitals in Milan. Even though abortion is legal in the country, some Italian doctors refuse to perform the procedure.
Nepal
In Nepal, IWD is an official holiday – for women. In 2018, some women wore all-white ensembles as they marched through the streets, protesting for women’s rights. Similarly, in 2017 a rally was held in the capital city of Kathmandu to highlight that women “can become want the want”.
Uganda
Having been celebrated in the country since 1984, Uganda marks the day with a different theme every year. In 1991 the country announced the day as an official holiday. Since then different themes have taken precedent, like in 2015 when the country focused on improving women’s health, and in 2018 the country celebrated by highlighting the country’s female police officers by having them visibly control the traffic junctions in the capital of Kampala.
Spain
Last year, for the first time, Spain marked the day by women workers going on strike. Across the country over five million females refrained from going to work for 24 hours to highlight gender inequality and sexual discrimination. Taking to the streets, women chanted “if we stop, the world stops”. Actor Penelope Cruz joined in by cancelling all planned public events and she also went on “domestic” strike, too.
France
Usually in France, the day goes by with very little mention. However, in 2018 women of the country called for everyone (including men) to finish their working day at 15:40pm as a mark of solidarity with their female colleagues. According to recent research, throughout the country women earn 24 per cent less for the same work as their male counterparts, resulting in them effectively working for free every day from 15:40pm onwards. Incredibly, it led to the French prime minister Édouard Philippe presenting 50 different measures in a bid to promote gender equality and combat domestic violence.
South Korea
Dressed in all-black outfits, South Korean women protested on the streets of the country’s capital of Seoul in 2018 – all holding #MeToo placards. The day was marked in protest as a direct response to the #MeToo movement gathering speed in the country after a female prosecutor in January 2018 began speaking openly about workplace abuse and sexual misconduct. Additionally, women gathered outside the Japanese embassy in the city on the eve of IWD, to highlight the “comfort women” – referring to 200,000 girls who were instructed to work in brothels before and after the World War Two in the country.
Philippines
Last year in the Philippines, women wore pink T-shirts and purple hats to protest against the country’s president, Rodrigo Duterte – whom they claimed was one of the worst women’s rights violators in Asia. While handing out red and white roses to women, the protesters rallied in Manila’s Plaza Miranda.
Russia
In Russia, the day has been an official holiday since 1965. Much like Valentine’s Day, men can be seen purchasing bouquets of flowers days before the celebration – with florists usually doubling the price of flowers on the eve. From a young age, school children are taught about the celebration in school with the boys being tasked with giving gifts to girls in their class.
However, women’s rights in Russia are under threat as president Vladimir Putin decriminalised domestic abuse in 2017.
