A celebration of grace, courage, strength and perseverance
COLOMBO : International Women’s Day (IWD) falls on 8th March and is celebrated in many countries around the world. IWD emerged out of the labour movement as far back as 1908 to become recognized as an annual event by the United Nations (UN) in 1975. The first observance dates back to 28 February 1909, when the Socialist Party of America designated the day to honour a garment workers’ strike that took place in 1908 in New York. In 1975, the UN begins commemorating International Women’s Day (8 March). Over the years, International Women’s Day has been used as a platform to create awareness on issues faced by women and to recognize and celebrate their achievement. IWD is celebrated as a national holiday in almost 20 countries.
As per the UN reports, the COVID-19 pandemic could wipe out 25 years of increasing gender equality. According to reports, during the pandemic, women are doing significantly more domestic chores and engaged in family care, which in turn, can impact job and education opportunities. Hence the challenges faced by women have escalated during the COVID 19 pandemic and this warrants everyone’s attention.
This year, Colombo Times will publish a special feature in lieu of International Women’s Day under the theme a celebration of grace, courage, strength and perseverance, highlighting women in different fields who have made a difference and are paving the way for the female achievers of the future.
The feature will encompass a series of interviews with women who are leaders and torchbearers in their respective fields.
Let this special feature be a celebration of all the women we know, as each and every one of them is an epitome of grace, courage, strength and perseverance.
I leave you with few words from Amanda Gorman, National Youth Poet Laureate and the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history who irrespective of her age, ethnicity and race made a significant impression with her words.
For there is always light,
if only we’re brave enough to see it.
If only we’re brave enough to be it.
The Hill We Climb, Amanda Gorman
Rifka Ziyard
Editor – IWD Special Edition, Colombo Times
Source : History of the day https://www.un.org/en/observances/womens-day/background
