Do your part for #BalanceForBetter

March 8 marks the day the world celebrates International Women’s Day, and it is a day to reflect on the achievements and contributions of women in the social, economic and political dimensions. The first Women’s Day was celebrated 110 years ago in the United States on February 28 1909 and two years later, it became an international affair in 1911, recognised in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland and also used as a tool in protesting the first World War.

But it wasn’t until 1975 (International Women's Year) that the United Nations recognised International Women’s Day despite the first international agreement to establish gender equality signed in the UN in 1945.

The progression of women’s rights have come a long way since the first Women’s Day in 1909 and in 2015, The UN introduced the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals, number 5 being “Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.”

2019’s campaign #BalanceForBetter isn’t about celebrating women on a single day only; it seeks to celebrate the achievements of women all year round just like International Women's Year 44 years ago!

According to internationalwomensday.com, this year’s campaign theme “provides a unified direction to guide and galvanize continuous collective action, with #BalanceforBetter activity reinforced and amplified all year.”

Celebrate International Women’s Day!

Join a Women’s Day event
The first Women’s Day was celebrated as a result of 15,000 women marching in protest of inequality, demanding better pay, better working conditions and the right to vote. You too can continue the tradition by joining a networking event or even an art exhibition to show your support for all that women have done for society.

Host a tea party
Just like a regular party, invite your friends, family and women you admire to unite, celebrate and reflect over some tea and biscuits.

Join the movement
Can’t be physically present at any event? You can still help raise awareness and celebrate women all around the world by using the hashtag #BalanceForBetter and posting a picture of yourself with your palms facing upwards to mimic a scale. This shows that you are balancing for better just like the picture below

Pictures courtesy of internationalwomensday.com