AWDP-Bangladesh

Celebrating International Women’s Day (IWD) 2009
The world community has been observing the International Women’s Day (IWD) 2009 today. Various programs have been launched by the governments, different agencies, women’s group and other stakeholders of the society all over the world. The UN Theme of IWD for this year is ‘Women and men united to end violence against women and girls’.

In Bangladesh IWD 2009 is also being observed through a series of programs and events marking the significance of the Day. Rally, Human Chain, Discussion Sessions, Cultural Programs and Media intervention are significant among those programs.

The honorable Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina delivers her speech on the Day at Osmani Auditorium in the morning at Dhaka, Bangladesh. A leading Women Rights organization in the country Nari Pakkha organized a series of discussion meetings on this event and set its Theme ‘Prevent Domestic Violence against Women’. Nari Pakkha has also developed 13 messages/slogans to work on over the year. Unnayan Dhara Trust organizes seminar and Human Chain at Bhola and Dhaka districts, Project for Rural Area Development & Improvement of Poor People (PRADIP) organizes Human Chain, Cultural Program and Rally. Shakkhor Environment and Education Development Society organizes Discussion Meeting on Women Education and Equity-Bangladesh Perspective and a Television Talk Show at DTV Channel on 8th March 2009. Manusher Jonno Foundation organizes Rally and a Seminar on ‘Impacts of early marriage, domestic violence, the importance of preventing domestic violence and the rights of disable women’ at TBC Dinajpur. National Disability Forum-NFOWD organizes a gathering & cultural program at Teacher’s and Student’s Center (TSC) courtyard of Dhaka University. National Forum has set a theme for this Day as ‘We are united towards establishing the rights and dignity of women with disabilities’ in collaboration with its member organizations. National print media publishes special supplements, features and articles marking the significance of the day as well as socio-cultural and political and social achievements of women in the country.

AWDP-Bangladesh expresses its fullest solidarity with all women women of the world, especially of those who are at discrimination, injustice, denied dignity & rights, victims of all forms of violence and torture.

Some Facts and Figures to Ponder

• Women are 2/3 of the world’s illiterate adults who have no access to basic education
• Women do two-thirds of the world's work but receive only 10% of the world's income
• 70% are women among 1.2 billion people living in poverty worldwide
• 80% of the world's 27 million refugees are women
• Only 21% of all news subjects (people interviewed or whom the news is about) are female
• Females in developing countries on average carry 20 liters of water per day over 6 km
• Study shows women better managers in most areas
• Job losses hitting men harder than women
• Women spend more time researching before they invest than men do
• Number of women holding university qualifications overtaken men for first time (ABS)
• From 1945 to 1995 the percentage of women MPs worldwide increased four-fold
• Leader of the House and Leader of the Opposition in Bangladesh National Parliament are women.

Other useful Information

• The first International Women's Day was observed on 19 March 1911
• International Women's Day was changed to 8 March in 1913
• In 1975, IWD was given official recognition by the United Nations

Following are some UN Themes of IWD

2009 Women and men united to end violence against women and girls
2008 Investing in Women and Girls
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