MARCH 8 is the day of renewed commitment to the struggle for gender equality and a world free from poverty, violence, discrimination, injustice and environmental destruction. 

The first commemoration of this day took place more than a century ago, in 1911. By 1975 the UN had officially recognised this day as International Women’s Day, with a call on all governments to secure women’s rights and fight gender-based inequalities. 

In 2025, the battle still continues. As wars rage in different parts of the world, often to subvert the will of the people, to exploit their natural resources or gain geopolitical advantage, women and their children suffer disproportionately from this violence. The recent rush to increase military budgets, following the threats from the extremist Trump administration, at the expense of services that benefit the people, is a serious threat especially to the working class and women.