International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8 every year. Thousands of activities/events occur throughout the March in various countries worldwide to mark the economic, political and social involvement and achievement of women. These events is also aimed at raising public awareness on women’s rights. 

The global theme of Women’s Month this year which was developed by United Nations (UN) is “Empower Rural Women – End Hunger and Poverty”. Many organization develop their own themes each year that promotes global and local gender issues. For instance the internationalwomensday.com  website’s theme for 2012 is “Connecting Girls, Inspiring Futures.”

In the Philippines, the celebration of this year’s National Women’s Month and National Women’s Day are based on the theme “Babae, Tagumpay Ka ng Bayan!” Activities of different government agencies and local government units are aligned with both international and national treaties and legal mandates such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Beijing Platform for Action, the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), and the Magna Carta of Women. 

Happy Women’s Day!!!