International Women's Day: A day of recognition and appreciation

How did it start?
Clara Zetkin founded International Women's Day in 1910.She was a communist activist and advocate for women's rights. She suggested the idea in 1910 at an International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen. There were 100 women there, from 17 countries, and they agreed on her suggestion unanimously. It was first celebrated in 1911, in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. It was made official in 1975 when the United Nations started celebrating the day. The first theme adopted by the UN (in 1996) was "Celebrating the Past, Planning for the Future".

How is Women's Day celebrated?
International Women's Day is a national holiday in many countries. In China, many women are given a half-day off work on 8 March, as advised by the State Council.
In Italy, International Women's Day, or la Festa della Donna, is celebrated by the giving of mimosa blossoms. The origin of this tradition is unclear but it is believed to have started in Rome after World War Two.

What is the IWD 2023 theme?
The UN's theme for 2023 is "DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality". This theme aims to recognise and celebrate the contribution women and girls are making to technology and online education.