by Dawn E Denmar

Created on: March 03, 2010

International Women's Day is held on 8 March every year and celebrates women's achievements in history and across the whole world.  International Women's Day is also known as the United Nations Day for Women's Rights and International Peace.  For 2010 the main theme highlighted by the United Nations for the celebration is "Equal rights, Equal opportunities: Progress for all."

Several countries celebrate International Women's Day with a general public holiday, some of these are - Russia, China, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Ukraine and Vietnam.

International Women's Day 2010 events include:

* Australia - 92 events organised, to include:

Department of Public Works, Charity Walk in Brisbane from 07.30-12.00 which involves a charity walk through the city's botanic gardens followed by breakfast in the courtyard of the Department of Public Works, George Street, Brisbane.

UNIFEM Australia's Perth International Women's Day Breakfast to raise funds to empower migrant workers in Indonesia which is to be held in the Grand Ballroom, Hyatt Hotel, Perth on 8 March.

In addition, various fundraising, arts, educational and entertaining events are being organised throughout Australia to celebrate International Women's Day 2010.

* United Kingdom - around 207 events have been publicised and many of these are free of charge.  Some of the events for the United Kingdom include:

Are We There Yet?   A networking meeting organised by the NI Rural Women's Network, the NI Equality Commission and the Women's Resource & Development Agency at The Dunsilly Hotel in Antrim, Northern Ireland on 8 March 2010 from 10.30am-13.30pm which will explore issues surrounding women's equality.

International Women's Day 2010:  A TUC Celebration on 8 March at Congress House, Great Russell Street, London, from 18.00pm-22.30pm.  This is an evening of entertainment which features comedy, music and poetry and more but also showcases the international development works of the Trades Union Congress.

The Wales Women's National Coalition will be organising events throughout Wales from 8 March to 14 March and can be contacted direct for details. 

Events for International Women's Day 2010 in the United Kingdom are diverse and include arts celebrations, talks by women in business, exhibitions and various fundraising or sports activities such as sponsored walks.  Television networks throughout the UK such as Sky, Virgin and Freeview will be broadcasting various programmes throughout 8 March which highlight women's issues locally and internationally.   

* United States of America - 107 events publicised, some of which are as follows: 

Women Hold the Solution - New York City, on 4 March 2010, the Global Fund for Women will be holding a discussion with female leaders followed by a cocktail reception 18.00-20.00pm.  Entry is free of charge. 

On 4 March 2010, various movie theaters Nationwide will present Half the Sky Life from CARE a musical extravaganza and world premiere of "Woineshet"

Events are being organised for International Women's Day right across the United States of America and include fundraising and charity events, educational conferences and speeches at many of the universities, parades, entertainments and much, much more. 

These are just a few of the many thousands of events organised worldwide for International Women's Day, please also see the principal IWD website for more activities in your locality or worldwide.

Also see www.un.org/womenwatch for further details about International Women's Day. 

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