International Women’s Day takes place on March 8 every year to recognize the many accomplishments women have made despite their ethnicity, race, age and social class. This day was commenced in order to give women a day that is solely dedicated to them. This globally-celebrated day brought has been a result of women fighting every day for the same rights as men.

This movement began in North America and spread widely across Europe during the twentieth century; labor movements were responsible for this proliferation. People of all genders are working consistently to ensure that equality for all is attainable.

In 1909, the first National Women’s Day was observed. It was held on February 28 as they marched for equal working conditions. What is now a worldwide movement began in 1911, with just over 1 million people supporting it. There are ten different values that women focus on to make International Women’s Day momentous: justice, dignity, hope, equality, collaboration, tenacity, appreciation, respect, empathy and forgiveness.

Hope signifies the desire for certain things to change for the better. Suffragettes saw hope as an aspirational tool that encouraged everyone to strive towards equality. They symbolized hope with the color green and used this color in their flags, rosettes, badges and banners.

The 2019 campaign theme is #BalanceForBetter, which encapsulates how balancing responsibilities in the work place, at home and in our governments helps the world work better and more efficiently. “The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organisation but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights,” said Gloria Steinem, world-renowned feminist, journalist and activist.