The International Women’s Day

In 1910 the Second International Conference of Working Women was held in Copenhagen. A woman named Clara Zetkin tabled the idea of an International Women’s Day(IWD). She proposed every year in every country there should be a celebration on the same day—a Women’s Day—to press for their demands.

The very first IWD was launched on March 19, 1911. In 1913, IWD was transferred to March 8. IWD was officially recognized by the United Nations and has been taken up by many governments since 1975.

After the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, the Chinese Government sent a general circular to all citizens in December that year affirming March 8 was to be set as a day for women.

1. WOMEN’S VOICE:Zhang Xiaomei (right), Editor in Chief of a fashion newspaper in China, speaks at a group discussion during this year’s full session of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, China’s top political advisory body, along with other members representing women

2. ACTIVE PARTICIPATION:Three members of the CPPCC National Committee discuss proposals submitted to this year’s CPPCC plenary session

3. REPRESENTING THE FEW:Ethnic minority NPC deputies enter the Great Hall of the People to take part in this year’s NPC session