International Women's Day Observed with Fervour

March 8, the International Women's Day is a day of solidarity, and a day for remembering the struggles for women's emancipation.

This year the International Women’s Day was marked by rallies and events all over the world against violence and attacks on women. Although there have been indisputable gains over the years, women are still being discriminated against, harassed, raped, trafficked and made to suffer violence.

Many events across the world marking the International Women's Day underscored the need to speak out and stand up against discrimination and violence on women and girls, which affects up to seven in ten women worldwide according to the UN statistics. An online interview with many women journalists carried out by the Independent brings out many issues in this regard.

The Globe and Mail, on this Women's Day, has come out with some interesting statistics on Gender geography: Where's the best place in the world to be a woman.

Another interesting event on the occassion of the International Women's Day was the launching of the song “ We are One Woman,” which is a musical celebration of women worldwide. This song reminds us that together, we can overcome violence and discrimination. “From China to Costa Rica, from Mali to Malaysia, acclaimed singers and musicians, women and men, have come together to spread a message of unity and solidarity: We are "One Woman". This song is a rallying cry that inspires listeners to join the drive for women's rights and gender equality,” say the organisers of the song.

In New Delhi, hundreds of people participated in a march organised by several women's organisations under the banner of Centenary Celebration Committee on the 8th of March this year. The participants walked from Jantar Mantar to the Parliament demanding stronger laws to ensure women's safety in public space.

The march was specifically aimed to voice opposition to the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill which is to be debated in the Parliament soon. The participants shouted slogans and waved posters, demanding the government to revise the proposed changes to the law. They showed their disappointment towards the government for overlooking the key points in the Justice Verma Committee Report. Questioning the political will of the government to deal with the issue of sexual violence against women in a serious manner, the participants in the march also opposed the government's consideration of introducing gender-neutrality in the sexual offences laws.

Several marches, public meetings and seminars were organised across the country to mark the International Women's Day.

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