International Women’s Day will be observed today across the country as elsewhere in the world with pledges to uphold women’s rights. This year’s theme is ‘Investing in women and girls.’

Various women’s and socio-cultural organisations, and government and non-governmental agencies have chalked up elaborate programmes, including meetings, rallies and discussions, to mark the day.

The president, Iajuddin Ahmed, the chief adviser, Fakhruddin Ahmed, and the leaders of political parties and women’s organisations issued messages on the occasion, hoping to build a gender-equal, prosperous society ridding it of discriminations against women.

March 8 has now come to be observed as International Women’s Day every year. The idea of having an international women’s day was first floated at the 2nd International Socialist Women’s Conference in Copenhagen in 1910 on a proposal made by German socialist women leader Clara Jetkin.

Jetkin’s proposal was inspired by the movement of the female workers of a sewing factory in New York City on March 8, 1857 against low wage, 12-hour duty and unhygienic condition in the factory, which was exposed to the police repression.

In 1975, the United Nations called global attention to women’s concerns by calling for an International Women’s Year. Later in 1977, the United Nations resolved to observe the day as United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace.

The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, in his message said the governments of all nations in 2005 agreed that ‘progress for women is progress for all,’ but the 10-year review of the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action revealed a serious gap between policy and practice on women’s issues in many countries.

‘A lack of political will is reflected in the most telling way of all: lack of resources and insufficient budgetary allocations. That is why the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is “Investing in Women and Girls”,’ he said.

‘This failure of funding undermines not only our endeavours for gender equality and women’s empowerment as such; it also holds back our efforts to reach all the Millennium Development Goals,’ he said.

‘As we know from long and indisputable experience, investing in women and girls has a multiplier effect on productivity and sustained economic growth. No measure is more important in advancing education and health, including the prevention of HIV/AIDS. No other policy is as likely to improve nutrition, or reduce infant and maternal mortality,’ said Ban Ki-moon.

The Women’s Day celebration in Dhaka includes procession and poster competition and exhibition by the department of women and gender studies at Dhaka University. The Bangladesh National Women Lawyers’ Association will hold a debate at the Institute of Modern Languages of Dhaka University at 3:00pm on the harassment of women. The Refugee and Migratory Movement Research Unit will bring out a procession at 10:00am and hold a seminar on the rights of women migrant workers at the National Press Club at 4:00pm.

The Partnership of Women in Action will hold seminar on women workers at the National Press Club and the Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies will hold a discussion on women’s rights at the Bangladesh Institute of Management. The National Girl Child Advocacy Forum will bring out a procession from the National Museum and hold a discussion at Shatayu Angan in Ramna Park.

The Transparency International and the Anti-Corruption Commission will hold a concert in Gulshan Central Park. The Women’s Day Observance Committee will hold a discussion at the Dhanmondi Club. The Jatiya Nari Jote will hold a discussion at 35-36 Bangabandhu Avenue. The Drik Gallery will begin a photo exhibition, Naristan. The United Nations Association in Bangladesh will hold a symposium at the National Scouts Bhaban. The Khan Foundation will stage a drama and hold a cultural programme on the campus of the Millennium University.