100 years of International Women's Day

100 years of International Women's Day

09 March, 2011
by: Lowri

Women united globally to celebrate the centenary of International Women's Day. Lowri Clarke reports from the protests in London.

I consider myself to be a feminist, to the derision of some of my counterparts. According the gospel that is Wikipedia, “Feminism refers to movements aimed at defining, establishing and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women.” So why the derision? The word has become, to quote human rights campaigner Annie Lennox, an “f-word”. “We need to reinvent the word or get rid of it altogether,” she tells the crowds at the 100 year anniversary of International Women's Day.

Collected at Royal Festival Hall, for a multitude of reasons, is a worldly mix of women, some of whom were a twinkle in their parents eyes when the suffragettes succeeded in getting women the vote. Others are fresh out of school, armed with banners and megaphones. There are women with young children, there are a couple of schools who have joined the march, uniformed kids chanting with their teachers. The 'Join Me On A Bridge' event today is organised by Women For Women International and is just one of hundreds across the UK.

The presence and solidarity today is overwhelming. The Soroptimists are here – a worldwide service organisation for women. There are women from Iran campaigning for the release of hundreds of female freedom fighters. Women's Aid are standing against violence and domestic abuse. Demand Change are campaigning to increase the understanding of the myths and realisties surrounding prostitution - and ultimately end the demand. Object seek to challenge the objectification of women in lads mags, in strip clubs and in general. Voices Against Violence – a campaign spearheaded by Dr Helen Pankhurst for CARE International – is about changing the world for women living in conflict. All of those present – and not all of them are women – are here to fight for equal rights and to put an end to oppression, violence and global injustice inflicted because of our gender.



It's quite difficult to tell just how many people are marching when you're in the middle of it. The crocodile of protesters seems to stretch for about a mile; I see the frontrunners snaking their way over Millennium Bridge well before I get there. The symbolism of the bridge is central to today's march. Actress Cheri Lunghi last year said, “No woman is an island, as long as there's a bridge.” This year, the well-spoken feminist gives us a few figures: “in 1782, the last woman was burnt as a witch. In 1920, we got the vote. Let's speed it up.”



Other speakers include the afore-mentioned Dr Helen Pankhurst (Emiline's great-granddaughter) and Judith Wango – presenter in the BBC3 documentary 'The World's Most Dangerous Place to be a Woman', which was set where she was born, in the Congo. “I was born in a country where I was more likely to be raped than learn to read. I was lucky enough to be brought up here and was taught that I can do anything. All girls should be taught this lesson."



Google's Diversity Champion Sarah Speake is here talking about Google's work, as is Sophie Ridge, Political Correspondent for Sky News where they re having an all-women anchor day. The Guardian Comment Is Free section is all-female for a day. The Southbank Centre are holding a Women of the World festival (this weekend). Across a record 70 countries, there are 410 events and protests. Last year there were only 100. In South Korea's capital there's dancing and festivities in the streets. In Mexico City there's an 8000 strong 10km run. Speaking at UN headquarters in New York, secretary General Ban Ki-Moon recalls that 100 years ago “gender equality was largely a radical idea”. While progress should obviously be celebrated, “we must also remember that in too many countries and societies, women remain second class citizens, denied their fundamental rights, deprived of legitimate opportunity”.

This is overwhelmingly relevant to the women of Egypt, where they gathered in Cairo's Tahrir Square, calling for harsher punishments against sexual harassment, for fairer representation in Parliament, for equality. The were mobbed by a group of men yelling, “not now”. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, ground zero for the fight against sexual violence, a hundred or so brave women stood on the bridge between the Congo and Rwanda – the place which inspired the Join Me On a Bridge campaign started by Women for Women International.



I'm lucky enough to live in a country where clean water, being able to read, having the vote and an education are taken for granted, are birth-rights. I can choose to call myself a feminist without fear of violence. I can wear what I like, say what I like and marry who I like without the threat of retribution. There are women in certain countries for whom these rights are denied, and this is an injustice that must be acknowledged and reversed. This is why it is vital that IWD continues to gather momentum, so that women's rights are not just considered today, on one day of the year, but every day. We need to keep fighting, keep standing up for women who need our strength. Here in Britain, it's easy to imagine that we as women have succeeded, that the battle is won, (even though we still don't have equal pay, equal rights or equal opportunities) but it is only just beginning. We must demand these basic human rights for women everywhere.

Click here for things to do in London.

Lowri