Celebrate International Women's Day

On Thursday, UNC Charlotte will honor and recognize several women as part of International Women’s Day celebrations worldwide. The event will take place in the Student Union (340 GHI) from 3:00-5:00pm.

For the last 100 years, International Women’s Day is when women on all continents, often divided by national boundaries and by ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic and political differences, come together to celebrate their struggle for equality, justice, peace and development. The day is recognized by the United Nations and many nations have made the day a national holiday.

According to the International Women’s Day website: http://www.internationalwomensday.com/about.asp, “The new millennium has witnessed a significant change and attitudinal shift in both women's and society's thoughts about women's equality and emancipation. Many from a younger generation feel that 'all the battles have been won for women' while many feminists from the 1970's know only too well the longevity and ingrained complexity of patriarchy.”

This year's theme for International Women's Day is Equal Access to Education, Training and Science and Technology: Pathway to Decent Work for Women and Our History is Our Strength is the theme for Women's History Month 2011. The following link provides information on specific initiatives of the United Nations: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/feature/iwd/

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made the following remarks in her International Women’s Day message:
“The United States continues to make women a cornerstone of our foreign policy. It’s not just the right thing to do. It’s the smart thing. Women and girls drive our economies. They build peace and prosperity. Investing in them means investing in global economic progress, political stability, and greater prosperity for everyone—the world over. So let us mark this day by finding ways to ensure women and girls’ access to education, healthcare, jobs, and credit, and to protect their right to live free from violence.”