International Women's Day (IWD) falls on 8 March every year and is a day of global celebration of women's achievements.
Many organisations and governments observe IWD by holding large and small-scale events that honour the advances made by women and also provide a reminder of the continued action needed to ensure these advances are maintained and built upon to achieve women's equality in all aspects of life.
International Women's Day 2009
The SG supports and promotes IWD in a number of ways, and has done so for a number of years. This year, we were involved with the following events/activities:
5 March Members' Debate on IWD in Scottish Parliament to which Alex Neil, MSP, Minister for Housing and Communities, responded.
7 March Afternoon event in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament, followed by a reception in the Garden Lobby of Parliament - organised by the Scottish Women's Convention (SWC), which we fund. The event's theme was Violence Against Women. Speakers were:
Fiona Hyslop, MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning
Rt Hon Harriet Harman, QC, MP Minister for Women and Leader of the House of Commons
Lily Greenan, Manager of Scottish Women's Aid
Annabel Goldie, Leader of the Conservatives in Scotland
Hon Tabitha Khumalo, member of the newly elected Democratic Parliament of Zimbabwe
Cathy Peattie MSP, Chair Cross-Party Working Group on Men's Violence Against Women
7 March Women at Work, which we fund, held an IWD event in Inverness (together with Highland One World Group, Oxfam and Highland Council.)
2-9 March There was a small IWD display in the main atrium of the Scottish Government building at Victoria Quay, which also promoted the work of a number of women's organisations which the Scottish Government supports.
10 March A delegation of women cross-party politicians from Armenia on a sponsored visit to Scotland met with some women MSPs, representatives of women's organisations in Scotland and Scottish Government officials.
13 March As part of a fortnight of events to celebrate International Women's Day, Dundee International Women's Centre, which we fund, held a Dinner and Awards Ceremony on the evening of 13 March in the Bonar Hall, University of Dundee. The theme was the 'United Nations of Scotland's Women', with women of the past, present and future being celebrated. Shona Robison, Minister for Public Health and Sport, gave a short speech.
In addition, the Women's Fund for Scotland, which receives up to 90% of its income from the Scottish Government, includes amongst its grant provision, grants of up to £1,000 to women's groups to hold celebrations around International Women's Day each year. Among the Fund's key achievements has been extending the awareness of International Women's Day and women's issues, particularly in rural areas.
International Women's Day 2010
Watch this Space!
You can find out about IWD events not only in Scotland but all over the world on the IWD website.