World Women’s Day predates the creation of the UN, since it was first celebrated in 1911 in various European countries, to demand :
- the right to vote and hold public office
- the right to work and vocational training
- ending discrimination in the workplace.
As early as 1913, peace was one of the women’s objectives, with rallies held in several European cities to protest against the fomenting war. This demand for peace was reiterated by Russian women in 1917, when the war had killed 2 million men, and they went on strike on March 8 (in the European calendar) to demand “bread and peace”. 4 days later, the Tsar was forced to abdicate, and the provisional government granted women the right to vote.
In 1945, the United Nations Charter was signed, the first international document to proclaim equality between women and men as a fundamental human right.
Today, thanks to UN resolution 1325, the full participation of women is required in all decisions relating to social, economic and political issues, including questions of peace.