speech of international women's day

Writing A Women’s Day Speech: 7 Tips and Examples

Every year on March 8th, the world recognizes International Women’s Day. It’s a day for celebrating the economic, social, cultural, and political accomplishments of women and for celebrating Women’s Rights . In 1911, over a million people from Austria, Germany, Denmark, and Switzerland celebrated the first International Women’s Day . Today, in addition to celebrating women’s achievements, IWD is an opportunity to call for gender equality and justice. Speeches are held at events around the world. How do you write a good speech for International Women’s Day? Here are seven tips and examples:

Tip #1: Know your audience

Before writing a speech, you want to know who your audience is and what they care about. Without this information, you may write something that doesn’t resonate. It may not be bad, but it may miss the mark. As an example, if you don’t know recent college graduates make up most of your audience, you may write a speech that fails to take into account their youth, their goals (like starting a career), their knowledge and experience of history, and so on. Your audience’s age is just one piece of information about them. In a 2019 article on Ideas.Ted.com , Briar Goldberg describes how audiences can be broken into three types: expert, novice, and mixed. If you’re speaking to an expert audience, you’ll rely on more complex arguments and terminology than if you were speaking to a novice audience. With mixed audiences, appealing to emotions is often the best choice.

At the 2020 International Finance Corporation’s celebration event for International Women’s Day, the CEO Philippe Le Houérou spoke to his audience’s interests by focusing on economics, numbers, and ways IFC is addressing gender inequality, saying :

“At IFC, we have developed a comprehensive approach to reducing gender inequality. We create partnerships to encourage the hiring of women and improve their working conditions. We help expand access to financial services for women. We invest in innovative technologies that expand choices for female consumers and employment. And we work with partners to provide business skills and leadership training to women entrepreneurs.”

Tip #2: Write a strong opening

A strong opening engages the listener and gives them a general roadmap of your speech. Depending on your speech’s context and audience, you can experiment with opening styles. If you’re speaking to a general audience, an anecdote is a great way to capture your listener’s attention and get them emotionally invested. If your audience consists of experts or academics, it might be best to keep your introduction as brief as possible (many speeches begin with thank yous), so you can spend more time on the speech’s main points.

Consider then-UN Women Deputy Executive Director Lakshmi Puri’s 2013 speech to the mostly-expert audience of the Open Society Foundation. Her topic was on the importance of girls’ education. After thanking the audience, she opened with strong, clear language to emphasize the speech’s main message:

“Your Excellencies, fellow panelists, ladies and gentlemen. I am honoured to be participating in this very important side event on the right to education in the post-2015 agenda. I sincerely thank the International Council for Adult Education, the Global Campaign for Education and all of the convening organizations for inviting me to speak today. UN Women considers that education is one of the greatest game-changers for women and girls around the world. It is both an enabler and force multiplier for women’s economic, political and social empowerment and gender equality.”

Tip #3: Include statistics to support your claims

When you’re writing a speech about issues like gender equality in education, healthcare, or the workplace, you want to give the audience specific information about the issue. Without key statistics , the audience won’t know how serious an issue is or what progress is being made. It isn’t enough to say that “many” girls don’t receive equal education compared to boys or that things are “improving.” What are the actual numbers? Sharing statistics also shows you did your research, which gives your words credibility.

You can also include data to show what specific organizations are doing and how they’re impacting gender equality. That’s what Michelle Obama did in her 2016 speech at the Let Girls Learn event that celebrated Women’s Day. She sprinkled facts through her speech on how Let Girls Learn was making a difference. Here’s an example:

“Folks of all ages and all walks of life are stepping up, as well. More than 1,600 people in nearly all 50 states have donated money to Let Girls Learn Peace Corps projects. Our #62MillionGirls hashtag was the number-one hashtag in the U.S., with people across the country talking about the power of education. And we’ll be launching the next phase of this social media campaign next week at South by Southwest.”

Tip #4: Strike the right tone

How do you want to present yourself? What kinds of emotions do you want to stir in your audience? These types of questions help you identify the appropriate tone for your speech. This is another reason why knowing your audience matters. When you’re speaking to a group of seasoned experts in a formal setting, your tone will likely sound more analytical and logical. If you were speaking in a more casual environment to a group unfamiliar with your subject, you’ll probably want to adopt a more personal, conversational style. If you want to provoke emotions in your listeners and get them to care, stories are very effective. If your goal is to inform and educate, it’s wise to rely on facts and stats.

Tracee Ellis Ross’ 2018 TED Talk on women’s anger is a great example of a speech with a tone that fits the speech’s context. She’s speaking to a mixed-gender audience in a non-academic setting. Because the topic she’s covering is personal, she uses a conversational, almost intimate style that switches between the first and second person. She addresses both the women and men in the audience, but keeps the women centered. Here’s an example toward the end of the speech:

“Our culture is shifting, and it’s time. So my fellow women and our gentle men, as we are here together within this particular window of this large-scale movement towards women’s equality, and as we envision a future that does not yet exist, we both have different invitations.”

Tip #5: Pay attention to structure

At their most basic, speeches consist of an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. Each section serves an important purpose. The introduction establishes your credibility, the speech’s tone, and its goals. The body, which is the main part of the speech, fills in the points you want to cover using statistics, stories, or other forms of evidence. The conclusion wraps everything up and emphasizes what you want your audience to remember. Unlike something that’s written, your audience can’t look back to find their way if they get lost, so as you move through the three sections, you want things to be as clear and simple as possible.

In 2021, Srishti Baksh gave a TedTalk relating her 2,300-mile walk journey across India where she held driving workshops to empower women’s ability to move across the country. She uses a simple structure that opens with the story of the first time she went to a movie alone with her friends at age 14. She was assaulted in the theater. She then zooms out, describing how there are 600 million women in India, but women rarely go outside because they’re not safe. In the body of her speech, she zooms back in to talk about her walking journey, the women she met, the empowering and terrifying things she witnessed, and how she joined forces with another woman to create a movement that trains female drivers. She concludes with a clear message:

“By rethinking mobility for women, giving them a safe transport and safety outside of home, it is our hope to transform our culture. Apart from having a profound impact on the Indian economy, this is about something much bigger. As you all know, when we move, we can be seen. The more women see other women in public spaces, the more safe, independent and empowered each one of us will be. So. If we can learn how to walk, certainly we can learn how to fly.”

Tip #6: Use repetition to your advantage

How do you make sure your audience gets the point of your speech? How do you make your speech – which might be one of many speeches the audience sits through – memorable? Repetition. You want to repeat your main point throughout your speech. It’s a good idea to include it at least three times: in the introduction, the body, and the conclusion. There are other types of repetition that make your speech memorable, too. Repetition can include keywords, phrases, and even the sounds of words. Repetition looks different depending on what kind of speech you’re giving. If you’re giving an emotion-driven speech, frequent repetition of the same words/phrases adds to the emotional punch. For informational or educational speeches where powerful emotions aren’t necessarily appropriate, use different words/phrases to repeat the main point.

For an example of good repetition in a speech, let’s look at Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw’s 2016 Keynote at Women of the World . From a word search, it’s clear what the speech is about. Together, the words “intersectionality” and “intersectional” appear 42 times. Repetition is found within sentences and paragraphs, too:

“There are multiple forms of intersectionality . I could talk about a lot of them, but the kind of intersectionality that I most want to talk about is the intersectionality around politics – political intersectionality .”

“So the question we have to ask is, what can we each do about it? We’ve been saying the first thing you can do about it is say her name. Do not allow her death to happen in silence. Do not allow their children, their loved ones to grieve for them in silence. Do not allow , do not affirm the belief that their lives are insignificant.”

Tip #7: Ask rhetorical questions

Do you want to increase audience engagement? Ask rhetorical questions. When you ask a question, your audience is forced to think more deeply about your words. They’re more likely to listen more closely, as well, since the information that follows a question will provide more context. You can use rhetorical questions in a few ways. You can anticipate a question your audience might have, set up an important point, or even encourage an emotional response. Even though audience members won’t shout out an answer (unless you encourage them to do so), asking questions makes your speech feel more interactive and engaging.

Let’s look at a 2003 speech by Maxine Waters at the National Youth Summit. While it isn’t directly about women’s rights, it serves as a great example of how to use questions in a speech. Right from the beginning, it’s clear this speech is going to be interactive. She says good morning to the audience and then prompts them to answer her. Through the speech, Waters asks many questions (some rhetorical, some direct), all of which make the speech engaging even through a transcript:

“Who makes up this jury? [Waters is discussing a trial involving a White cop and a Black teenager that ended in a hung jury and mistrial] A lot of people were very, very concerned because there was only one black person on the jury. The city of Inglewood is majority minority, and majority African-American. How could this have happened? How could you get a jury with only one black, in a case where the defendants are African-American, in a city where it is majority minority and mostly black? How could this happen?”

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About the author, emmaline soken-huberty.

Emmaline Soken-Huberty is a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon. She started to become interested in human rights while attending college, eventually getting a concentration in human rights and humanitarianism. LGBTQ+ rights, women’s rights, and climate change are of special concern to her. In her spare time, she can be found reading or enjoying Oregon’s natural beauty with her husband and dog.

How To Write A Speech On Women’s Day: Comprehensive Guide With Sample Speech

• Speech Writing

Celebrated for over a century now, Women’s Day has served as an active acknowledgment of the magnificent and fierce force of nature that women are. Observing it is one way of honoring all that they do and are. 

With gender parity becoming a progressively imperative area for our woke society, the Women’s day celebration has been commercialized and far-reaching. 

What that means is that people have started counting it as an event that can be used for raising charity for women-centric NGOs and other funds. That goes on to say that it attracts tonnes of people and involves a lot of public gatherings.

Whether it is a local community celebration, a small social gathering, or large press conferences and fundraisers, all these events have people who are eager to talk about a bunch of things revolving around women. 

While the spectrum for the topics you could talk about is very wide, this article will help you curate a speech that stands out and makes it a memorable one for the audience. 

What is the history of Women’s Day?

While it is not something you must necessarily include in your speech, it’s good to know the relevance and context of the occasion.

Marked every year on March 8th, the first ever Women’s Day was celebrated in 1911 and supported by over a million people. 

It came about as a long due response to the repressive tendencies of the society. An agitated reaction to the disparity in working conditions between men and women. Today, it calls for celebrating women in social, economic, political, and domestic spheres of life in personal and professional capacities. 

If you wish to know more about the history of Women’s Day in detail, here’s some timeline-based information you can find on the web: History of International Women’s Day

What can you talk about on Women’s Day?

Needless to say, the central topic you would need to focus on is women. However, the scope of things you could talk about related to women is far more extensive than you’d think. 

Historically, the gender dynamics in society have been known to be inherently skewed in one direction. The hegemonic patriarchal structure has alienated women to a subordinate position in personal and professional spaces.

Women till date, are treated like the ‘other’ or deviated from the norm that is male-centric. The injustices inflicted on women are agitating to even think about. 

So, you could choose to talk about the aforementioned injustices (because, believe me, there are many), or you could talk about the progress we have made so far in eradicating them. These are, however, the most common topics that are saturated on every Women’s Day.

You need your speech to stand out, and for that, you need to write something that adds new value instead of reiterating the same old ones.

The key to a good speech is to give the audience what they’re not getting to hear already.

That is not to say that we should stop talking about all that is wrong with gender dynamics, however, a good speech would bring to light the already existing conflicts in a new way. Here’s where you can get creative with your words. Read further to understand.

Having said that, International Women’s Day is not just about looking at the past. Apart from these things, you could also talk about the accomplishments women have made in praise of them. 

One REALLY relevant, unconventional, and new area you could focus on is body positivity and talking about gender identity. You could back up with statistics the number of women who struggle with body positivity, the numbers are alarming!

Besides, the LGBTQ+ community also has women or people who identify as women, this is a perfect opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate them.

There are so many strong women who defy the norm and rise through ranks. Women’s Day is also an occasion to celebrate women, more than anything.

Things to keep in mind while writing a Women’s Day speech

So, to give you a few practical examples, here’s a list of potential topics you could talk about:

1. Feminism in *name of your country* 

“Feminism is the radical notion that women are human beings.” ― Cheris Kramarae

Feminism is a hot topic in the 21st century. It is almost always spoken about on Women’s Day. It’s one of the most influential movements that our society has come up with. 

However, like any other radical movement, it has as many critics as supporters. The cultural interrogation of feminism differs from country to country, since it’s perceived differently.

You could do extensive research about what it is like to be a feminist in your own country. Your speech could comprise YOUR personal, subjective experience, your struggles, your achievements, etc. 

Reference: For example, check out Malala Yousafzai’s speech on how Feminism is not complicated

2. Educate a woman, educate a generation

Women and education is another very sensitive area on a global level. There are still countries that restrict women’s access to education to this date, even after the third wave of Feminism. 

This is why it is important to bring it up consistently every time, to start conversations, to bring this grave issue to the forefront. 

In this speech, you could give some really upsetting statistics about the percentage of women deprived of one of the most fundamental rights, and move on to paint a picture of a society where women are less educated, and predict the consequences it would have. 

Reference: Here’s Angelina Jolie addressing the 25th AU Summit 2015, another great example you could check out!

3. Empower & unite: a vision

This is a rather umbrella topic. Women are empowered by change. Any real difference requires a real change.

Just talking about equality does not warrant it.

A speech here can be made about what groundwork must one do in practical day-to-day life to bring about the desired change.

A vision has to be formed of the society that women feel accepted and welcomed in, and then steps to move towards it can be enlightened. 

For example, education policies can be enacted, NGOs can be formed, you can also mention the progress already made in these areas.

Reference: Here’s yet another strong global female figure, Meghan Markle’s UN Women speech on “Speak up for your values “

Writing the Speech: Main Guide

Well then, with some prompts and examples to lay the groundwork, let’s move on to the actual process of writing the speech on Women’s Day.

There are a few things that you need to keep in mind, the following includes some tips along with a step-by-step procedure.

• Target a core message you want to convey and build your speech around it, or better yet, design your speech in such a way that leads UP TO this core message.
• Organize your speech. (read further in the steps)
• While writing the speech, think of yourself as an audience member, shifting perspective from speaker to listener helps you eliminate boring things sometimes.
• Build a rough skeleton of your speech, what point would segue into what. Arrange the order of the subtopics.  
• Decide the duration of your speech in advance, it helps you narrow down to key points and cut down unnecessary jargon. It also helps if you set a timer during your practice.
• Reiteration is fine, but don’t repeat your points too many times. It gets boring for people sometimes. 
• If talking about radical notions like feminism, try not to go too hardcore since these topics attract extreme opinions and reactions. You don’t want things to get too heated.
• Make sure you don’t just talk about the mainstream “issues” of women. It could make your speech generic and repetitive, and hence, less impactful. Try to cover a bunch of areas, some a little optimistic perhaps.

Well, with those in mind, let’s move on to a step-by-step guide!

You must’ve heard a thousand times that structure is the most essential tool when writing or giving a speech, and that’s because it is. Any great speech has a very apparent beginning, middle, and end. 

With that being said, let’s get to this specific topic. While talking on Women’s Day, it is a good idea to begin by appreciating and acknowledging women of all kinds, and all that they do, how our lives are so much better with them in it.

Remember, this day is about *celebrating* women.

After this, the direction you take your speech in differs according to your core message. For example, if you want to talk about gender neutrality, you can move on to the disparities that sadly still exist in our society.

You can also talk about the urgency to change the general mindset about the “othering” of women. You can mention how if you’re not actively trying to bring about change, you’re passively contributing to an unfortunate reality.  

Try using strong words like “unfortunate”, “contribution”, “challenge” that evoke the audience.

And finally, and most importantly, always end on a positive note. Not just anything though, mention the progress that’s been made by people towards bringing about the change. 

For example, you could mention the Let Girls Learn initiative by Michelle Obama aimed at providing education to adolescent girls. 

Ending on a positive note brings a sense of hope.

Another very important thing you need to keep in mind is that while the guide might help you with constructing a speech, the words are going to be yours.

And to make sure that your words hook the audiences’ attention, you need to have some really impressive opening lines, because that is when their attention span is at its peak!

To help with just that, we have written a whole article about speech openers, you can check them out here: 15 Powerful Speech Opening Lines (And How to Create Your Own)

Additionally, you need to make sure that the end of your speech packs and ties the whole essence together. Here are 15 Powerful Speech Ending Lines (And Tips to Create Your Own)

#PURPOSE & #TONE

The purpose of a speech could be delivering the core message we spoke about, or it could be getting your audience to act on something. It’s the REASON for giving that particular speech.

As yourself, do you want to alert your audience? or do you want to challenge them? Do you want to educate them? Or just provide insights? Answering these questions for yourself will help you find the purpose.

The tone of your speech goes hand in hand with the purpose. For example, if your purpose is to ignite a passion towards women’s empowerment, then your tone would be definitive, assertive, and strong. It would involve saying phrases like “We MUST”, “We HAVE to”, etc.

Meanwhile, if it’s to just deliver facts in a non-aggressive way, then your tone would be soft-spoken with pauses for people to ponder. It is very important to align your tone with the purpose. 

As mentioned in the tips, you must decide upon the duration of time you want to speak. As it is, our attention spans are progressively shrinking. Hence, it is important to convey what you wish to within the shortest time frame possible.

Compress your data. Include facts, but only sprinkle them throughout like pepper. Don’t go overloaded with statistics. People withdraw the fastest when they hear numbers too much. 

Your speech should be moving, and while numbers help, let your own words do the magic instead of relying too much on numbers. 

Ideally, a good speech about an occasion like Women’s Day goes on till about 3-5 minutes. Unless you want to dive into a specific topic and dig deep. Again, it depends on the audience you’re catering to.

A group of social activists wouldn’t mind an hour-long speech, even. But kids, or maybe community meetings tend to lose focus faster if they’re not motivated about the subject as strongly. 

#CREATIVITY

Creativity is a massive spectrum. There are hundreds of aids you could use to enhance your speech, even make it a performance if you may. 

But a few examples that I can think of are using visual aids, making a PPT with colorful graphs and flowcharts to depict statistics instead of saying them. 

Some people have a strong visual memory, so you’d be making a stronger impact on them by showing them instead of telling them. Not to mention color attracts and even retains attention.

Other than that, you could show a short film, or even an ad campaign in the beginning to set the base strong, or create the mood. 

For example, here’s a Reebok campaign ad that their brand did in 2018 for a women empowerment initiative. You could show it to your audience in the beginning to build a context. Additionally, some ads leave a long-lasting impact.

With these tools, you’re all set to begin curating your speech. Remember to make it personal, adding anecdotes from your life or people you know it’s what makes your speech real, and hence, stand out.

Sample Speech

Before I begin my speech, I want us all to do a little imaginative exercise today. Ready? I want you all to close your eyes. Take a deep breath, and picture what I’m saying. Imagine being in a really long, dark hallway. You can see a door in some distance but you have to squint your eyes. There is light outside the door. Normally, you’d want to reach out to that door and walk out happily into the light. Now imagine your hands being tied, restricting your movement. And the pathway leading to the door is peppered with shattered glass. And the ceiling is also made of glass where you can look at your reflection and see someone tired of trying. Meanwhile, a whole group of people pass by you, look at you, judge you, objectify you, and swiftly move towards the door because their pathway is smooth. Open your eyes. Ladies and gentlemen, what you just imagined is what we call being a woman. Welcome to our world. Women. The pillars of our society, the nurturers of our progeny, the threads weaving our communities together. Women. To say that they are the physical manifestation of strength itself would be a gross understatement. Today, women around us are excelling in all spheres that mankind has designed, making this world a better place to live in, little by little. Be it a homemaker, a professionally devoted one, or any other kind, our mothers, sisters, teachers, aunts, daughters, and friends are rays of inspiration to us.

I look around today and see these absolutely wonderful women who are extremely loved. But that’s not all I see. I also see victims. Victims of heinous crimes like rapes, abuse, torture. But the victimization isn’t limited to just punishable offenses, there are women I see who fall prey to silent killers of joy. Victims of emotional abuse, women stuck in long miserable marriages too afraid to break out of it for the sake of putting up with ridiculous notions of society that undermine them. Other than that, can you believe it is estimated that 60 percent of chronically hungry people are women and girls? Women make up more than two-thirds of the world’s 796 million illiterate people. The list of appalling facts and figures goes on… Gaps between men and women exist in areas from pay ranges to decision making to accessibility in health services and education. The UN has made a LIST on their websites that is full of these shocking gaps. It is sad how long you have to scroll to reach the end.

We are living in the 21st century. There is not a single shred of doubt in the fact that a woman can become and conquer anything that she desires. History tells us, however, that this has been a result of an unbearably long journey of revolts and movements against a society that was designed to put women down, to undermine them. Where the only criteria to determine their worth was how pretty they are or how well they cook and clean. Patriarchy is so deeply rooted in the fabric of so many countries that there are still people who continue to follow those notions about women. And for them, I have one word: Ignorant. Yes, they are ignorant to the grave consequences of perpetuating gender parity, ignorant to the fact that women are just as human as men, ignorant to all the possibilities a woman if given, can emerge gloriously from. Let me reiterate to you people today, WOMEN BELONG TO THE WORLD, NOT INSIDE KITCHENS. The rise of women does NOT equate to the fall of men. And anyone who thinks so has my deepest sympathies for the blind ignorance. 

I’m sure you’ve heard of Sudha Murty, one of the well-renowned authors of India and a philanthropist. But she is still sometimes referred to as “the wife” of the founder of the Infosys Foundation, even though she herself is the chairperson of the same company. Something to know about this extraordinary woman is that she is now 70 years old, which means she graduated high school in a time when it was norm to treat women as secondary beings. In an age like that, she dared to dream to become an engineer. Her family wasn’t supportive of it, because then nobody would marry her, of course. But she went ahead and pursued it anyway. It is to be noted that she was the only woman among 599 engineering students. She then went on to smash the stereotypes and bag a job in TELCO, one of India’s biggest automobile firms, which again, she got because she stood up for herself and the discrimination against women. By the way, the educational authorities during her time were so indifferent that they didn’t even build ladies bathrooms in the institution. This led to Sudha to bring a real change and build over 16,000 toilets after Infosys happened. Today, she is looked upto for the courage she had to raise her voice and be the first woman for so many things, it is revolutionary to witness it. T he cloud isn’t entirely dark .Today, industries and organizations are taking active steps towards eradicating the orthodox mentality. There are women crushing and dominating the glass ceiling in all professional fields. Global organizations such as the UN are working towards women empowerment on a large scale, Feminism is in its third wave on an international scale. We are certainly moving towards a future where it’s not about men and women, it’s about being HUMANS, and that, considering everything, is a win.  To conclude with the remarkable words of Megan Markle, a wonderful representation of strong globally impactful women and the UN women’s advocate for political participation and leadership, “It isn’t enough to simply talk about equality, one must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to simply believe in it, one must work at it. let us work at it. Together, starting now”

Happy Women’s Day!

Every year, you may find people adopting a theme for advertisement campaigns or public speeches in order to focus on a particular area that women need to be celebrated in. It can serve as the necessary prompt for you to curate your speech.

Other than that, we hope this guide helped you coming up with a great speech on International Women’s day!

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Statement from President Joe   Biden on International Women’s   Day

International Women’s Day honors a truth we live every day—that women and girls are essential to success and progress in every aspect of our society. Promoting opportunities for women and girls strengthens security, stability, and prosperity for everyone. And we know that we cannot solve any of the great global challenges of our time if half the population is left behind. So today, as we celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of women and girls around the world, we also reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that all people can reach their full potential.    Despite decades of progress, in far too many places around the world, the rights of women and girls are still under attack, holding back entire communities. We see it in Afghanistan, where the Taliban bars women and girls from attending school and pursuing employment. We see it in Iran, where the regime is brutally repressing the voices of women who are courageously standing up for their freedom. And in the face of Russia’s vicious and unjust invasion of Ukraine, including the use of rape as a weapon of war, we see countless stories of women bravely fighting for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Ukrainians. The United States stands with women and girls around the world in the critical work of protecting and advancing human rights. My Administration is working with dedicated partners and local communities in every part of the world to expand economic security for women and girls, defend access to health care—including reproductive health care—safeguard women’s political participation and human rights, and promote the full participation of women and girls in all facets of society. Through initiatives like the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, we are supporting the infrastructure of the care economy in low- and middle-income countries. We have also redoubled our commitment to eliminating gender-based violence wherever it occurs, promoting accountability for conflict-related sexual violence, and expanding protection services for women and girls in humanitarian emergences.   Here in the United States, we have made landmark investments to give families more breathing room and support women’s participation in the labor force. This includes signing into law important workplace protections for pregnant and nursing workers in the United States. And last year, I was particularly proud to sign legislation strengthening and reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), and increasing VAWA funding to $700 million, the highest funding level in history. This critical legislation will advance access to services, justice, and healing for survivors.   As we continue working to implement our first-ever National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality, we are focused on lifting up the rights of women and girls through every aspect of both our foreign and domestic policy. This is a defining feature of who we are as a nation and the values we hold dear as Americans. So let us continue to strive toward a future where women have an equal seat at the table, an equal voice in shaping decisions, and an equal opportunity to contribute fully to their nations.  

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08 march 2024, secretary-general's remarks at the observance of international women's day, antónio guterres.

Excellencies, friends,

It is a pleasure to join you today on International Women’s Day – to celebrate women around the world and all they have achieved in the fight for equality.

In communities across the globe, millions of women and girls are working to demand change, to combat stereotypes, and to make their voices heard.

Some are women’s rights activists.

All are human rights defenders.

They are creating a better world for everyone.

We stand with them today. We thank them. And we applaud all they have achieved.

But we also recognise that women and girls at the forefront of change may be ignored, reviled, and even targeted for attack.

Progress towards equality has been far too slow.

Around the world, women and girls continue to face rank discrimination and gross human rights violations and abuses.

A persistent epidemic of gender-based violence disgraces humanity.

And women’s unpaid care work is excluded from calculations of Gross Domestic Product and considered to have no financial value.

But the COVID-19 pandemic revealed the truth: women’s unpaid care work is the foundation of stable economies and societies. 

Even when they are paid for their work, women earn less than men. The gender pay gap is at least twenty percent and often more, depending on the country and the job sector.

Sectors dominated by women, like teaching and nursing, are underpaid across the board.

Politically, women remain under-represented and under-served.

At last year’s United Nations General Assembly, less than twelve per cent of speakers were women. Change is long overdue.  

Meanwhile, new technologies, which have huge potential to reduce inequalities, too often do the opposite – because of unequal access, baked-in bias, and online violence.

A global backlash against women’s rights is threatening, and in some cases reversing, progress in developing and developed countries alike. 

The most egregious example is Afghanistan, where women and girls have been barred from much of the education system, from employment outside the home, and from most public spaces. 

But we need to look no further than headlines of recent days. It is intolerable that over 4 million girls around the world are at risk of female genital mutilation each year.

I am outraged by the parliamentary initiative in Gambia to legalize this horrific practice.

I strongly appeal for this proposal to be rejected.

Excellencies,

And the global crises we face are hitting women and girls hardest – from poverty and hunger to climate disasters, war and terror.

Over the past year we have heard horrific reports of the impact of conflict on women and girls around the world. This includes:

Testimonies of rape and trafficking in Sudan;

Accounts in the recent report by Pramila Patten – my Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict– of sexual violence and indications of sexualised torture during the terror attacks carried out by Hamas in Israel;

And reports of sexual violence against Palestinian detainees.

We have also witnessed maternity services crumbling in Gaza, where women and children make up the majority of the tens of thousands killed and injured.

At our current rate of change, full legal equality for women is some 300 years away.

So is the end of child marriage.

And by 2030, over 340 million women and girls will still be living in extreme poverty – some eighteen million more than men and boys.

That is an insult to women and girls.

And a brake on all our efforts to build a better world.

Gender equality is the strong foundation of the entire 2030 Agenda – from ending poverty to securing peace.

We must drastically up the pace of change.

That requires political focus. And it requires investment – our theme for this year’s International Women’s Day.

Those investments must go towards ending violence against women; improving women’s and girls’ access to education and skills; and increasing the number of women in leadership roles in the corporate sector, in government, in peacebuilding and in climate action. 

We need to provide resources for effective social protection systems and put a monetary value on care work.  

Governments should promote childcare policies that enable both mothers and fathers to take on paid work outside the home.

And we must put money into the women’s rights organisations fighting to dismantle stereotypes, challenge cultural norms, and ensure women and girls are heard.

I see three priority areas for action to make such investments a reality.

First, we must urgently increase the availability of affordable, long-term finance for sustainable development, and tackle the debt crisis suffocating many developing countries and their economies.

We are pushing for an SDG Stimulus of $500 billion a year in affordable, long-term finance for developing countries. Our proposal calls for action on debt for countries facing impossible repayment schedules.

Leaders endorsed the Stimulus at last year’s SDG Summit; I will be working with a small group of Heads of State to make it a reality.

I urge all countries to support these efforts. And to support reform of the international financial architecture at the Summit of the Future this year so that it meets the financing needs of developing countries that are essential for the promotion of gender equality.

Second, I urge governments to prioritise equality for women and girls.

I am pleased today to launch the United Nations System-Wide Gender Equality Acceleration Plan, which commits to placing women and girls at the centre of our work across the board.

We will support governments around the world to design and implement policies, budgets and investments and respond to the needs of women and girls.

Targeted programmes and quotas may be required to tackle baked-in bias and dismantle the obstacles to equality.  

I also urge Member States at the Summit of the Future to support our proposals for metrics that go beyond Gross Domestic Product.

GDP disregards invisible domestic labour. Complementary metrics provide a more comprehensive and balanced picture.

Third, we need to increase the number of women in leadership positions.

Women in positions of power can help to drive investment in policies and programmes that meet the needs of women and girls.

I am particularly proud that since early in my tenure we have equal numbers of women and men in senior management across the entire United Nations system – a first for our organisation.

And I urge Member States to look at what they can do to increase the number of women in delegations to the United Nations and at intergovernmental meetings.

Such investments and policies are not in favour of women; they are good for us all.

Equality is the bedrock of peaceful, prosperous societies.

And supporting women who want to enter formal labour markets increases growth, tax revenues and opportunities for all.

Equality is overdue.

To achieve it, we must match rhetoric with resources.

We must invest in women and girls, turbocharge progress, and build a better world for all.

And I thank you.

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António Guterres (UN Secretary-General) on International…

6 March 2023

António Guterres (UN Secretary-General) on International Women's Day

On International Women's Day, we celebrate the achievements of women and girls across all walks of life, in all corners of the world.

But we also recognize the enormous obstacles they face — from structural injustices, marginalization, and violence, to cascading crises that affect them first and worst, to the denial of their personal autonomy and rights over their bodies and lives.

Gender-based discrimination harms everyone – women, girls, men, and boys.

International Women's Day is a call to action.

Action to stand with women who are demanding their fundamental rights at great personal cost.

Action to strengthen protection against sexual exploitation and abuse.

And action to accelerate women's full participation and leadership.

This year's theme stresses the need for technology and innovation to advance gender equality.

Technology can expand pathways to education and opportunities for women and girls.

But it can also be used to amplify abuse and hatred.

Today, women make up under a third of the workforce in science, technology, engineering, and maths.

And when women are under-represented in developing new technologies, discrimination may be baked in from the start.

That is why we must close the digital divide and increase the representation of women and girls in science and technology.

Women's exclusion from the digital world has shaved an estimated $1 trillion from the GDP of low- and middle-income countries in the last decade — a loss that could grow to $1.5 trillion by 2025 without action.

Investing in women uplifts all people, communities, and countries.  

Let us work together – across governments, the private sector and civil society –to build a more inclusive, just, and prosperous world for women, girls, men, and boys everywhere.

International Women's Day (8 March)

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Remarks By The First Lady At Let Girls Learn Event Celebrating International Women’s Day

Union Market Washington, D.C.

12:18 P.M. EST

MRS. OBAMA:  Wow!  (Applause.)  Thank you so much.  Hey.  You guys good?  All right, rest yourselves.  We’ve got a lot to do.  

Hi, everyone.  It is a pleasure to be here with all of you on this International Women’s Day as we mark the first anniversary of Let Girls Learn.  And today, we want to celebrate all of the wonderful progress we’ve made and the momentum we’re seeing around girls’ education across the globe.

But before we get started, I just wanted to briefly express my sadness over the passing of former First Lady Nancy Reagan.  Mrs. Reagan was a woman of incredible strength and grace, and she was a passionate advocate for so many important issues.  Through the example she set, both during her time in the White House and beyond, Mrs. Reagan reminded us of the importance of women’s leadership at every level of our society.

And on a personal note, Mrs. Reagan also understood the value of mentoring.  She warmly and willingly offered advice and encouragement to me as I settled into my role as First Lady.  And I am so grateful for her kindness and generosity to me and my family over the years, and I hope that our continued work to educate girls worldwide is a fitting tribute to her legacy.  (Applause.)  

So back to the business at hand.  I have to start by thanking Ambassador Power –- another strong woman leader, as you heard -- for that wonderful, kind, generous introduction, but more importantly, for her extraordinary work to promote human dignity, human rights across the globe.  We are lucky to have someone like her in this administration, and the President and I are very lucky to have her as a friend.  (Applause.)      I also want to recognize our outstanding Ambassador for Global Women’s Issues, Cathy Russell, and her -- yes -- (applause) -- and her entire team at the State Department for hosting this event and for their tremendous work on girls’ education and so many other critical issues.  I’m thankful to have them as partners in this effort.

But most of all, I want to thank all of you for your tremendous leadership on behalf of girls around the world.  Some of you have been with us since the day we launched Let Girls Learn, some of you have been working on girls’ education for decades, and some of you are students who will be leading the way on this issue in years to come.  And I’m so proud that you all are here.  Give yourselves a round of applause.  Our young people!  (Applause.)  

And I know that each of us here today has a story like Samantha shared about how we first got engaged in this issue –- the moment our heart first broke or we felt that first flare of outrage when we realized that 62 million girls worldwide –- girls who are just as smart and hard-working as we are -– aren’t getting the opportunities that we sometimes take for granted.  

For me, it was the drumbeat of horrifying stories:  Malala Yousafzai shot in the head by terrorists just for speaking the simple truth that girls should to go school.  More than 200 Nigerian girls kidnapped from their school dormitory by a terrorist group determined to keep them from getting an education –- grown men trying to snuff out the aspirations of young girls.  Little girls being brutally assaulted on their way to school, being forced to marry and bear children when they’re barely even teenagers.  Girls in every corner of the globe facing grave danger simply because they were full and equal human beings -- that’s what they decided -- worthy of developing their boundless potential.  

And the more I traveled and met with girls and learned from experts about this issue, the more I realized that the barriers to girls’ education isn’t just resources.  It’s not just about access to scholarships or transportation or school bathrooms.  It’s also about attitudes and beliefs -– the belief that girls simply aren’t worthy of an education; that women should have no role outside the home; that their bodies aren’t their own, their minds don’t really matter, and their voices simply shouldn’t be heard.

And like many of you, as a woman, I take all of this personally.  While I’m thankful that I’ve never faced anything like the horrors that many of these girls endure, like most women, I know how it feels to be overlooked, to be underestimated, to have someone only half listen to your ideas at a meeting -- to see them turn to the man next to you, the man you supervise, and assume he’s in charge -- or to experience those whistles and taunts as you walk down the street.

And I’ve seen how these issues play out not just on a personal level, but on a national level in our laws and policies. You see, in my lifetime -– and I’m not that old -– it was perfectly legal for employers to discriminate against women.  In my lifetime, women were not legally allowed to make fundamental decisions about their bodies –- and practically speaking, many still can’t.  In my lifetime, domestic violence was seen as a private matter between a man and his wife rather than as the horrific crime that it is.  

And today, it is so easy to take for granted all the progress we’ve made on these kinds of issues.  But the fact is that right now, today, so many of these rights are under threat from all sides, always at risk of being rolled back if we let our guard down for a single minute.  

These issues aren’t settled.  These freedoms that we take for granted aren’t guaranteed in stone.  And they certainly didn’t just come down to us as a gift from the heavens.  No, these rights were secured through long, hard battles waged by women and men who marched, and protested, and made their voices heard in courtrooms and boardrooms and voting booths and the halls of Congress.

And make no mistake about it, education was central to every last one of those efforts.  The ability to read, write, and analyze; the confidence to stand up and demand justice and equality; the qualifications and connections to get your foot in that door and take your seat at that table -- all of that starts with education.  And trust me, girls around the world, they understand this.  They feel it in their bones, and they will do whatever it takes to get that education.  

I’ve seen it time and time again –- girls in Senegal studying at rickety desks in bare concrete classrooms raising their hands so hard they’re almost falling out of their chairs.  Girls in Cambodia who wake up hours before dawn, ride their bikes for miles just to get to school.  Bangladeshi immigrant girls in the United Kingdom who study for hours every night and proudly wear their head scarves everywhere they go, resolutely ignoring those who would demean their religion.  

These girls risk everything -– the rejection of their communities, the violation of their bodies -– everything, just to go to school each day.  And then here I show up with a hoard of international reporters shoving microphones in their faces -- these girls don’t blink.  They stand up.  They look straight into those cameras and they proudly explain who they want to be –- doctors and teachers, forces for change in their countries.

You see, they know that education is their only path to self-sufficiency.  It is their only chance to shape their own fate rather than having the limits of their lives dictated to them by others.  And I’m passionate about this because I truly see myself in these girls -– in their hunger, in their burning determination to rise above their circumstances and reach for something more.  And I know that many of you do, too.

And let’s be clear, this issue isn’t just personal to women.  I have met countless men who learn about the plight of girls around the world, and they look into the eyes of their daughters and wives and mothers -– women they deeply respect and love -– and this issue becomes personal for them, too.  So it’s not surprising that over the past year since we launched Let Girls Learn, we have been overwhelmed by the response we’ve received.  

This issue is truly resonating as folks in every sector are stepping up to take action on behalf of these girls around the world.  From day one, the U.S. government has been leading the way with State, USAID, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, investing hundreds of millions of dollars.  They’re providing scholarships for girls in Liberia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.  They’re doing leadership training for girls in Afghanistan.  They’re building school bathrooms for girls in El Salvador.  They’re taking on female genital mutilation in Guinea, forced child marriage in Bangladesh.  

Let Girls Learn also has a strong partner in the American Peace Corps.  Volunteers are now running more than 100 girls’ education projects in 22 countries -– girls’ mentorship programs, girls’ leadership camps, and so much more.  

And through Let Girls Learn, dozens of major companies and organizations have come forward to support this work, including Lyft, Jet Blue, Proctor & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, Starwood Hotels -- I could go on and on -- Alex and Ani.  I’ve got my bracelets on.  (Laughter.)  They’re donating hundreds of thousands of dollars.  They’re creating new products –- backpacks and charm bracelets and T-Shirts -– to raise money and awareness.  They’re promoting Let Girls Learn in their advertisements, their in-flight magazines, their hotel room videos.  They’re doing it all.  The Girl Scouts are getting in on the action as well by creating a Global Action badge that girls can earn by learning about girls’ education.  

And it’s not just corporations and organizations who are getting engaged on this issue.  Folks of all ages and all walks of life are stepping up, as well.  More than 1,600 people in nearly all 50 states have donated money to Let Girls Learn Peace Corps projects.  Our #62MillionGirls hashtag was the number-one hashtag in the U.S., with people across the country talking about the power of education.  And we’ll be launching the next phase of this social media campaign next week at South by Southwest.

And we haven’t just inspired folks here in the United States.  Our hashtag was the number-three hashtag globally, with girls around the world tweeting their support for Let Girls Learn.  And countries like Japan, the UK, South Korea have joined this effort as well, investing more than half a billion dollars in girls’ education.  And at this year’s U.N. General Assembly, nearly 200 countries agreed to make adolescent girls’ education a top priority in the new Global Goals.  

And today, just 12 months after we launched Let Girls Learn, we’re seeing the impact of these efforts all around the world.  We see it in the story of a girl named Fiker from Ethiopia who, at the age of 13, found out that her parents were planning to marry her off to a man she’d never met.  But Fiker had learned about the dangers of early marriage from a USAID program she was involved in, so she refused to go through with the marriage.  She went on to graduate first in her entire sixth-grade class.

We see the impact of our work in the story of a young woman named Nourhan in Egypt.  When Nourhan got accepted to a girls’ science and technology boarding school supported by USAID, of course she was hesitant to leave home.  But she took the plunge, and today, she’s an avid coder.  And when speaking about her plans for the future, she says, “I dream of being the youngest Nobel Prize winner for Nuclear Physics.”

And we’re seeing the impact of our efforts not just on girls worldwide, but on young people right here at home.  Kids across the U.S. are learning about these girls and they’re embracing this issue as their own.  Students at a middle school in California raised $1,500 for Let Girls Learn by selling popsicles and hot chocolate.  At a school in Wisconsin, students raised $594 from their friends and families.  As part of their campaign, they created signs to raise awareness, and one of these signs said that “33 million fewer girls than boys are in primary school worldwide.”  They said, “We’re in this together.  Together we [can] make a difference.”  

See, even young kids get it.  We’re in this together.  Because these girls are our girls.  They are us.  They each have the spark of something extraordinary inside of them just like our daughters –- and our sons -– and their fate is very much our responsibility.  

And in the coming months, we’re going to be expanding our call to action to support these girls.  We are going to be engaging even more people -– moms and dads, faith and youth organizations, and young people like so many of you.  Because there is so much that students like you can do to make a real difference on girls’ education.

You can study this issue and organize your classmates to take action.  You can study or volunteer abroad and be on the front lines educating girls.  After you graduate from college, you can even join the Peace Corps and run your own girls’ education project.  Or if you get out there and get a job, like your parents may want you to -- (laughter) -- you can get your company involved in Let Girls Learn.  That’s how Lyft got involved, from one of our fellow young people who worked in this administration and now works at Lyft.  That kind of commitment that companies are announcing today, you can be a part of making it happen.

Every single one of us has a role to play on this issue.  And you can start today by going to LetGirlsLearn.gov and find out how to get involved right now.  No contribution is too small, as you can see, because in the end, that’s how we’re going to solve this problem –- one girl, one school, one village at a time, with folks like all of you -- particularly our young people -- leading the way.

And no, it will not be easy.  And it will not be quick.  But make no mistake about it, we can do this.  If we can make this kind of project -- progress in just a year -- in just a year -- if we keep putting in this effort and this investment that these girls deserve, we can get this done.  I know we are all up to the task.  I know we are.  I see it in your eyes.  I know you feel that burning sensation, that sense of unfairness.  Turn that into action.  Turn that passion into something real.  Those girls will be so grateful, because they are all of us.  They are my daughters, and they are you.

So I want to close by thanking all of you once again for everything you have done in this year, and everything we will continue to do together.  And I do look forward to continuing our work together in the months and years to come.  And I cannot wait to see all the doors we will open, all the fortunes we -- and futures we transform for girls across the globe.

So you guys ready to get to work?  (Applause.)  You think we can get this done?  (Applause.)  All right.  Thank you all so much.  God bless.  (Applause.) 

END  12:37 P.M.

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• International Women's Day Speech

International Women's Day Speech In English For Students

Celebrating Women, whether professionally or personally, is a sense of commitment to each and every Woman in one's life. Every year on March 8, International Women's Day is commemorated. In much of the country, the Day has been declared a National holiday. Women from all walks of life gather together around the country, spanning cultural and ethnic divides, to commemorate their battle for peace, justice, equality, and progress. International Women's Day is all about valuing oneself and realising one's full potential. Aside from that, Women need to summon the fortitude to overcome all obstacles in all areas of life in order to achieve significant progress. It is a common misconception in society that Women's problems are unimportant.

Vedantu salutes all the Women out there who are doing wonders all around the Globe and making their Nation proud. Vedantu provides one of the top-notch speeches and essays with the exact formal format in a very comfortable language. Students or anyone who wants to know about International Women’s Day or preparing to deliver a speech on the occasion of International Women’s Day can refer to the content from Vedantu.com.

International Women's Day Speech in English For Students

An Organizer, Administrative Leader, Director, Recreator, Partner, Daughter, Health Officer, Teacher, an Artist- a Woman has various roles to play in her life. To celebrate the importance and significance of Women in every person’s life every year, International Women’s Day is celebrated on 8th March. Women’s Day recognizes and celebrates Women in every field. A Woman has a positive mind and a fierce nature to excel in their respective fields. 

A Women's Day speech in English of 500 words and a short speech on Women's Day of 200 words are given below. 

Women's Day Speech

Greetings to everyone present here. As we all know we are here to celebrate the presence of Women in society and to celebrate their achievements, to celebrate International Women’s Day.

International Women’s Day is celebrated on 8th March every year around the world and it’s the Day dedicated to celebrating Women’s achievements in various Social, Political, and Cultural Fields. 

You must be wondering why Women’s Day is celebrated on 8th March? Well, there is a brief History around it that goes back 109 years. It was in 1909 when a political party of America celebrated 15,000 Women who protested against various issues like low pay scale, equal opportunities, and lack of voting rights in New York city. Originally it was called National Women’s Day and as the news spread annual celebration was done across the world but it was Russia who set the March 8th date. It was in 1975 that the United Nation recognized International Women’s Day and from 1996 International Women’s Day became a theme to celebrate Women in society. 

Now as we know when and who established it now naturally the next question that arises is what is the significance of Women’s Day?. The main aim of Women’s Day is to celebrate the achievements of Women in various fields and the roles they play which could be that they are an Artist, a Teacher, an Administrator, a Politician, or Scientist. It is also important to raise awareness about Women’s rights and gender parity. We can all agree that no country has achieved gender equality yet there are few places where the concept of gender equality does not even exist. Around the world, Women are not given equal opportunities. There are countries where they are denied to raise a point about their lives and how they are treated. Girl child abuse is common in many places where many crimes like child marriages, gender-based are done and all this discrimination a Woman faces is on the basis of one chromosome. 

For ages, men have had more privileges in every aspect of life in society, which could be good pay scale, social status, or voting rights percentage but now we are living in the 21st century and the world is slowly moving towards gender balance. It’s moving towards equality for both men and Women which could include equal pay scale, social status, and equal voting rights for Women. This change is necessary and it is required around the world because we all are humans and equal opportunities and respect should be given to everyone. 

So it is important to have a Day that reaches out and helps in solving all the discriminations that are happening against Women. As we all know how important Women are. They play various roles which could be a caring mother, a daughter, and so on. On this Day, it’s important to show the Women in your life how much you care about them and how much you love them. 

Educational institutions are now open to celebrate Women’s Day. It’s a sign of progress and they are teaching students to honor and respect a Woman. 

I want to conclude my speech by saying that International Women’s Day is dedicated to celebrating the achievements of women in social, cultural, and political fields. The Day formed by Women helps in bringing attention towards the forgotten Women’s rights and gender parity in a few places around the world. It should be considered a Day where everyone acknowledges the value and the importance of Women in our lives and all around the world. Thank you. 

Short Speech on Women's Day

We are here to celebrate the presence of Women in society and to celebrate their achievements. We are here to celebrate International Women’s Day. International Women’s Day is celebrated on 8th March every year around the world. It is considered to be an important point in the movement of Women’s rights. It is the Day when Women in our lives are recognized for their achievements in their respective fields, which could be an Artist, a Teacher, in Health Care, or an Administrative Leader. 

Celebration of Women’s Day totally ranges from being a public holiday in countries like Afghanistan to being a protest against the injustice done on Women in a few places. To summarize. It’s the Day to celebrate Womanhood around the world. 

As we all know there are few countries where Women are not given equal opportunities and their only role is considered to take care of the house. However, this needs to change because every Woman deserves to shine and equal opportunity should be given to a Woman as it’s given to a Man. 

For ages, Men have had more privileges in every aspect of life in a society which could be pay scale, social status, or voting rights percentage. We are living in the 21st century and the world is slowly moving towards gender balance. It’s moving towards equality for both men and Women which could include equal pay scale, social status, and equal voting rights for Women. This change is necessary and it is required around the world because we all are humans and equal opportunities and respect should be given to everyone. 

I want to conclude my speech by saying that International Women’s Day is dedicated to celebrating the achievements of Women in social, cultural, and political fields. The Day formed by Women helps in bringing attention towards the forgotten Women’s rights and gender parity in few places around the world. It should be considered a Day where everyone acknowledges the value and the importance of Women in our lives and all around the world. 

 10 Lines on International Women's Day Speech

International Women’s Day is celebrated on 8th March every year around the world.

It’s the Day dedicated to celebrating Women’s achievements in various social, political, and cultural fields.

The history of why Women’s Day is celebrated goes back to 109 years.  

In 1909 when a sociopolitical party of America celebrated 15,000 Women who protested against various issues like low pay scale, equal opportunities, and lack of voting rights in New york city.

In 1975 the United Nations recognized International Women’s Day and from 1996 International Women’s Day became a theme to celebrate Women in society. 

It is also important to raise awareness about Women’s rights and gender parity.

Female foeticide, child marriage, not giving oppurtunities to study, Child abuse, and rapes are the crimes committed against girl child and Women. 

The Day formed by Women helps in bringing attention towards the forgotten Women’s rights and gender parity in few places around the world. 

It is important to have a Day that reaches out and helps in solving all the discriminations that are happening against Women.

Women’s Day should be considered a Day where everyone acknowledges the value and the importance of Women in our lives and all around the world.  

About Women Empowerment

Empowering Women is a big responsibility, but it's also vital for gender equality. Furthermore, society benefits when Women are treated with respect and are not treated as second-class citizens. Women used to be limited in their houses and were not allowed to leave the house for employment before, but now things have drastically changed.

Their only source of income comes from their domestic obligations. However, civilization has evolved throughout time. Furthermore, this generation has high regard for Women and places a high value on them.

In many sectors, Women are now offered equal opportunities at work and are permitted to compete with, and sometimes even outperform, males. Women have begun to recognise their skills and abilities, and they are ready to walk out of their homes and contribute to the prosperity of their families and society as a whole.

Women are undoubtedly turning the world's attention to them. Also, it was previously impossible, but it is now doable, and they are doing so now. Women are achieving incredible heights and even travelling to space, as can be seen.

Furthermore, they are joining every field and succeeding in all of them, demonstrating their abilities. The most efficient approach to enhance communities, corporations, and countries is for Women to participate.

Furthermore, Women's participation strengthens peace accords, strengthens society, and makes economies more dynamic.

FAQs on International Women's Day Speech

1. How to conclude an International Women’s Day speech in a concise manner?

Make a solid first impression.

This suggestion may be used in any speech, not just those for Women's Day. A great introduction interests the listener and provides them with a sense of your speech's direction. You can try several starting techniques depending on the circumstances of your speech.

Include facts to back up your claims.

When crafting a speech about gender equality in school, work, and other areas, you should include relevant facts. Being as informative as possible is usually a good idea. This demonstrates that you completed your homework and are thus credible.

Keep an eye on the structure.

The structure of a speech is quite important. Unlike something written, your audience won't be able to go back to what you said if they get lost.

2. Why is Women's Day celebrated?

International Women's Day is a time to celebrate progress toward gender equality and Women's empowerment, as well as to critically reflect on those achievements and seek more momentum toward gender equality throughout the world. It's a Day to celebrate Women's outstanding achievements and to unite as a force to advance gender equality throughout the world. Empowering Women is a big responsibility, but it's also vital for gender equality. Furthermore, society benefits when Women are treated with respect and are not treated as second-class citizens. Women used to be limited in their houses and were not allowed to leave the house for employment.

3. When is Women's Day celebrated? 

On March 8th, we commemorate International Women's Day around the world to highlight Women's accomplishments in numerous sectors. This event honours the achievements of female individuals who have excelled in their respective disciplines. Women have undoubtedly contributed greatly to the well-being of society and the country since then. Moreover, Women's Day holds a great deal of significance, and it has become a yearly tradition. Furthermore, this commemoration is a show of respect, love, and concern for Women in our lives and in society.

In addition, Women's Day is also being observed in schools and universities. This will teach respect and care for Women in the minds of future generations, beginning with their youth.

4. How did Women’s Day come into consideration?

International Women's Day originated from the efforts of labor organizations across North America and Europe at the start of the twentieth century. The Socialist Party of America established the inaugural National Woman's Day on February 28, 1909, in remembrance of the 1908 garment workers' strike in New York, during which Women protested against poor working conditions. On the final Sunday in February in 1917, Russian Women opted to protest and strike under the slogan "Bread and Peace" (which fell on 8 March on the Gregorian calendar). Their campaign eventually resulted in the implementation of Women's suffrage in Russia.

5. How was International Women’s Day adopted by the United Nations?

The United Nations Charter became the first International accord to recognize the ideal of gender equality in 1945. In 1975, during International Women's Year, the United Nations commemorated the first official International Women's Day on March 8th. Two years later, in December 1977, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution declaring a United Nations Day for Women's Rights and International Peace, to be marked by the Member States on any day of the year in line with their historical and national traditions.

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International Womens Day

Statement by the Administrator

May 18, 2021

COVID19 has exacerbated inequalities and poverty.

Achim Steiner

UNDP Administrator

This year’s International Women’s Day is like no other. As countries and communities start to slowly recover from a devastating pandemic, we have the chance to finally end the exclusion and marginalization of women and girls. But to do that, we need immediate action. Women must have the opportunity to play a full role in shaping the pivotal decisions being made right now as countries respond to and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic – choices that will affect the wellbeing of people and the planet for generations to come.

To do this, we must break down the deep-seated historic, cultural, and socio-economic barriers that prevent women from taking their seat at the decision-making table to make sure that resources and power are more equitably distributed. For instance, across the world, women remain concentrated in the lowest-paid jobs , many in extremely vulnerable forms of employment. Women are nearly twice as likely than men to lose their jobs during the COVID-19 crisis. Indeed, the pandemic will dramatically increase the poverty rate for women and widen the gap between men and women who live in poverty. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is working with countries across the globe to address these inequalities. Our eye-opening new policy brief explores how a Temporary Basic Income for women in developing countries could provide part of the solution. UNDP argues that a worthwhile monthly investment of 0.07 per cent of developing countries’ GDP could help 613 million working-aged women living in poverty to absorb the shock of the pandemic . It would also contribute to the economic security and independence that is necessary for women to engage more deeply in the decisions that could change their future.

Despite the barriers, women, especially young women, are at the forefront of diverse and inclusive movements for social change -- online and in the streets. That includes their leading role in taking a stand against climate change , fighting for a green economy and pushing for women’s rights. And we know that more inclusive leadership and representation leads to stronger democracies, better governance, and more peaceful societies. Look, for instance, to research by UN Women, which demonstrates that involving women in peace processes is likely to make peace agreements last much longer. However, we aren’t moving fast enough. At the current rate of progress, gender equality among Heads of Government, for example, will take another 130 years . To disrupt the status quo , UNDP is working to amplify women’s voices and promote their participation and leadership in public institutions, parliaments, the judiciary, and the private sector. With our support, some 180 different measures -- from electoral quotas to gender-smart business policies -- were put in place by countries across the globe in 2019. And the COVID-19 Global Gender Response Tracker by UNDP and UN Women is helping Governments to identify and address gaps in their response to the pandemic -- from ways to address gender-based violence to how to redistribute unpaid care work.

To build forward better from the COVID-19 crisis, and to get the Global Goals firmly back on track, we cannot simply return to the world we had before. We must do things differently. That means shattering the barriers that hold women and girls back. This year’s International Women’s Day is a rallying cry for Generation Equality . It is time to finally fully harness the power of women’s leadership to realise a more equal, more inclusive and more sustainable future.

• Achim Steiner, Administrator, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

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International Women's Day Speech In English For All Kinds of Students

International women's day speech: international women's day (march 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. read this article to find some creative samples of short and long for the special occasion..

International Women’s Day 2023: Every year on March 8, the world observes International Women's Day (IWD), a day set aside to raise awareness of issues pertaining to women's rights, including gender equality, the right to an abortion, and violence and abuse against women.

"Empowering women is not just a goal, it's a necessity." Let's celebrate the achievements of women and work towards creating a world where every woman can thrive . . . #NariShakti #InternationalWomensDay2023 #AmritMahotsav pic.twitter.com/O3xVIb8vXY — Ministry of WCD (@MinistryWCD) March 7, 2023

All kinds of public and private organizations enthusiastically observe International Women's Day. Several competitions, including ones for speeches, singing, and dancing, are scheduled for the celebration. Check out the list of women's day speech topics below if you're still looking for ideas. Also, check out some tips on to deliver a memorable speech.

Topics/Ideas for Speech on International Women’s Day 2023

• History of International Women’s Day
• International Women’s Day: All About Its Modern-Day Celebrations
• International Women’s Day and its Significance
• International Women’s Day and its Prominence in World History
• International Women’s Day and its Theme
• Why do we celebrate International Women’s Day?
• Importance of International Women’s Day for Gender Equality
• International Women’s Day and its Socio-Economic Importance

How to Write an Impressive Speech for International Women’s Day 2023?

• Before giving a speech on International Women’s Day 2023, the students should take some time to relax and think about the points they can make that will be interesting to everyone in the audience.
• Intersperse the main points of your International Women’s Day speech with some inspirational quotes. In addition to expressing their gratitude for being given the opportunity to speak at the event, the students should start their speeches by extending greetings to any dignitaries, teachers, and other students who are present.
• The speech's length must be suitable and should not tyre the audience. It must also be pertinent, brief, unambiguous, and free of filler.
• The speech should be revised as needed in the final moments, and should only be finalized after a careful reading. Last but not least, before giving a speech, practice a lot and project confidence.

International Women’s Day Short Speech in English

“A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult.”- Melinda Gates

Professors, Chief Guest, and my cherished friends. Everyone is cordially welcomed. I feel privileged to offer a concise but motivational speech on this historic occasion about women's day. On March 8, people around the world celebrate International Women's Day to honour women's achievements in a variety of fields. Women are just as productive as men in almost every area of life today.

The goal of International Women's Day is to promote the idea that people of all genders ought to be treated equally. The day's goals were to highlight the many facets of a woman's existence in a male-dominated environment in order to shift people's perceptions globally and have a positive impact on the entire world.

Women's jobs were previously limited to housework only. Everyone, including some women, was taught that women's roles are restricted to domestic responsibilities. This idea discouraged women from considering or going to work.

The stereotypes about what women can and cannot do regularly target them, which is why we need a women's day. Data indicate that women continue to face discrimination from others and have less access to education than men. Men are still permitted to make important choices that have an impact on women, such as abortion, and pay is still based on a person's gender. Furthermore, there are still significant influences that are disregarded. Therefore, we need a day to start discussions and create open agendas that demand attention from all over the world.

In four out of every five cases, harassment is directed at women. They are particularly susceptible to domestic abuse and sexual assault when they are young. Every day, over 30,000 girls are forced into child marriages, and other kids are the victims of illegal trafficking and female genocidal acts.

Greetings to Everyone here! International Women’s Day is celebrated on the 8th of March every year. It’s a day for celebrating women who work hard every day to achieve personal and professional goals.

The goal of gender equality is being approached globally. It's progressing in the direction of gender equality. As Change is both necessary and crucial for a country's development. Men have historically enjoyed greater privileges in all areas of society. And we must all receive equal rights and opportunities because we are all members of the human race, so that must change.

Women are no longer reliant on men to meet their financial needs. She can take care of herself because she is strong and independent. Women all over the world now have the freedom that enables them to be financially independent thanks to this change. They have self-confidence and don't hesitate to push all the limits necessary to complete their tasks.

International women’s Day gives a chance to appreciate all small and big decisions. It’s a day to acknowledge the value and importance of women in all spheres of life. 

Thank You and have a very Happy International Women’s Day.

International Women’s Day 2023: Women Who were the ‘Firsts’ in their Field in 2022

Every year, the adage "women run the world" is proven to be more true. Women all over the world are making significant contributions that are changing the world. They are working very hard and breaking every glass ceiling in the world, but still, they suffer the most.

Women today hold the highest positions in every industry and carry the most incredible responsibilities in human history. Males are increasingly coming forward to support women's empowerment initiatives, just as women did in the 1800s.

Without a doubt, modern women have a better quality of life than women in the past. However, issues still need to be resolved. Women still work twice as hard as men do while making less money, despite their efforts. To accomplish their sincere objectives, they put up with cruel torture and intimidation.

On this International Women's Day, let's celebrate all the incredible women in our lives, whether they are your mother, wife, or daughter. Let's show our admiration for their accomplishments and dedication to creating a world where women are free from all injustices.

Long Speech on International Women’s Day 2023

Greetings to my teachers and close friends in the most sincere way possible. I'm overjoyed to give a brief but inspirational speech on women's day. International Women's Day is celebrated on March 8th to recognize the accomplishments of women in a variety of fields. In almost every area of life today, women are just as productive as men.

We cannot argue against the zeal and expertise with which they approach everything they do, whether at home or at work. They build not only a community but also themselves. However, history has frequently failed to accurately depict how a woman can be. There must be more than one day designated to celebrate women. Every day should be observed as a day to honour the divinity of women.

Additionally, this day has a brief 109-year history. 15,000 women who protested in New York City in 1909 against issues like low wages, equal opportunities, and no voting rights were recognized by a political party in America.

It was first celebrated on March 8th and was formerly known as National Women's Day. As word of this spread, people all over the world held yearly celebrations. International Women's Day was first recognized by the UN in 1975, and from 1996 on, Women's Day became a theme to honour women in the community.

The goal of International Women's Day is to spread the message that all genders should be treated equally. The day's objectives were to change people's perspectives globally and have a positive impact on the world by highlighting the diverse aspects of a woman's life in a male-dominated environment.

The need for a women's day stems from the fact that stereotypes about what women can and cannot do frequently target them. Data show that women still have less access to education than men, and they still experience discrimination from others.

International Women's Day 2023: 10 Powerful and Greatest Women in Indian History

Every fifth woman experiences harassment. As children, they are incredibly vulnerable to domestic violence and sexual assault. Over 30,000 girls are forced into child marriages every day, and other girls experience female genocides and illegal trafficking.

Unquestionably, modern women live in a better world than women in the past. But there are still problems that need to be fixed. Despite all of their efforts, women still put in twice as much work as men do while earning less money. They put up with horrific torture and intimidation in order to achieve their true goals.

The most extraordinary responsibilities in history are now being carried out by women, who now hold the top positions in every industry. Just as women did in the 1800s, men are now stepping up to support women's empowerment initiatives.

Greetings to everyone! As we are all aware, International Women's Day is an occasion to honour the contributions that women have made to society as well as their accomplishments.

Every year on March 8th, people all over the world celebrate International Women's Day, a day devoted to honouring women's accomplishments in a variety of social, political, and cultural fields.

You must be wondering why March 8th is designated as Women's Day. There is, however, a brief 109-year history surrounding it. A political party in America commemorated 15,000 women who demonstrated in New York City in 1909 against issues like low pay, equal opportunities, and no voting rights. Initially observed on March 8th, it was originally known as National Women's Day. As word of this spread, annual celebrations were held all over the world. The United Nations first recognised International Women's Day in 1975, and starting in 1996, it became a theme to honour women in society.

What is the significance of Women's Day now that we are aware of when and who created it? is the logical follow-up question. The primary goal of Women's Day is to honour the contributions made by women in a variety of professions, including those of artist, educator, administrator, politician, and scientist. Awareness-building for women's rights and gender parity is also crucial. We can all agree that no nation has achieved gender equality, but there are still a few places where it is not even a concept. Women do not have equal opportunities everywhere. In some nations, they are not allowed to criticise their treatment or way of life. Girl child abuse is widespread in places where gender-based crimes, such as child marriages, are committed, and all of this discrimination a woman encounters is based on one chromosome.

Therefore, it is crucial to have a Day that reaches out and aids in resolving all forms of discrimination that women face. We all recognise the value of women. They can take on the roles of a loving mother, a daughter, etc. It's crucial to express your love and care for the women in your life on International Women's Day. 

I'd like to end my speech by stating that International Women's Day is devoted to honouring the contributions made by women in the social, cultural, and political spheres. The Day founded by Women aids in bringing awareness to the marginalised status of women's rights and gender parity in some parts of the world. Everyone should recognise the value and significance of women in our lives and throughout the world on this day, which ought to be observed annually. Many thanks.

Team Jagranjosh also extends its congratulations and appreciation to all women on International Women's Day for contributing to the splendor of our world.

Get here current GK and GK quiz questions in English and Hindi for India , World, Sports and Competitive exam preparation. Download the Jagran Josh Current Affairs App .

• How do you start a Women's Day Speech? + Always start your speech with Greetings and do not forget to extend gratitude towards all the females in your Life.
• What is the Importance of Women's Day? + The global event known as International Women's Day honours the social, economic, cultural, and political accomplishments of women. The day serves as a reminder to speed up gender parity.
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UNIS/SGSM/1384 4 March 2024

The Secretary-General

Message for the international women’s day, 8 march 2024.

On International Women’s Day, we celebrate women and girls around the world, and we applaud all they have achieved in the fight for equality.

Women and girls have made great gains – demolishing barriers, dismantling stereotypes and driving progress towards a more just and equal world.

Yet they face immense obstacles.  Billions of women and girls face marginalization, injustice and discrimination, while the persistent epidemic of violence against women disgraces humanity. 

Our world still reflects millennia of male-dominated power relations.

And progress is under attack, with a fierce backlash against women’s rights.

At our current rate, legal equality is some three hundred years away. 

We must move much faster.

On International Women’s Day, we stand with women and girls fighting for their rights, and we commit to accelerating progress. 

This year’s theme – invest in women – reminds us that ending the patriarchy requires money on the table.

We must support women’s organisations on the front line.

And we must invest in programmes to end violence against women, and to drive women’s inclusion and leadership in economies, digital technologies, peacebuilding and climate action.

This all depends on unlocking finance for sustainable development so that countries have funds available to invest in women and girls. 

We also need to increase the number of women leaders in business, finance, central banks and finance ministries. This can help drive investments in policies and programmes that respond to women and girls’ needs.

Women’s rights are a proven path to fair, peaceful, prosperous societies. It is good for us all.

Together, let’s take urgent action to make it a reality.

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INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY MARCH 8, 2024

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Collective action and shared ownership for driving gender parity is what makes International Women's Day impactful. Gloria Steinem, world-renowned feminist, journalist and activist once explained "The story of women's struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights." So make International Women's Day your day and do what you can to truly make a positive difference for women.

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International Women's Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women's equality.

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UN Secretary-General's message for International Women's Day 2021

Date: Monday, 8 March 2021

Today we celebrate the women of the world who are leading their countries and communities through the urgent crises caused by COVID-19.

Over the past year, countries with women leaders are among those that have suffered fewer deaths and put themselves on track for recovery. Women’s organizations have filled crucial gaps in the provision of services and information on the pandemic, especially at the local level.

Women peacebuilders have played a vital role in public health messaging in low trust and conflict-affected communities.

Seventy per cent of frontline health and care workers are women -- many from racially and ethnically marginalized groups and at the bottom of the economic ladder.

Yet even as women have played critical roles during the pandemic, we have seen a roll-back in hard-won advances in women’s rights. This regression harms women and girls above all – but it also harms everyone and all our work for peace and prosperity.

In this Decade of Action to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals, we must turn things around. As we look to this year’s Generation Equality Forums in Mexico City and Paris, we have many challenges to overcome.

Too often, services are delivered by women, but decisions are made by men.

Just 22 countries have a woman as Head of State or Government; just 21 per cent of Ministers are women, and women parliamentarians make up less than 25 per cent of national legislators.

Women have an equal right to speak with authority on the decisions that affect their lives. This is how we will ensure that decisions are inclusive and reflect the needs of the entire population. This is how we will rebuild from a pandemic that has made gender inequality worse, that has pushed more women into poverty, out of jobs and away from access to educational and medical services, including for sexual and reproductive health. This is how we will solve the urgent challenges of our time, from the pandemic to climate change, to deepening inequalities, conflict and democratic backsliding.

Gender equality is essentially a question of power. But equal power will not happen by itself. This is still a male-dominated world with a male-dominated culture. We need to work together with vision and determination to make equality happen.

I am proud that we have achieved gender parity in UN leadership posts for the first time in history.

We must transform social norms.

We must put in place laws and policies to support women in leadership, including special measures and quotas with ambitious targets, and do far more to appoint women to high-level positions.

We must tackle violence against women both online and offline so that women’s voices are no longer silenced, especially in public life.

We must increase access to financing for women candidates, women’s organizations and feminist movements.

And we must support women leaders in all their diversity and abilities – including young women, migrant women, indigenous women, women with disabilities, women of colour and LGBTIQ+.

The Covid-19 has been a calamity for the world, and for women and girls. But it has also forced a reckoning with global inequalities, fragilities and entrenched gender discrimination. Women must be at the centre of the recovery as we make the course corrections that the pandemic has highlighted so vividly. This is a job for all of us.

I look forward to working with all of you to advance women’s leadership, to achieve women’s rights and to build a future based on equality and dignity for all.

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Celebrating International Women’s Day at Sierra Space

• March 8, 2023
• |   Blog

March 8 marks International Women’s Day , a worldwide observance that recognizes the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.

In recognition of International Women’s Day – as well as Women’s History Month – we wanted to highlight a few of our female Sierra Space team members who are propelling us toward our mission of creating a platform in space to benefit life on Earth.

Liz Antognoli , CRS2 Mission Integration Manager (Senior Program Manager)

What does Women’s History Month mean to you? To me, Women’s History Month is a reminder that there is a plethora of phenomenal women that have come before me and have paved the way for me. It also reminds me that our country has a past that denied basic rights and opportunities to people solely based on their gender. This month re-ignites my fire to be an advocate for others where I have a voice.

Who inspires you? One of my first heroes was Sally Ride, the first American woman in space. I was 8 years old when she launched and it made an impression on me. I’m also inspired by my paternal grandmother – she was born in 1912, got a college degree and worked as a landscape architect in Chicago. Although I didn’t realize it at the time, thinking back to some of our conversations, she had to be someone who stood up for herself and her abilities during a time when that was against the grain. She lived to 104!

Now, I am particularly inspired by people who will speak the truth when it needs to be spoken and do the work day in and day out to bring integrity to the world – whether it is the engineer who will raise a concern no one else will or Greta Thunberg challenging world leaders.

What recommendations do you have for others to celebrate Women’s History Month? It’s a great time to find out more about the women who paved the paths that we walk – from those who helped gain the right to vote to those women you follow more closely behind on your career path. Have a conversation with others about how you’d like to help continue writing women’s history.

Marissa Pinnola , Engineering Manager for Propulsion and Environmental Systems

What does Women’s History Month mean to you? Women’s history month is important for me to recognize and pay homage to women who have paved the way for me to succeed in my life and career thus far. I hope we can continue to evolve so there is no glass ceiling for women to break.

Why are diversity, equity and inclusion important? It’s important to recognize how different problems arise for different groups of people. Having diverse representation during decision making reduces the risk of unknown problems down the line and ensures that our society works for all of its members.

What advice would you give to your younger self? When you know the answer speak up and be confident in your skills, no matter who you are talking to.

Andira Ramos , Systems Engineer III

What does Women’s History Month mean to you? Women’s History Month is a time of reflection and inspiration. It reminds me how fortunate I am to be doing what I am doing and gives me drive to help others reach their goals too.

What was your journey like to Sierra Space? Before coming to Sierra Space, I was working on my PhD in Physics at the University of Michigan. My dissertation work involved laser cooling atoms and performing precision spectroscopy with them. Think lots of hands-on work with lasers, optics, electronics and a large vacuum chamber.

What recommendations do you have for others to celebrate Women’s History Month? I think a great way to celebrate is to help feel women empowered and respected in the workplace. This can take many forms, but it can start with simple actions like not talking over your female coworkers during meetings.

Later this month, we are proud to launch our Women’s Affinity Group at Sierra Space, chaired by Marissa Pinnola. The Women’s Group is designed to connect women and other gender minorities and enhance their experience at Sierra Space by providing a forum for professional and personal growth.

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Netanyahu defends Gaza offensive at Holocaust ceremony amid international pressure

Israeli Prime Minister Binjamin Netanyahu on Sunday rejected international pressure to halt the war in Gaza in a fiery speech marking the country’s annual Holocaust memorial day, declaring: “If Israel is forced to stand alone, Israel will stand alone.”

Issued on: 06/05/2024 - 06:04

The message, delivered in a setting that typically avoids politics, was aimed at the growing chorus of world leaders who have criticised the heavy toll caused by Israel’s military offensive against Hamas militants and have urged the sides to agree to a cease-fire.

Netanyahu has said he is open to a deal that would pause nearly seven months of fighting and bring home hostages held by Hamas .

But he also says he remains committed to an invasion of the southern Gaza city of Rafah, despite widespread international opposition because of the more than 1 million civilians huddled there.

“I say to the leaders of the world: No amount of pressure, no decision by any international forum will stop Israel from defending itself,” he said, speaking in English. “Never again is now.”

Yom Hashoah, the day Israel observes as a memorial for the 6 million Jews killed by Nazi Germany and its allies in the Holocaust, is one of the most solemn dates on the country’s calendar. Speeches at the ceremony generally avoid politics, though Netanyahu in recent years has used the occasion to lash out at Israel's archenemy Iran .

The ceremony ushered in Israel’s first Holocaust remembrance day since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack that sparked the war, imbuing the already somber day with additional meaning.

Hamas militants killed some 1,200 people in the attack, making it the deadliest violence against Jews since the Holocaust.

Israel responded with an air and ground offensive in Gaza, where the death toll has soared to more than 34,500 people, according to local health officials, and about 80% of Gaza’s 2.3 million people are displaced.

The death and destruction has prompted South Africa to file a genocide case against Israel in the UN’s world court. Israel strongly rejects the charges.

On Sunday, Netanyahu attacked those accusing Israel of carrying out a genocide against the Palestinians, claiming that Israel was doing everything possible to ensure the entry of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

The 24-hour memorial period began after sundown on Sunday with a ceremony at Yad Vashem, Israel’s national Holocaust memorial, in Jerusalem .

There are approximately 245,000 living Holocaust survivors around the world, according to the Claims Conference, an organisation that negotiates for material compensation for Holocaust survivors. Approximately half of the survivors live in Israel.

On Sunday, Tel Aviv University and the Anti-Defamation League released an annual Antisemitism Worldwide Report for 2023, which found a sharp increase in antisemitic attacks globally.

It said the number of antisemitic incidents in the United States doubled, from 3,697 in 2022 to 7,523 in 2023.

While most of these incidents occurred after the war erupted in October, the number of antisemitic incidents, which include vandalism, harassment, assault, and bomb threats, from January to September was already significantly higher than the previous year.

The report found an average of three bomb threats per day at synagogues and Jewish institutions in the US, more than 10 times the number in 2022.

Other countries tracked similar rises in antisemitic incidents. In France, the number nearly quadrupled, from 436 in 2022 to 1,676 in 2023, while it more than doubled in the United Kingdom and Canada.

“In the aftermath of the October 7 war crimes committed by Hamas, the world has seen the worst wave of antisemitic incidents since the end of the Second World War,” the report stated.

Netanyahu also compared the recent wave of protests on American campuses to German universities in the 1930s, in the runup to the Holocaust.

He condemned the “explosion of a volcano of antisemitism spitting out boiling lava of lies against us around the world.”

Nearly 2,500 students have been arrested in a wave of protests at US college campuses, while there have been smaller protests in other countries, including France. Protesters reject antisemitism accusations and say they are criticizing Israel.

Campuses and the federal government are struggling to define exactly where political speech crosses into antisemitism.

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