Celebrate International Women's Day by working for women's reproductive rights

International Women's Day (IWD) is a day of global celebration for the economic, political and social achievements of women and an occasion for women around the world to unite in recognition of these achievements.

Commemorating women's struggle for equal rights, IWD rose from the socialist labor movement at the turn of the 20th century. Early demonstrators demanded that women be given the right to vote, the right to hold public office, the right to work and to be free from discrimination in the workplace. Today, IWD is recognized by the United Nations and is celebrated as a national holiday in many countries. It is an occasion to celebrate and to review how far women have come in their struggle for equality, peace and development.

Unfortunately, women continue to struggle for basic human rights. Numerous international agreements and international professional organizations have agreed that reproductive rights are fundamental human rights. But women continue to be denied their rights to reproductive self-determination, including their rights to safe abortion services. And governments continue to institute policies that restrict women's access to reproductive-health services. As a result, women suffer and die every day from unsafe abortions.

Celebrate IWD and the strides women have made to improve their lives. But remember that the struggle continues and your help is needed. Learn more about the global struggle to improve women's lives, and explore ways you can help:

• United Nations Women Watch
• United Nations Development Fund for Women
• Center for Reproductive Rights
• National Abortion Federation
• National Women's History Project
• National Organization for Women
• Feminist Majority Foundation
• PLANetWIRE
• Interagency Gender Working Group (IGWG)

For more information, contact:
Kirsten Sherk
Senior Associate, Media Relations
e-mail: sherkk@ipas.org
phone: 919.960.5612
fax: 919.929.0258