International Women’s Day 2018: Press for Progress

On March 8th every year the world commemorates the International Women’s Day. The day was initiated in response to struggles that women began all over the world to get their roles recognized in their societies and nations; in 1975 the United Nations officiated March 8 to be International Women’s Day.

Increasingly, International Women’s Day has been a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change, and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women, men, and those who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.

It is a day when women are recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political. International Women's Day first emerged from the activities of labour movements at the turn of the twentieth century in North America and across Europe. The day aims at celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women together with accelerating gender parity.

To mark the day in Tanzania, Legal and Human Rights Centre has organized various activities including conducting mobile legal aid to women in selected wards which includes Kaloleni, Elerai, Themi, Sakina and Olemoti in Arusha and in Somangila and Kibada ward of Kigamboni district in Dar es Salaam.

Similarly the Centre has organized a reflection gala that will bring together women from various sectors in the country to assess their strategies and discuss their role in promoting women’s rights and achieve gender equality in Tanzania.

Legal and Human Rights Centre joins the world to honor the role that women play in fostering social, economic and political developments. LHRC also calls for the general public to embrace gender equality for sustainable development.

The global theme for this year is “Press for Progress” and the national theme is “Towards Industrialized Tanzania: Accelerate Gender Parity and Empowerment of Rural Women”.