International Women’s Day, observed globally on March 8, serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for gender equality and improved working conditions for women. As the day approaches, political leaders and advocacy groups are highlighting persistent inequalities.
Alain Berset, the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, advocated for improved cooperation among EU member states to ensure the safety and full democratic participation of women. “The standards set forth in the Istanbul Convention are only effective if member states commit to their principles, implementation, and enforcement,” Berset stated Saturday in Strasbourg. Globally, a woman is killed by someone she knows every ten minutes, and one in three women in Europe experiences partner violence.
Criticism of “Lifestyle Part-Time Work”
The German Social Association VDK focused on the current debate surrounding restrictions on the right to part-time work. President Verena Bentele criticized the accusation of “lifestyle part-time work” as unrealistic and disrespectful. She explained that women are often compelled into part-time employment due to unpaid care work, not by choice, but due to the fact that alternatives are lacking. “These part-time careers not only reduce income but also more frequently lead to poverty in old age,” Bentele said. The unpaid care work performed by women must finally be recognized by society and given greater consideration by policymakers.
The Catholic German Women’s Association had already turned its attention to women’s health on Friday. They argued that women’s health needs to be more central to politics, research, and medical care. Despite progress, significant knowledge gaps remain in medicine, as research and treatment have historically been focused on the average male body.
The Origins of International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day originated in the women’s and workers’ movements. In 1908, women in the United States protested for better working conditions and the right to vote. An international women’s day was proposed at a conference in Copenhagen in 1910. It was first celebrated in several European countries in 1911. The date, March 8, commemorates a women’s strike in Russia in 1917.
(kna – cs)
