International Women's Day

Nearly a century ago, German labor  leader Clara Zetkin had a vision – a unified, global movement to press for  women’s issues. And since the launch of the first International Women’s Day in  1911, the worldwide occasion has grown to this year’s more than 220 events in over  21 countries.

The growth reflects the increasing economic and political  importance of women entrepreneurs, with some estimating women control $14  trillion in assets that could grow to $22 trillion over the next 10 years. Across the world, women-owned firms comprise an  estimated 25 percent to 33 percent of the business population and the number of  women-owned enterprises is growing faster than the economy at large in many  countries.

In the U.S. alone, women entrepreneurs own nearly 10.1 million  firms employing 12.8 million people and generating $1.9 trillion in sales. According  to studies, every minute, five women start a business in this country. Women-owned  firms account for one of the fastest-growing business sectors, growing at two  times the rate of all firms for the past two decades.  These numbers translate into a market  ownership of 41 percent of privately held firms.

While women entrepreneurs around the world continue to face  significant challenges, their growth and importance led the United Nations in  1975 - during International Women's  Year – to formally recognize March 8 as International Women's Day.  This year’s theme for the day is: “Women and men united to  end violence against women and girls.”
 
  In adopting its resolution on the observance of International Women's Day, the  General Assembly cited two reasons: to recognize the fact that securing peace  and social progress and the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental  freedoms require the active participation, equality and development of women;  and to acknowledge the contribution of women to the strengthening of  international peace and security.

Today, International Women's Day is marked as a national holiday  in countries including China, Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria,  Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Ukraine,  Uzbekistan and Vietnam. Events range from small, informal gatherings to  large-scale organized events – all celebrating women's advancements and highlighting  the need for continued vigilance and action.

NAWBO is committed to international entrepreneurship, including  through its affiliation with Les Femmes Chefs d'Enterprises Mondiales (World  Association of Women Entrepreneurs). International  markets are an important opportunity to continue to propel the growth of  women-owned businesses, with 15 percent of NAWBO members surveyed saying they  are extremely or very interested in doing business internationally.

Last year, NAWBO leaders took part in FCEM World  Association of Women Entrepreneurs’ 56th World Congress in Brussels and  NAWBO will be emphasizing the international connection of women business owners  this June at its annual Women’s Business Conference by hosting the Steering  Committee of the FCEM.

Among this year’s more than 50 events in the U.S., CARE, ONE and  NCM Fathom on March 5 are presenting a documentary film “A Powerful Noise” at  sites around the country.  The film tells the stories of three  women in Bosnia, Mali and Vietnam, and their efforts to create change. After  the film, a town hall discussion live from New York City will be simulcast in more  than 400 participating theaters.

In partnership with CARE, NAWBO members across the  country can plan to attend the event with friends and colleagues,  and NAWBO chapters can host their own official International  Women's Day program for 2009. Click here for more information on  hosting an event. View more information.

In Santa Barbara, Calif., Women’s Festivals 2009 will be held  March 8, with organizers including former NAWBO National President Patty  DeDominic. Non-profit co-founding partners for the 2009 California festival  include NAWBO, SCORE, Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara, Girls Inc. of Carpinteria, Future Women CEO’s, Women's Economic  Ventures, GOLD and the Women's Foundation of California. View the program.

The global women's organization Aurora hosts a free  worldwide register of International Women’s Day local events. View the  register.

The growing  international women's movement has been strengthened by four global United  Nations women's conferences, helping make the commemoration a rallying point to  build support for women's rights and participation in the political and  economic arenas.

The empowerment of women  continues to be a central feature of the U.N.’s efforts to address social,  economic and political challenges across the globe. The  U.N. estimates that even for similar kinds of work, women are typically paid 20  percent to 30 percent less than men - and while women contribute to two thirds  of the hours worked in the world, they earn one tenth of the world’s income and  own about 1 percent of the world’s property.

In Africa, for  example, limited education and employment opportunities for women reduce annual  per capita growth by 0.8 percent. Had this growth taken place, Africa’s  economies would have doubled over the past 30 years, according to U.N. data.

Meanwhile, the  Asia-Pacific region is losing $42 billion to $47 billion annually as a result  of restrictions on women’s access to employment opportunities, and another $16  billion to $30 billion per year because of gender gaps in education, according  to the Economic and Social
  Commission for Asia  and the Pacific.

Last month,  Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon encouraged top government officials from around  the world gathered in Guatemala City to push for greater progress on gender  equality, stressing that women’s empowerment is key to realizing other major  international development targets.

“Women’s empowerment is  an important goal in itself,” the secretary-general told the Second Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement on the Advancement  of Women. “But it is also the key to realizing all of the other major international  development targets.”