Independent Student Action-PCU

The National Women’s Month Celebration has its roots in the recognition of International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 8th, a historical event stemming from the organizing efforts of women in the early 20th Century. Between 1909 and 1911, working women in the United States, united under the National Women’s Trade Union League and other groups, protested against low wages, lack of protective legislation, and harsh working conditions.

These demonstrations were a response to the tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in March 1911 in New York City, claiming the lives of over 140 working girls, primarily Italian and Jewish immigrants. The subsequent observances of IWD invoked the appalling working conditions and unfair labor practices leading up to the disaster.

In Europe, Clara Zetkin and the Socialist Women’s International advocated for March 8th to be recognized as International Women’s Day, annually celebrating working women worldwide. This celebration has left an indelible mark on historical events, including inspiring the general strike that initiated the Russian Revolution in St. Petersburg in 1917, where 10,000 women textile workers voiced their concerns.

IWD gained official recognition by the United Nations as a day to celebrate women’s contributions to societies globally. In the Philippines, the National Women’s Month Celebration has become a platform to spotlight women’s accomplishments and address ongoing and emerging issues related to women’s empowerment and gender equality. The focus is on concrete activities aligned with national and international agreements, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the Beijing Platform for Action, the Philippine Plan for Gender-Responsive Development (1995-2025), the Framework Plan for Women, and the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Independent Student Action-PCU joins the whole nation and world in commemorating women and their struggles and contribution in the world society, not only in this Women's Month but in every single day. Let us continue and do more than honoring them, but empowering and protecting them!

Source: James. (2024, March 7). 2024 National Women’s Month Celebration. Philippine Commission on Women. https://pcw.gov.ph/2024-national-womens-month-celebration/