News item | 08-03-2023 | 12:38
Today we celebrate International Women’s Day. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is committed to the political participation of women, the economic empowerment of women, the fight against violence against women and the implementation of the UNSC resolution on Women, Peace and Security. And that is necessary. Read how International Women’s Day is celebrated worldwide and how our posts are doing that.
Argentina
Every year on March 8, there are several demonstrations throughout the country, gathering tens of thousands of people. The largest protest march always takes place in Buenos Aires, with the National Congress as the epicenter. Feminist groups, political parties, social organizations, educational institutions, trade unions, the arts and culture world and women of all ages are coming together to demand greater equality and to reject sexist violence. On March 8, women throughout the country will also lay down their work as much as possible to make visible the many invisible work that women perform.
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Argentina has a strong feminist movement. Within the general struggle for women’s rights, there are also groups that stand up for specific issues. For example, there is a group ‘Ni Una Menos’ (Not One Less) that is committed to countering femicide – the killing of a woman because she is a woman. For a long time there was also a large movement of all kinds of different organizations that are committed to the right to abortion. With result; the abortion law finally came into effect in December 2020.
Despite the attention given to women’s rights in policy development and the ambitious legislative framework, there are still many problems, such as intimate partner violence and femicide, over-representation of women in the poorest layers of the population and a pay gap.
This year, various activities will be organized by the Dutch embassy to talk to countries about women’s rights and gender equality. Ambassadors from different countries that have a feminist foreign country or are currently developing one will talk to each other. Women leaders in the agricultural, logistics and water sectors also meet to discuss issues.
Ukraine
Before the war in Ukraine, all kinds of activities and events took place on International Women’s Day. Conferences, presentations and public meetings were held to promote gender equality, equal opportunities, women’s rights and other related issues. Many people buy flowers, sweets and other gifts on International Women’s Day in Ukraine for colleagues, girlfriends, partners or relatives or other important women in their lives.
In 2020, our colleagues from the embassy and the ambassador took part in the annual Women’s March, which then focused on the ratification and implementation of the Istanbul Convention. In June 2022, the convention was ratified by President Zelensky. Incidentally, the founder of the Women’s March and also winner of the postal Human Rights Tulip 2022, Olena Shevchenko, was recently named one of the “Women of the Year 2023” by TIME.
This year, some women will be invited to the residence for an informal meeting. These women come from the agricultural sector, civil society, the business community and the government sector. Together we look back at what the past war year has meant for the position of women: has the role of women changed? How has the role of the man changed? Do we see that the position of women in, for example, the army, the government, the economy and also in the family has changed? This year, March 8 is again not a day to celebrate, but it is a day to reflect on the impact of the war on women and also on how to continue to promote women’s rights, even during war and (soon) reconstruction.
Italy
Prime Minister Rutte is visiting Italy today and will present Prime Minister Meloni with a bunch of mimosas. During the presentation, Prime Minister Rutte will reflect on the importance of female leadership and the development of women.
On March 8, women in Italy traditionally receive bunches of small yellow mimosas. Shortly after World War II, the mimosa was chosen as the symbol for International Women’s Day. At the time, the Unione Donne Italiane (Union of Italian Women), a feminist organization, was looking for a flower to use for this occasion. The mimosa was chosen because it was one of the few flowers that usually blooms in March; moreover, it was easy to find and relatively inexpensive.
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Although the mimosa tradition originated as a feminist and left-wing symbol, over time it has lost its political significance and has become a universal practice. It is customary for women to hand out mimosas to each other as a sign of female solidarity. But also that men hand out mimosa branches to women to show respect and appreciation for the role of women in society. Being a food-centric country, you’ll also find pies and pastas made with vibrant yellow colors to resemble the flour.
Italy has seen great improvements in gender equality in recent decades, but still has a long way to go. According to ISTAT, the Italian statistical office, the female employment rate will be 51.3% in 2022 (compared to 69.6% for men). However, International Women’s Day 2023 will be the first time in history that both Prime Minister Meloni and Opposition Leader Schlein will be women.
Lithuania
March 8, International Women’s Day, is not immediately designated as a holiday in all countries of the world. Lithuania was occupied by USSR from 1944 to 1990/91. During this time, in addition to kolkhozes (collective farms) and cooperatives, commemorative and public holidays such as March 8 were also introduced. The day thus remains inevitably linked to this tragic period of occupation in Lithuanian history.
Since regaining independence, Lithuania has taken many steps. The country already had a female president, and currently the prime minister and the speaker of parliament are women. There are also more women in leadership roles in business, universities and the media. Yet there is still a world to be won, for example with regard to equal pay.
March 8 is not an official holiday in Lithuania, but that does not mean that it is not paid attention to. By media, NGOs, but also the government. Furthermore, many men still buy flowers for their wives that day. And it is a day that offers the opportunity to stir and have the necessary discussions. At work, in family, school, universities and groups of friends. In summary, you could say that International Women’s Day proves useful every year.
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Since 2017, the Netherlands has been participating with 270 military personnel in the Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) in Lithuania. International Women’s Day offers us a great opportunity to celebrate and validate the valuable female expertise within the military. In 2022, the embassy organized a meeting with all female eFP soldiers to discuss the challenges that women face specifically because they are women in the military and on deployment.
This year, a post will be posted on embassy social media with a photo of all female military personnel in the current Dutch share of eFP in Lithuania.
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Armenia
March 8 is a special day for the people of Armenia as it is celebrated as International Women’s Day. It is a day when women and girls are appreciated and men and boys give women and girls flowers and other gifts. It is a beautiful gesture that reflects the love and appreciation of the Armenian people for the women in their lives.
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Various cultural events, including concerts and exhibitions, also take place on this day. This day reminds us of the important role women play in our lives and is a celebration of their strength, resilience and beauty.
Iran
On the International Women’s Day of March 8, 1979, a women’s march took place in Tehran in Iran. The march was originally set to celebrate International Women’s Day, but turned into mass protests against the changes in women’s rights during the Iranian revolution, especially the introduction of the mandatory hijab (veil), which had been announced the day before. The protests lasted six days, from March 8 to 14, 1979, and thousands of women took part.
In Iran, attention is paid to women’s rights, including women’s participation and labor participation. This year, women’s rights are in a different light after what has happened in recent months. After the death of 22-year-old student Mahsa Amini on September 16, 2022, thousands of Iranians took to the streets. Men and women demonstrate for more freedom and equal rights and also to address the oppression faced by the women of Iran. As a result, everything in Iran is now under a magnifying glass and the opportunities for the international community to reflect on International Women’s Day are limited. To draw attention to and improve women’s rights in Iran, a number of EU embassies, including the Netherlands, have jointly video made and they share that video via social media.
On the eve of International Women’s Day, the European Union sanctions package for sexual violence and large-scale violations of women’s rights was adopted. This means that persons and organizations guilty of sexual violence and violating women’s rights will be held accountable and put on a sanctions list. The sanctions package also focuses on Iran by sanctioning the women’s prison in Qarchak. The sanctions package is a new way to raise awareness of sexual violence and to send a global signal that such actions are unacceptable.