International Women's Day (IWD), annually on 8 March, is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. In some places like China, Russia, Vietnam and Bulgaria, IWD is a national holiday. The first IWD was run in 1911. Next year is IWD Global Centenary 1911-2011 ... more

The first International Women's Day

The first IWD was in 1911. It followed unanimous agreement at an International Conference of Working Women the previous year.
Clara Zetkin proposed that every year in every country there should
be one same day when women's solidarity presses for equality ... more

What's your story?

Through technology many women are connecting up and sharing their views, opinions and stories. Share your perspectives. Watch and listen to others' opinions. This is what some women are saying about International Women's Day and the activities they're involved in ... more

See International Women's Day in pictures

International Women's Day may be a day of global celebration but there is no room for complacency as women continue to face inequity on many fronts. Let us see how IWD looks around the globe. Share your IWD pictures, tell your stories ... more

Latest news ...

Age of mother affects child's autism risk: study
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:35:37 -0500
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Being an older mother significantly increases the risk of having a child with autism, but being an older father only increases the risk when the mother is under the age of 30, U.S. researchers said on Monday.

Study shows why it is so scary to lose money
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:38:35 -0500
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - People are afraid to lose money and an unusual study released on Monday explains why -- the brain's fear center controls the response to a gamble.

Bewley's of Dublin: tea, coffee and culture
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:38:45 -0500
DUBLIN (Reuters Life!) - At Bewley's in Dublin, the curtain doesn't so much rise on the performance as close on it, shutting out the shoppers down below thronging one of the city's best-known streets.

Modern Etiquette: Valentine's Day Survival Guide
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:24:33 -0500
BURLINGTON, Vermont (Reuters Life!) - As Valentine's Day approaches, many people's thoughts turn to flowers and candlelit dinners but not to awkward moments when a date takes a cell phone call at the table or long pauses when the check comes.

Homemade outfits, special deals at Venice carnival
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:23:51 -0500
VENICE, Italy (Reuters Life!) - Using plastic piping from a furniture store, and sandals and garments bought on Ebay, Briton Hayden Nash made her own Roman female warrior costume for this year's Venice carnival.

Dorothy Hamill: off the ice, fitness without frills
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:05:08 -0500
NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - As young athletes converge on Vancouver for the 2010 Winter Olympics, figure skating legend Dorothy Hamill is sharing her secrets for staying fit when there's no rink in sight.

Orange revolutionary and "gas princess" Tymoshenko
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 02:32:09 -0500
KIEV (Reuters) - Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who has refused to concede defeat in a clash for the presidency with opposition leader Viktor Yanukovich, is a former gas magnate whose rhetoric electrified the 2004 "Orange Revolution."

Haiti protesters denounce aid corruption, hoarding
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:23:12 -0500
PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) - Hundreds of Haitian earthquake survivors protested in a suburb of the wrecked capital on Sunday, accusing a district mayor of corruption and hoarding food aid provided by relief groups, witnesses said.

High-profile U.S. case tests Haitian justice system
Sun, 07 Feb 2010 16:50:30 -0500
PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) - Haiti's quake-shattered justice system, grappling with collapsed courts, destroyed records and homeless employees, would be hard-pressed to hold a high-profile trial for 10 Americans charged with kidnapping children, Haitian lawyers and rights advocates said on Sunday.

Mudslides damage, wreck homes in L.A. foothills
Sat, 06 Feb 2010 18:37:25 -0500
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Mudslides touched off by torrential rains poured down onto upscale neighborhoods in the fire-scarred foothills above Los Angeles on Saturday, damaging dozens of homes and destroying some of them.

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Useful global gender facts

Check out our list of really insightful gender statistics and facts like "56% of women who voted supported Obama compared to only 49% of men voted for Obama" and "Women do two-thirds of the world's work but receive only 10% of the world's income" ... more

Reuters AlertNet is a humanitarian news network based around a popular website. International Women's Day breaking news bulletins ... more