CAMEROON WOMEN ON MARCH 8, 2025 JOINED GLOBAL COMMUNITY TO CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

Cameroon women on March 8, 2025 came out in their numbers to celebrate International Women's Day. The international Women's Day is a global day celebrating achievements of women in economic, social, political and cultural sphere. The 2025 edition of the day was commemorated under the theme "For All Women and Girls; Rights, Equality, Empowerment, a theme that calls for the action that unlock equal rights, power and opportunities for all, and a feminist future where no one is left behind the scene.

° As a matter of fact this annual event is recognized as an official holiday in over 20 countries including Afghanistan, Cambodia, Germany, Russia and Ukraine. While many understand the importance of honoring the Women in our lives, some ':may be unaware of how the movement started. Permit me put some light in the Origin of international Women's Day.


°Brief History of International Women's Day**
International Women's Day originated from the labor movements before the 20th century. It is alleged that the first organized demonstration in the U.S. was on March 8, 1857. Women textile workers marched in New York City, and called for fair working conditions and equal rights. And similar protest happened in 1908 by women of needle trade due to poor working conditions and demanded for right to vote. Thus March 8 was officially recognized as National Women's Day in 1910, according to the U.S. census. By 1911, the movement had stretched globally with rallies in Austria, Denmark, Germany and and Switzerland. And in 1975, the United Nations dedicated a year to recognizing gender discrimination around the world, calling it international Women's Year. They used that year to commemorate it as an international holiday, and two years later, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming March 8 as International Women's Day.
° Now over a century later, International Women's Day has been an opportunity for people across the world to advocate for women's right. However women still face many issues particularly at workplace. Thus the women's Day serves as a reminder and a push towards equality.
° It should be noted therefore, that Women's Day has been around for a hundred years as have many of the issues still impacting Women's advancement. Thus the 2025/ Day celebration in Cameroon like elsewhere in the world was celebrated with a call for Women's equality, while also celebrating their achievements. Awareness for discrimination and a call for action to forge gender parity.

°Cameroon Women in the ten regional headquarters called for Collective efforts all as a driving force for gender disparity
Collective action and shared ownership for driving gender parity is what makes the International Women's Day impactful. It is no doubt that the struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.

° In the Cameroon administrative headquarters, the Women's Day celebration was presided over by Cameroon's First Lady Chantal Biya who joined the Women folk to celebrate the Women's Day with her women peers. In her International Women's Day fabric she could be spotted cheerfully weaving with smiles as the women marched past all in the Women's fabric and displaying messages calling for equality, human rights, unity, peace, national integration and living together.

° Women from the North west region could be seen in the Women Day fabric weaved with the mixture of the North west traditional cloth that demonstrated a sense of uniqueness and identity. They left lasting impact on the public at the grandstand which made all eyes focused on their colourful outfits graced by their beautiful march past.
Infact, international Women's Day was well celebrated in Cameroon as registered in the regional and national manifestations!
Images: source CNA, getty