A day for women: What will it achieve?

The United Nations' International Women's Day (IWD) this year focuses on the plight of women in Afghanistan.

One of the main events is the gathering in Kabul of 800 women from all over the country.

According to the United Nations, only about 3% of girls received some form of primary education during the Taleban's rule. Afghanistan still has the second highest maternal mortality rate in the world.

Afghan women have also suffered domestic and other types of violence for the past 25 years, not just under the Taleban.

The worldwide awareness day includes events such as: America's First Lady Laura Bush addressing a conference at the UN in New York; demonstrations against acid attacks in Bangladesh; and Pakistan's President Musharraf vowing to end violence and discrimination against women.

Will the day make any difference to the plight of women? How can their situation be improved? Do you think women have achieved equality?

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

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Your reaction

Those of us from poor countries have a long way to go for women to achieve their basic human rights

Anab Abdulkadir, Ethiopia

International Women's Day is about the injustice 50% of the world's population faces all over the world. It tries to ensure that governments make and enforce policies that can guarantee the rights of women. Those of us from poor countries have a long way to go for women to achieve their basic human rights. Our fight now is not for equality but against poverty, illiteracy and disease.
Anab Abdulkadir, Ethiopia

The West is not so advanced. In today's papers in Italy you see stories from women whose parents think they should not have an education or career but should just get married. Italian men think that their wife is there to do what they want. But today they give their wives mimosa and say 'happy Women's Day'! Why not give them freedom for the other 364 days? This is Italy. Think what is it like for the women of Afghanistan!
Marina Del Vecchio, Italy

I am not against Women's Day. I am just wondering whether there is a Men's Day celebrated by the UN. If not, there is inequality for you.
Akbar Ehsan, USA

This day is an opportunity to bring attention to ignorance and injustice but it is an opportunity also to celebrate the qualities of womanhood. Qualities of strength, persistence, the ability to communicate and the need to come together with each other, as we do whatever the culture, to give each other support and comfort and understanding. I recently read of a study that indicates that it is this capacity for listening to each other with compassion that has us live longer than men.
Bev Clement, Canada

Why are people so obsessed with comparing men and women as if their qualities can be judged on a linear scale?

Mark, Germany

How can women ever achieve equality when they are clearly so different? Why are people so obsessed with comparing men and women as if their qualities can be judged on a linear scale? The truth is that we treat the people around us differently depending on what we feel is important. If what we feel is important is irrational/misjudged then we need to be taught this and correct ourselves. However, often when people treat men and women differently for entirely practical reasons, there is always some do-gooder there to claim sexual discrimination and this is often crippling (especially small) businesses.

If women are being denied certain basic rights (such as equal access to education) then this appears to be a clear case of irrationality and so must be tackled as a high priority.

However, the problem with these "women's day¿s is that so many people use it to further the cause of relatively privileged western women and so shadow the plight of those in more immediate, desperate need. The argument claiming that women are paid X% less than men is, quite frankly, meaningless without a clear context and bores many people. It makes people switch off because we've heard it all before. Lets just hear the important details about discrimination which cripples and lets put it right!
Mark, Germany

As long as there are places where a foetus is aborted simply because it is of one particular sex, equality of genders has not been achieved. This day is very important at least to the third world countries where people are still struggling with basic needs.
Ruchi, USA

Women in the west are far from equal.

Saad Ahmad, UK

Women in the west are far from equal. They are still controlled by men: they dress for men, they eat (or should I say diet) for men, they exercise for men and they beautify themselves for men. Also, the desirable body image for women is also set by men and a woman strives to attain it. I don't call that freedom at all.
Saad Ahmad, UK

I have to disagree with Saad Ahmed's comment that in the West the desirable body shape for a woman is set by men. It is the pencil thin figures of models in glossy fashion magazines that encourage young girls to starve themselves thin - most of the editorial staff of such magazines are women as are the vast majority of readers. Ask any man and he will tell you he prefers a much healthier looking figure. As for Women's Day, I think it's a great idea - so long as it isn't hijacked by commercialism and turned into another 'flowers and chocolates' day.
Mick, UK

Too much sentimentalising over the plight of women has served to take attention away from the plight of men. Life can be very discriminatory and violent towards males. Nine year old boys were conscripted in Afghanistan, to be disposed of via "daisy cutters" and other US ordnance. How do we weigh the moral outrage over that compared to the restrictions on women? "Women's Days" used to inspire me, now they just give me the creeps because they serve to overshadow very real concerns over the welfare and well being of the "other half" of humanity!
Les Farkas, USA

International Women's Day is an event that gained much importance in communist countries last century, where it replaced religious festivals such as Christmas and Easter. A quick look at some of these countries today, for example Russia (featured in the BBC's news story), show that the only significance it now holds is as a public holiday and an excuse for men, who otherwise treat their women particularly poorly the rest of the year, to assuage their guilt by giving the long-suffering women flowers and chocolates. It seems to be a symbolic, rather than practical occasion, although any effort to draw attention to women's plight can only be a good thing.
Kate, UK

While finally Afghani women are receiving some attention after suffering for all these years, stoning, flogging, and the abuse of basic human rights for Iranian women are overlooked. While Kofi Anan was shaking the hand of Khatami, on his recent trip to Iran, a Woman Teacher was beaten to death outside UN building for asking to be paid a fair salary! Who in the world is really caring about woman and human rights as an independent agency?!
Asal, Iran

Every year, nothing changes.

Riyam, USA/Palestine

A society that does not respect its women is a society that will never prosper. Until men realize that women are 50% of the population, until they realize that no civilization can live without women and that women are human beings just like them, then these societies will never prosper or develop. Women are mothers, sisters, daughters. They should be lawyers, doctors and professors. And if their own countries do not provide that, then they can kiss modernization, and development goodbye. This is not an issue that can only be remembered on a day, this is something that needs to be tackled everyday. Unfortunately, politicians seem to think that if they dedicate one day a year to cliché's and empty promises, 50% of the world population may be appeased and quieted down. Every year, politicians promise better lives for women. They promise equality and education, and every year, nothing changes. One day can not accomplish anything...
Riyam, USA/Palestine

Women's Day is observed every year but it does not make any difference to women. This day was observed last year too but we do not see any change in the position of oppressed womanhood. The question of their rights and privileges is related to socio-economic conditions as well as the attitude of men. It is essential that all governments should be pressured to make and enforce laws that guarantee the rights of women and their participation in all walks of life. It makes me extremely depressed that only a very small percentage of girls in the underdeveloped world go to school which shuts the doors of employment upon them and results in their complete dependence on men who maltreat them in the most cruel manner. The ritual of observing Women's Day is stale and does not contribute to the uplifting of women in the least.
Professor Mukhtar Ali Naqvi, USA

Making one day special does not do justice to women who are persecuted for 365 each year

Ed Vista, UK

Admittedly, the status of women around the world varies greatly, and it's only really in the West that we've grown to accept women and men as equals. However, I think the plight of women around the world should be an issue that's important EVERY DAY - making one day special does not do justice to women who are persecuted for 365 each year.
Ed Vista, UK

It is good to highlight positive things and in the case of women, why should it NOT be positive? After all, we are the creators of life, are we not? Today all women in the Western World should give thanks for the comfortable lives we lead and think of our not-so comfortable sisters in places like Afghanistan, fighting to be seen and heard. However, I still do not think that women, per se, have reached absolute equality, especially in the professional sectors. We still have a way to go.
Rose Waisberg, Belgium

I feel so sad that women have achieved so little and that abusive men can still be used by other powerful men to achieve their own ends rather than looking at peoples as a whole including those without a voice, women and children.
What 'victories' for women achieved in the West are surface only and grudgingly made. No real change has occurred at all.
June Le Sueur, London

Both extremes of bias towards either sex are equally dangerous. It's not right for a man to beat up a woman but this does not mean it's right for a woman to beat up a man. However, we haven't reached total equality yet - my maid still thinks it's her duty to be beaten up by a drunk husband. This is what should move us into action; Women's Day is not for the privileged to sit about and celebrate their greatness, but to help the unfortunate receive blessings we see as mere rights.
Rachana, India

I don't think they should hold a day like this in the UK as I believe both sexes are now on a level playing field. How about introducing this to Afghanistan instead where it would be more useful?
Chris Gower, London, UK

Many things have changed but we have a long way to go before women are considered as equals

Janeen, USA

Chris Gower, London, UK: I'm afraid that both sexes are not on a level playing field. Women in the UK (and the USA) still routinely get paid one third less than their male counterparts. Women are still beaten and raped all over the world. Many things have changed, but we have a long way to go before women are fully honoured or are considered as equals.
Janeen, USA

Chris Gower's comment that "both sexes (in the UK) are now on a level playing field" shows that he's obviously not a member of a golf club!
Lynne Fairbridge, England

The moral for those who ill-treat their womenfolk is that their societies will become all male and have to resort to homosexuality - Taleban take note!
Hazel, UK

Is there an International Men's Day at all? It'd be nice to get some equal treatment for men for once.
Paul Charters, England

Dear Paul Charters of England. Every day is a man's day.
unappreciated, UK

I can assure the UN that I am very much aware of 50% of the world's population. Perhaps if the UN tackled specific issues, rather than these vast generalisations, real change rather than political posturing might be achieved.
Georgie, UK

To me International Women's Day is not in any way different from a traditionally ritual or festive day, which is celebrated and forgotten on the same day until the day rotates. I believe women need much more than set days just to hear carefully worded, but rhetorical statements from politicians, which are never followed up with positive actions.
Salihu Bakari, Nigeria

While women from rich nations are spending this occasion celebrating their achievements, women from Afghanistan and Africa are dying from hunger

Abong O Eliud, Kenya

This is the day especially in Africa when women reflect on how much they have been subjected to - untold suffering ranging from civil wars, to rape and child labour. But while women all over the world from rich nations are spending this occasion celebrating their achievements, women not only in Afghanistan but from the majority of countries in Africa are dying from hunger. My appeal to the developed world is simply to help developing nations find solutions. If women in Africa are not taken care of they will be wiped out. Remember that African women are the ones who take the responsibility of caring for the whole family, including the husband. What do men do for women in Africa? Nothing.
Abong O Eliud, Kenya

Women face discrimination all over the world, although it manifests itself in different ways in different places. International Women's Day is important in educating people about the injustices that women face. Ultimately change must come from within and must be instigated by the people. An educated public is our best hope for eradicating discrimination.
Shereen Siddiqui, USA

This will achieve absolutely nothing. Afghanistan has always been and will always be a troublesome nation. The majority of their male population carry machine guns and other weaponry around with them. Can you see it all becoming equal and the women of Afghanistan fighting for their nation and carrying guns? It will never work and things will not change. This is a pointless exercise.
Mark Blackburn, Essex, England

The women of Afghanistan have no rights and never will. There is no point in this as the UN is trying to change a country's culture that goes back thousands of years. Men are the leading sex in Afghanistan and that is how it will remain.
Fraser Howse, Essex, UK

Actually this is a sacred day for the women of Afghanistan. They are now to feel freedom whilst they were not given freedom in the Taleban regime. Their situation gets improved day by day, although most of them haven't been in the framework of education for the past six years. In the new interim government, women are given Ministries and this is a live fact that women have got equality. The women of Afghanistan are very happy with the new interim government. This day will make the interim government succeed.
Khalid Hamza, Kabul, Afghanistan

How would the organisers of this event feel about participating in an International Man's Day. Not so eager I bet. Talk about having your cake and eating it. I appreciate the plight of Afghan women and those of other nations too but I would prefer to help those who are most needy not just those of one particular sex.
Richard, UK

Give men a break and start to mark the fact that it's men which are now the second-class citizens

Tony Vickers, England

Presumably the Women's Day' is to celebrate that in so many ways women expect and get prefential treatment in most areas of life. Healthcare, most aspects of the law, government legislation being just three areas. Come on, give men a break and start to mark the fact that it's men which are now the second-class citizens.
Tony Vickers, England

Good comment Paul! By celebrating women's day, the specific woman admits that they should be treated specially and have a special day for them. This implies that they admit they are inferior! You can have best of both worlds, either you are equal or you are not! Like the saying goes, some are more equal than others!
Jacques, Sweden

I find both Fraser and Mark's comments rather fatalistic in attitude. If we are to go along their lines of thinking are we to do nothing as a global society and just sit back and watch women suffer and die in Afghanistan?! A thousand miles begins with one step.
Paula, UK

Most of the men's comments on this page just seem to enhance the reason why we HAVE a day like this! Women are being abused in many many ways, all over the world (yes! including in the UK!) Yet the men see no need to honour and support these women.
Susannah, England

The implication is that only women suffer in the world. I don't think so.
David Hall, England

We cannot define women's needs based on western concepts of equality and freedom

Dr.A.K.S.Pillai, UK/India

I think every nation on earth is gender biased. But women of a different nationality have different dreams and different needs to fulfil. So the priorities change. We cannot define women's needs based on western concepts of equality and freedom, as this varies with culture. I think women's day is a good concept and it reminds of the work we need to do, to achieve certain goals. But always the difference between man and women will exist as it is a reality, however unfortunate.
Dr.A.K.S.Pillai, UK/India

To Paul Charters: The day that men have to fear walking alone, saying the wrong thing to a drunken, abusive husband, or being burned by acid because they've breached their family's "honour" is the day you will see International Men's Day. Until that time, why don't you use your big manly voice and try to help?
Jennifer Ethington, USA

I agree with Chris. Concentrating on inequality of women is not as relevant to our developed countries today, as it is to developing countries, or it was to developed countries several decades ago. Here in the UK, women now have as as many legal rights as men. Although raising general awareness is a good thing, actions always speak louder than words, and the actions that make a difference to these women have to be taken within the developing countries.

We can all pat ourselves on the back for thinking about their plight, but unless we go over there to pass on knowledge and skills, or help those who do, nothing will ever change. And let's not give with one hand while taking away with the other; don't invest or trade with companies which use these people for cheap labour; buy fairly traded products and ethical investments that help such countries build a stable economy.
Jon, UK

Reply to Chris Gower in London. If women and men truly were on a level playing field then women's day would not be an event. Although things have come a long way in recent years we still have a long way to go.
Becci Coghlan, UK

To say that only western civilisation has grown to accept men and women as equals is misleading. In most western countries women are subject to exploitation of their bodies in forms of advertisements, in films and in pornographic literature. If this is equality, then it is a depressing one indeed.
Yasmin Shah, East London, UK

I disagree with those readers who don't think this conference will have any effect. Just because inequality still exists the world over doesn't mean we should just throw up our hands and say it will never change. My parents attitude about sexual equality made a difference in the lives of their three children, who will in turn effect others.

Even if this conference only changes the life of one woman, think of how important it is to her. Nothing changes overnight, especially social customs. But change does happen when people are persistent. So, to all the pessimists out there, don't lose hope and don't underestimate the effect you can have on another person's life.
Sarah Webber, USA