People around the world -- men, women and
children -- have been marking International
Women's Day.
Celebrated on March 8th every year -- the
day shines a light on the struggle for women's
rights... and honors women's cultural and
social achievements.
For more on how it was observed in Korea,...
Lee Unshin reports.
Thousands of women filled Gwanghwamun Square
in downtown Seoul... to mark a day that celebrates
women's social, economic, and political achievements.
March 8th is International Women's Day, an
observance rooted in the struggle that women
around the world have undertaken over the
decades to win their political rights and
end discrimination.
The United Nations began commemorating it
in 1975 and two years later, the U.N. General
Assembly proclaimed it as U.N. Day for Women's
Rights and World Peace.
But its significance goes beyond commemoration
and celebration.
In the U.K., thousands demonstrated on the
streets of London to draw attention to the
challenges faced by female refugees.
"There's the mother with the family unit,
either in a refugee camp or trying to make
some terrible journey to a safer haven.
And the figure is that we have more refugees
now than ever before."
Meanwhile in Bangladesh, a fashion show was
held to challenge conventional standards of
beauty under the name "Beauty Redefined."
These ladies are the brave survivors of acid
attacks, a brutal hate crime that targets
mostly women and children and is still a big
problem in Bangladesh, where 44 incidents
were reported just last year alone.
"We need to act, we need to take measures,
and we need to secure our girls, our women,
and we cannot accept such heinous crimes."
In the United States, some activists refused
to go to work as part of a strike called "A
Day Without A Woman."
They wanted to raise awareness of women's
reproductive rights, social liberties and
those suffering from domestic violence.
Most of the demonstrators were women, but
the significance of International Women's
Day was not lost on many fathers, sons, and
husbands.
"I'd like my daughter to grow up as a strong
woman because I believe women carry so much
power and in every life, there should be a
woman."
Lee Unshin Arirang News.
