International Women's Day Committee
Organization profile published 1982

Year Published:  1982
Resource Type:  Organization
Cx Number:  CX2594

Abstract: 
International Women's Day (IWD) was proclaimed in Copenhagen in 1910 by a conference of women from 17 countries. March 8th was chosen in honour of the thousands of New York women in the needle trades who initiated a militant strike on that day in 1908 for the eight hour day, the vote, and union recognition.

IWD has been celebrated in Winnipeg since 1922, initially by women's section of the Ukrainian Labour-Farmer Temple Association. Since 1950, it has been observed by the Congress of Canadian Women. Since the mid-sevenites, a growing number of Manitoba women's groups, either individually or a coalitions, have made March 8th an important event for the women's movement.

The current IWD COMMITTEE is made up of 20 organizations. International Women's Week (March 1-8, 1982) in Winnipeg was supported by 52 organizations from across Manitoba. In Winnipeg, events included two film nights, a panel dicussion on violence against women, a large shopping mall display, a public celebration, and a rally at the Manitoba Legislature.

As a consequence of its growth, the IWD COMMITTEE is in the process of drafting a constitution and becoming active throughout the year. Discussions are going ahead on the kinds of activities to be undertaken. Possiblities include: a young women's group; education about the oppression of women internationally and in Canada; and strike support in labour disputes where the rights of women workers are a major concern.