Imphal, March 08 2009: International Women Day in this tiny state was celebrated by holding seminars, discussion and public meeting which many experts talked on the role that had and has been taking part by the women in the Manipuri society.

In one of the observation function held with a public meeting at Major Khul Community Hall organized by the Sharmila Kanba Lup, the women struggling for repeal of AFSPA arm with indefinite fasting talked to the gathering.

The day was observed various civil organizations mostly by the women based bodies in various part of the state today.

Talkers in ne of the main function held at GM Hall, Imphal organized by the All Manipur Women's Voluntary Association.

They recalled the historic events occurred in Manipur in which women took main role.

They also lamented the present status of women in the state where, according to them down throttle in every fields despite their active participation.

The Manipur State Women Commission also observed the day with a symposium on the theme "Economic Empowerment of Women at its office complex at Lamphelpat.

Retired session judge, C Upendra who presided the symposium said that women are the sufferers of the consequent of continuing series of killings taking place in the state and called for a special scheme for the women and children whose husbands and father got killed as a result of the conflict situation in the state.

The chairman of the women commission, Dr Janaki presided the function which other members of the commission also took part.

The Manipur Network of Positive People, the Manipur Mahila Kalyan Samiti, Manipur Aids Control Society, Manipur Democratic Women Association, Women Action for Development etc.

also observed the function.

In Senapati also, the Women Committee of the United NGO Mission, Manipur observed the day at the Mini Stadium at the district headquarter.

Representatives of various civil organizations based in the district attended the observation function.

In 1869 British MP John Stuart Mill was the first person in Parliament to call for women's right to vote.

On 19 September 1893 New Zealand became the first country in the world to give women the right to vote.

In 1910 an international conference of working women was held in Copenhagen.

Clara Zetkin, leader of the women's office' for the Social Democratic Party in Germany, tabled the idea of an International Women's Day.

She proposed that every year in every country there should be a celebration on the same day, a Women's Day, to press for their demands.

The very first International Women's Day was launched the following year on March 19 (not 8 March).

Plans for the first International Women's Day demonstration were spread by word of mouth and in the press.

During the week before International Women's Day two journals appeared: The Vote for Women in Germany and Women's Day in Austria.

Success of the first International Women's Day in 1911 exceeded all expectation.

In 1913 International Women's Day was transferred to 8 March and this day has remained the global date for International Women's Day ever since.

During International Women's Year in 1975, IWD was given official recognition by the United Nations and was taken up by many governments 2000 and beyond.

IWD is now an official holiday in China, Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.

The tradition sees men honouring their mothers, wives, girlfriends, colleagues, etc with flowers and small gifts.

Annually on March 8, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements.

Many global corporations have also started to more actively support IWD by running their own internal events and through supporting external ones.

The theme of International Women's Day 2009 is women and men united to end violence against women and girls.

"Atleast one third of the representatives in the Manipur Legislative Assembly should be women" says Gwangju Awardee and 'Iron Lady of Manipur,' Irom Chanu Sharmila during the observation of the United Nation International Women's Day held on Sunday at Majorkhul Community Hall in Imphal.

Speaking on the occasion organized by the Sharmila Kanba Lup, an organization formed to save Sharmila and supports her struggle to repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), the 'Iron Lady' expressed her disappointment over the political scenario of Manipur for having only one women representative in the state Assembly.

While asserting that the state, besides having lone women representative, the 'Iron Lady' revealed that the representative being the left hand of the leader has no courage to show her strength.

Sharmila then expresses the need of mass participation of women in politics.

She also observed that the prevailing revolutionary movements lack objectives and maintained that war only brings destruction.

Comment