International Women's Day (IWD) is recognised globally on 8 March each year.

At the first international women's conference in Copenhagen in 1910, the German socialist, Clara Zetkin proposed an international women's day to assist in achieving the right to vote for women. The resolution was unanimously approved by representatives from 17 countries, however at this time only three countries around the world supported women's right to vote.

IWD was observed for the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on 19 March 1911 and more than one million women and men attended IWD rallies campaigning for women's rights to work, vote, be trained, to hold public office and for an end to discrimination.

At the same time in England, women campaigning for the right to vote adopted the colours of green, white and violet to represent their slogan "Give Women the Vote". Since then these colours have been used to symbolise the struggle for women to obtain equal rights. Interpretations of the meaning of the colours vary. Purple can symbolise justice, dignity or loyalty, green for faith or hope and white for purity.

The first Australian IWD rally took place at the Sydney Domain on 25 March 1928 in a climate of growing unemployment, wage cuts and reduced working conditions in Australia. By 1931, 60 women with banners demanding equal pay for equal work headed a march of 3000-4000 people in Sydney on IWD. The following years saw IWD develop as a tradition representing women's struggle for equality, justice, peace and development.

IWD themes have highlighted current social, economic and political issues including women's social and economic freedom in 1938, women's resistance in occupied countries during the war years, pay equity in 1945, and recognition of the difference between women's work in the home and men's paid workforce during the late 1960s and early 1970s.

By 1975, IWD was officially recognised by the United Nations and has continued to gain international recognition since.

Each year, the Office for Women identifies Queensland's theme for IWD and provides promotional resources, guidance and support for community activities and events celebrating IWD. This iconic international day is the most significant annual event for the women's sector in Australia and is an ideal platform to celebrate the achievements of ordinary women in creating a society that is fair to all and the issues that many women still face, both here and around the world.