International Women’s Day 2026
March 8, 2026
To mark International Women’s Day 2026, SPJIMR hosted Dr. Ananya Petkar for an insightful talk on ‘Women’s Preventive Health Across Life Stages’. The session aimed to spark meaningful conversations around women’s health, focusing on potential risks and preventive practices that support overall well-being.
Interestingly, International Women’s Day has its roots in a movement advocating better working conditions and rights for women, underscoring the importance of creating spaces that support women’s progress and well-being across all spheres of life. ‘Accelerate Action’, the theme for 2026 International Women’s Day, calls for faster progress towards gender equality and the empowerment of women. In this spirit, the session emphasised the importance of proactive care and informed health choices that enable women to thrive across different stages of life.
The talk was followed by the customary high tea and a lively game of housie, where employees participated enthusiastically, bringing a fun and engaging close to the evening. At SPJIMR, we believe every day is Women’s Day. This event created a dedicated space for conversations around the health and well-being of our women employees, reinforcing the importance of care, awareness, and community.
Did you know?
- The first Women’s Day was celebrated on February 28, 1909, in the United States, honouring women garment workers who protested for better working conditions.
- The globally recognised date 8 March emerged after women workers in Russia protested for ‘bread and peace’ in 1917. ‘Bread and peace’ was adapted from the 1912 US ‘bread and roses’ to align with World War 1 conditions.
- The United Nations officially began observing International Women’s Day in 1975, which was also declared International Women’s Year.
- The colours of International Women’s Day — purple (justice), green (hope), and white (purity) — originated from the UK’s Women’s Social and Political Union in 1908.
- International Women’s Day is a public holiday in several countries, including Russia, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Zambia.
- Worldwide celebrations honour the origins of International Women’s Day as a radical labour and political movement focused on securing voting rights and ending gender discrimination in the workplace.