International Women’s Day: What is the annual event and when did it start? Olivia Petter Gallery International Women’s Day is a global celebration of the social, economic and political achievements of women that serves to champion women’s rights, female empowerment and gender equality.Add article Thanks to cultural and societal shifts as prompted by the#MeToo movement, the day has become increasingly prominent and is now recognised by millions of people around the world. But while some people might only be just waking up to the importance of this annual celebration, International Women’s Day has actually been around for more than a century and dates back to the early 1900s.