On 16 December 1977, the General Assembly invited States
to proclaim, in accordance with their historical and national traditions and customs, any
day of the year as United Nations Day for Women's Rights and International Peace. States
were called upon to contribute to creating favourable conditions for the elimination of
discrimination against women and for their full and equal participation in social
development (resolution 32/142). That action came on the wake of the International Women's
Year (1975) and the United Nations Decade for Women (1976-1985), both proclaimed by the
Assembly.
The United Nations began observing International Women's Day, 8 March, in 1975 -- the
International Women's Year. Observing the Day in 1998, the Secretary-General called for
"new forms of solidarity for the promotion and protection of the rights of both women
and men", stated that "there is no excuse" for limited "participation
of women at senior levels of leadership", and stressed "two issues that take on
particular urgency: violence against women, and women and armed conflict".
