Thursday, March 8, 2012

Greetings on the occasion of International Women's Day

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On March 8, Azerbaijanis in the U.S. and around the world celebrate the International Women's Day.(IWD). Observed for the first time in the United States in 1909, it became an international holiday of women in Azerbaijan as well. Year 2012 marks the 101st anniversary of the first world-wide celebration of the IWD.

Historically, women played an important role in a traditionally Muslim Azerbaijani society. In fact, in 1919, ahead of the United States and the United Kingdom, the Parliament of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) voted to extend universal suffrage rights to women. Few years later, a Statue of Liberated Woman was erected in capital Baku to symbolize  the emancipation of women in Azerbaijani society.