As released by UN-NGLS, this year’s (8 March 2009) theme of International Women’s Day was chosen to support United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s multi-year campaign to “UNite to End Violence against Women,” which he launched in February 2008. “Women and Men United to End Violence against Women and Girls” was this year’s theme of International Women’s Day – observed each year on 8 March.

International Women’s Day, adopted by a UN General Assembly resolution in 1977 as a day for Women’s Rights and International Peace, acknowledges that women play an important role in securing peace and social progress and that they deserve equal rights in terms of development, equity and active participation.

Worldwide various activities were organized to commemorate the Day. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon in his statement warned that violence against women is an abomination and called for unification and change as “violence against women cannot be tolerated, in any form, in any context, in any circumstance, by any political leader or by any government.”

In cooperation with the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) and the Women's Working Group on Financing for Development, NGLS hosted a financial crisis workshop on 5 March, focussing on policy issues and priorities.