Page 10 - BPW-UK - E-news - Edition 109 - February 2023 with BELFAST AGM 2023 Flyer_Neat

RUTH TOMLINSON MEMORIAL FUND

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 275264

International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day has its origins in the “Women’s Day,” organised by the Socialist
th
Party of America, in New York City on February 28 1909. This inspired German delegates
at the 1910 International Socialist Women’s Conference to propose that a “special Women’s
Day” should be organised annually. The following year saw International Women’s Day cele-
brated across Europe. However the day was associated with far-left movements and gov-
ernments until it was adopted by the global feminist movement in the 1960’s.

During International Women’s Year in 1975, the United Nations first celebrated Internation-
al Women’s Day (IWD) and in 1977 the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution for a
th
United Nations Day for Women's Rights and International Peace to be held annually on 8
March. Each year the day is celebrated in connection with a particular issue, campaign or
theme in women’s rights.

This year, 2023 the theme is;
“Embrace Equality - #IWD2023 #EmbraceEquity #IWDtheme

Linked to this year’s International Day is also a celebration of Ruth Tomlinson.
Towards the end of 2022, Ruth Tomlinson’s CBE was donated to the City of Leicester with
the full agreement of the Trustees of the Memorial Fund that bears her name. It was agreed
that the CBE would be featured on the donations page of the Leicester Museum website as
“Object of the month for March” in recognition of the work, on behalf of women, that
she had undertaken during her life time.

To access the “Object of the Month” section, follow the link;

News – Leicester Museums
Where you will see the CBE with the following wording;

“Ruth Tomlinson was a pioneering businesswoman who championed
women’s rights, even representing the UK at sessions of the United Na-
tions Commission on the Status Women.

She had a long association with Leicester, through the Boot and Shoe In-
dustry, an officer with the British Ministry of Labour and National Services
on the Man and Women Power Board, a member of the De Montfort club
of Business and Professional Women and finally her funeral being held at
Holy Apostles Church, Fosse Road South.

‘Few people who do not know Leicester know so many Leicester
people, I should image, as Miss Ruth Tomlinson,
(Leicester Evening News)”

The Trustees of the Fund hope that during March you will take time to view the donations
page, and as time goes on the further information about the life of this remarkable woman.