15th March 2008

Scottish women gathered to celebrate International Womens Day 2008, at the Adam Smith Theatre on Saturday 15th March 2008, where women speakers from all over Scotland and beyond, treated audiences to an insight into the significant changes regarding women’s equality in society today.

Organised by Kirkcaldy and District Trades Union Council, the daylong event is intended to bring women from all over Scotland together, to provide a thought provoking and stimulating agenda of speakers alongside an exclusive performance from Adam Smith College Drama Students. Visitors to the free event were also treated to a free lunch and refreshments throughout the day.

Joining a range of speakers from Bertha Yakubu, founder of African Women in Aberdeen to Carol Alybaid from Women in Black, Catherine Stihler Scots MEP discussed women’s issues in the European Union and Internationally.

Catherine commented: “International Womens Day has been celebrated since the 1900’s and it is only right that we can bring a taste of this to Fife. The day is recognised worldwide, and in some countries it is a national holiday where the men will honour the women with flowers and gifts. Unfortunately it is not a national holiday in Scotland, but we will still celebrate by using this event as a means to encourage Scottish women to consider the courageousness of the women before us.”

“If anything, this day offers the women attending a reminder to continue to strive for equality in all of its forms, and to benefit from what our predecessors fought for those years ago.”