UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY THEME FOR 2012

Each year around the world, International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8. Thousands of events occur not just on this day but throughout March to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women.

Organisations, governments, charities and women's groups around the world choose different themes each year that reflect global and local gender issues.

"Connecting Girls, Inspiring Futures" is the 2012 theme of the internationalwomensday.com website and this has been widely used by hundreds of organisations including schools, universities, governments, women’s groups and the private sector. Each year the United Nations declares an overall International Women's Day theme. Their 2012 theme is “Empower Rural Women – End Hunger and Poverty”. Many organisations develop their own themes that are more relevant to their local contexts. For example, the European Parliament's 2012 theme is "Equal pay for work of equal value".

United Nation International Women's Day themes:

  2012: Empower Rural Women – End Hunger and Poverty
  2011: Equal access to education, training and science and technology
  2010: Equal rights, equal opportunities: Progress for all
  2009: Women and men united to end violence against women and girls
  2008: Investing in Women and Girls
  2007: Ending Impunity for Violence against Women and Girls
  2006: Women in decision-making
  2005: Gender Equality Beyond 2005: Building a More Secure Future
  2004: Women and HIV/AIDS
  2003: Gender Equality and the Millennium Development Goals
  2002: Afghan Women Today: Realities and Opportunities
  2001: Women and Peace: Women Managing Conflicts
  2000: Women Uniting for Peace
  1999: World Free of Violence against Women
  1998: Women and Human Rights
  1997: Women at the Peace Table
  1996: Celebrating the Past, Planning for the Future
  1975: First IWD celebrated by the United Nations

Indian Navy inducted Russian-Origin Nuclear Submarine INS Chakra

The Indian Navy on 4 April 2012 inducted a Russian-origin nuclear submarine, INS Chakra, into its flotilla. The nuclear submarine has placed India into the elite group of nations which operate nuclear vessel.
The Akula-II class submarine K-152 Nerpa, renamed INS Chakra-II, is on a 10-year lease from Russia at a cost of nearly 1 billion dollar.
Defence minister AK Antony formally inducted the 8000-ton vessel as India is looking forward to strengthen its position in the Indian Ocean region. Apart from India the other nations which possess the capability to operate nuclear vessel includes US, Russia, France, the UK and China.
The induction of INS Chakra in the Indian Navy is strategically very important given the fact that China over the last few years has been aggressively indulged in taking the Indian Ocean Region within its clout. Besides, its growing belligerence in the entire Asia-Pacific region has also been a reason of grave concern for Indian security establishment. The INS Chakra will offer India a defining strategic edge over its conventional rivals China and Pakistan.