Mayor proclaims March 8 International Women’s Day and March 2025 Women’s History Month

Mayor Bruce Teague read a proclamation at the Feb. 18 Iowa City Council meeting declaring March 8, 2025, as International Women’s Day and March 2025 as Women’s History Month in Iowa City.

The proclamation noted International Women’s Day’s purpose “to celebrate women's achievement, raise awareness about discrimination, and take action to promote gender parity,” and recalled U.S. recognition of Women’s History Month since 1989. The mayor also referenced the city’s 1995 endorsement of the U.N. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination and invited residents to recognize women’s achievements and recommit to gender equality.

Meredith Gale, speaking for the Johnson County United Nations Association, thanked the city and described the Night of 1000 Dinners community celebration on March 6 at the Unitarian Universalist Society in Coralville. Gale said the event honors women‑led groups addressing U.N. Sustainable Development Goal 3 (good health and well‑being) and listed community honorees: the Free Medical and Dental Clinic, Prairie Lands Freedom Fund and the UN Healthy Start program for refugee children. Gale also said the buffet will be prepared by a Togolese catering group and that program segments will include presentations in Arabic, Spanish, Swahili, Hindi, Kikuyu and Farsi to acknowledge language diversity and related discrimination concerns.

The mayor presented the proclamation to Meredith Gale and others representing the Johnson County United Nations Association; no council roll call was required for the proclamation.