Berlin Marks International Women's Day As A Public Holiday For The First Time

Millions of Germans will for the first time join citizens of more than 20 countries in celebrating International Women's Day as a public holiday Friday.

March 8 is now a public holiday in the city-state of Berlin after its parliament approved the change in January. The date is already an official holiday in Russia and Cuba as well as parts of Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia and Africa.

This year marks the first time that most people in Berlin, Germany's capital and most populous city, will have the day off of work in celebration.

The designation as an official holiday means "fighting for gender equality and women's rights," Berlin Governing Mayor Michael Müller said.

He noted that women make up 55 percent of Berlin's Senate but said the number of women in Berlin's House of Representatives had fallen recently.