First designated in Europe in the early 1980s, when hundreds of thousands of women were organizing peace groups against nuclear weapons and the arms race. Activists declared May 24 as International Women's Day for Peace and Disarmament in order to stimulate more women's peace actions.

On the eve of the 2024 International Women's Day for Peace and Disarmament, the Secretary-General of the United Nations notes that this day comes at a perilous moment, marked by rising levels of military spending, deepening geopolitical tensions and growing violent conflicts across the globe. “Some leaders are using apocalyptic rhetoric on the use of nuclear weapons, reminding us that disarmament and non-proliferation are critical not only to a peaceful future, but to our very existence… It’s time to stop the madness. We need disarmament now.”