The United Nations initiated a Decade for Women with an international conference in 1975, and a celebratory International Women’s Year. The year was marked in New Zealand by a United Women’s Convention, at which speakers from home and abroad addressed a large group of women who gathered to share experiences and discuss many aspects of their lives. A nationwide programme of activities was undertaken, which gave a framework for advancement and for setting priorities for action. The United Nations held further conferences in 1980 and 1985 to assess progress.