What is International Women's Day and when is it?

International Women’s Day is held on March 8 each year, a part of International Women’s Month which is observed in most countries around the world.

Both annual events are celebrated to highlight the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society.

This year, International Women’s Day (IWD) will be held on Thursday 8th March.

Recent findings show that gender parity is still 200 years away

What is this year’s theme?

With the World Economic Forum’s 2017 Global Gender Gap Report findings telling us that gender parity is over 200 years away – there has never been a more important time to keep motivated and #PressforProgress.

With global activism for women’s equality fuelled by movements like #MeToo, #TimesUp and more, there is a strong global momentum striving for gender parity.

And while we know that gender parity won’t happen overnight, the good news is that across the world women are making positive gains day by day. Plus, there’s indeed a very strong and growing global movement of advocacy, activism and support.

#PressforProgress includes equality movements such as the #MeToo and #TimesUp campaigns

International Women's Day is not country, group or organisation specific. The day belongs to all groups collectively everywhere — International Women’s Day is not country, group or organisation specific. The day belongs to all groups collectively everywhere

So we can’t be complacent. Now, more than ever, there’s a strong call-to-action to press forward and progress gender parity. A strong call to #PressforProgress. A strong call to motivate and unite friends, colleagues and whole communities to think, act and be gender inclusive.

According to organisers:

“International Women’s Day is not country, group or organisation specific. The day belongs to all groups collectively everywhere. So together, let’s all be tenacious in accelerating gender parity. Collectively, let’s all Press for Progress.”

International Women's Day is celebrated across the world on March 8 — International Women’s Day is celebrated across the world on March 8

What about the rest of the year?

The IWD campaign theme continues all year. March 8 sees the annual IWD campaign theme kick off for the year ahead, although many groups around the world adopt and promote the campaign theme from early in the year.

The IWD campaign theme provides a unified direction to guide and galvanise collective action. The campaign theme does not end on International Women’s Day. It’s just the start.

Campaigning for women's rights continues throughout the year — Campaigning for women’s rights continues throughout the year

Throughout the year many groups worldwide adopt the IWD campaign theme for further campaign work, gender-focused initiatives, continuing activity and events.

A great example of this was in 2017 when the USA Women’s Hockey Team went on to adopt the #BeBoldForChange IWD campaign theme to later rally for equal pay, boycotting the national finals unless a suitable deal was struck. Many fans and further teams supported the campaign.

What can you do?

Collective action and shared responsibility for driving gender parity is what makes International Women’s Day successful.

Gloria Steinem, world-renowned feminist, journalist and activist once explained:

“The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organisation but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.”

Started by the Suffragettes in the early 1900’s, the first International Women’s Day was celebrated in 1911. International Women’s Day belongs to all communities everywhere – governments, companies, charities, educational institutions, networks, associations, the media and more.

Whether through a global conference, community gathering, classroom lesson or dinner table conversation – everyone can play a purposeful part in pressing for gender parity.

So make International Women’s Day YOUR day and do what you can to truly make a positive difference for women. Press for Progress!

International Women's Day is a global celebration — International Women’s Day is a global celebration

Take action!

The International Women’s Day 2018 campaign theme is #PressforProgress.

Individually, we’re one drop but together we’re an ocean. Commit to a “gender parity mindset” via progressive action. Let’s all collaborate to accelerate gender parity, so our collective action powers equality worldwide.

Choose your action here.