Illustration by Kate Prior
International Women’s Day (IWD) celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. Run annually on March 8, the day also marks a call to action to get to gender parity. IWD provides an important moment to showcase commitment to women’s equality, launch new initiatives and action, celebrate women’s achievements, raise awareness, highlight gender parity gains and more.
The day is celebrated and supported globally by industry, governments, educational institutions, community groups, professional associations, women’s networks, charities and non-profit bodies, the media and more.
Collectively every person and all groups can make a difference within their sphere of influence by taking concrete action to help drive gender parity. From small powerful grassroots gatherings to largescale conference and event audiences – International Women’s Day Day is celebrated everywhere. It’s a big day for inspiration and change.
#PressforProgress campaign on IWD and beyond
This year’s theme is Press for Progress. One of the most powerful ways you can influence how quickly gender parity is achieved is through championing your own #PressforProgress campaign within your own community, network, organisation or group. Each year an annual IWD campaign theme is kicked off on March 8, with its focus and activity supported by groups all year long. The IWD campaign theme unifies direction and galvanises activity to provide a meaningful framework for connected action throughout the year.
Use IWD as an important opportunity to:
- Celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women because visibility and awareness help drive positive change for women.
- Declare actions you’ll take as an individual to help progress the gender agenda because purposeful action can accelerate gender parity across the world. Use hash tags #IWD2018 and #PressForProgress
- Show solidarity and support for women by wearing a red arm band on March 8
- Self-care as a woman in the world is a movement against sexist expectations. As Audre Lord once said, “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”