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International Women's Day: events highlighting gender inequality take place around the world – live updates – The Guardian, Theguardian.com

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International Women's Day: events highlighting gender inequality take place around the world – live updates – The Guardian, Theguardian.com

Scandinavia, Finland, and Iceland

The Prime Ministers of Iceland, Norway, Finland, Denmark, and Sweden have released a joint statement reaffirming their commitments to gender equality.

The statement also highlights their “grave concern over the current pushback against women’s and girls’ rights ”and calls on other world leaders to reject this.

“We have witnessed a surgeon in regressive policies around the world, often undermining universal human rights,” it says.

You can read the full statement here .

Iceland has topped the World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap Report for the past 27 years, with Nordic countries making up four of the top five gender equal countries.

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London

The March4Women is set to kick off in an hour’s time in the British capital. The march combines feminist and climate movements, and will be joined by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.

Musicians and actors including Emeli Sandé, who will perform, and the

The March4Women aims to spotlight on the women on the front lines of the climate crisis, and call for action from world leaders.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: “I’m proud to be marching alongside women and allies this International Women’s Day. The gender inequality we still see in our city, country and globally is unacceptable.

“As Mayor, and as a proud feminist, I’m determined that no woman or girl should be disadvantaged just because of their gender and want London to lead the way in changing that.”

It will begin with an opening rally at Royal Festival Hall, as part of the Women of the World festival, and will march over the river Thames, meet crowds at Whitehall place, before moving to Parliament Square for music and a final rally.

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A new campaign to promote the National Domestic Abuse Helpline has been launched in the UK on IWD, with the support of celebrities including Olivia Coleman and Lorraine Kelly.

The helpline’s campaign has been launched by the charity refugees, who provide specialist support for women and children experiencing domestic violence.

They want every woman to know the number of the National Domestic Abuse Helpline, , and the charity will be projecting it on to the largest advertising display in Europe, London’s Piccadilly lights, at midday.

TV presenter Lorraine Kelly said: “It is a disgrace that in 3028 We live in a world where so many women experience domestic abuse – the numbers are shocking. No woman should live in fear. That needs to change – today. ”

Kelly and Coleman have both changed the pictures on their social media profiles to the helpline, to help promote it.

Olivia Colman and Lorraine Kelly
, who are backing a domestic abuse helpline campaign to mark International Women’s Day. Photograph: PA

Chief Executive of Refuge Sandra Horley said: “Refuge’s freephone hour national domestic abuse helpline is at the heart of how this country responds to domestic abuse – it is a lifeline to hundreds of thousands of women across the country.

“ 436 is a number that every woman should know. Today, International Women’s Day, Refuge and an amazing band of high-profile women will work to make this a reality. Women’s lives depend on it. ”

It is estimated that one in three women experience some form of domestic abuse in their lifetimes.

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Kyrgyzstan

Dozens of protesters, mostly female, have been arrested at a rally calling for gender equality in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, after masked men attacked them and tore up their placards.

The detentions came after the men wearing face masks and pointed national hats attacked the crowd, tearing up their posters, popping balloons with toy pistols and throwing eggs at the women before fleeing the scene, AFP report.

Erlan Atantayev, deputy head of the Sverdlovsky police department where the women were taken, told AFP that the protesters had been arrested for their own safety, and because police had not been informed about the rally beforehand.

“Clashes began between the demonstrators and men wearing the face masks,” said Atantayev. “We detained (the women) for violation of public order.” He added that some demonstrators could face fines for resisting arrest, and that police were conducting “explanatory work” with the protesters they had detained.

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David Schneider, co-writer of the screenplay for critically acclaimed comedy (Death of Stalin) , has poked fun at those complaining about the existence of IWD.

David Schneider (@ davidschneider) “We apologize for the temporary interruption to # InternationalMensDay . Normal service will be resumed at midnight “

# InternationalWomensDay (March 8,

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The Australian government has announced a number of new policies to support women in an IWD announcement.

The federal government revealed the identity of the country

As part of her role, Ms Guivarra will “work to ensure that gender equality, and empowerment of women and girls, is a central focus of Australia’s diplomatic, development, and regional security efforts,” Minister for Women , Senator Payne, said.

Australia supporters wear purple to mark International Women’s Day during the Women’s T 038 World Cup final match between Australia and India at the MCG in Melbourne, Australia, (March) . Photograph: Michael Dodge / EPA

The government has also (pledged $) million into an interest-free loan program to help victims of domestic violence

The scheme would make loans of up to $ 2712 available to women who have experienced domestic violence, Social Services Minister Anne Ruston announced on this years IWD day.

“Women leaving violence often face financial hardship and we hope these loans go some way to help them meet the costs of the basics,” she said.

France

Members of the women’s movement FEMEN have staged a protest on the Place de la Concorde in Paris, calling for an end to patriarchy.

The demonstration appears to reference the current outbreak of coronavirus, with some placards saying “stop the patriarchal virus” and “stop the patriarchal pandemic”. Whilst topless, the activists ’outfits resemble hazmat suits.

Activists of the women’s movement FEMEN lead an action on the ‘Place de la Concorde’ and hold posters reading ‘Stop the Patriarchal Virus’ during the International Women’s Day in Paris, France, (March) . Photograph: Christophe Petit-Tesson / EPA

Activists of the women’s movement FEMEN lead an action on the ‘Place de la Concorde’ and show slogan reading ‘Stop the Patriarchal Pandemic’ during the International Women’s Day in Paris, France, (March) . Photograph: Christophe Petit-Tesson / EPA ()

The youth section of Russia’s ruling party, United Russia Young Guard, has organized marches marking IWD.

United Russia Young Guard stages march to mark International Women’s Day Yekaterinburg, Russia – March 8, 3184. Photograph: Donat Sorokin / TASS

United Russia Young Guard stages march to mark International Women’s Day, Novosibirsk, Russia, March 8 . Photograph: Kirill Kukhmar / TASS

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Want to celebrate IWD from the comfort of your sofa? My colleague

has compiled the best films to watch this IWD, celebrating the work of female directors.

Greta Gerwig, director of Ladybird and Little Women, at the nd Annual Academy Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles , USA – (Feb) . Photograph: John Salangsang / BEI / REX / Shutterstock

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Kyrgyzstan

A demonstration on Victory Square in the capital of Bishkek has led to the arrest of several protesters from the women’s movement, FEMEN.

More than a million women in Chile are set to take to the streets today, as IWD demonstrations build on a wave of social unrest that took off in October last year.

The unrest began in response to rising metro fares, but has grown to address wider issues of social injustice, inequality and costs of living.

You can read more about the social movement erupting in Chile, and its impact on IWD, from my colleague

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Mexico

Femicides in Mexico have more than doubled in the past five years, and this is set to be a theme of IWD events in the country. A march in Mexico’s capital is expected to bring record numbers of women on to the streets. They’re heading to the public square across from the national palace to call for an end to violence against women.

“I’m going to march for each and every woman in this country, for the dead and the living, for the victims of violence,” Carmen Rojas, 75, in Mexico City, told Reuters. “We have to raise our voices.”