International Women’s Day 2018
Events | Stories | Video | Multimedia | Social media | CSW 62
Time is Now: Rural and Urban Activists Transforming Women’s Lives
In her message for International Women’s Day on March 8, UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka draws attention to the work of rural and urban activists who have fought for women’s rights and gender equality. Read the full message►
The theme for International Women’s Day, 8 March, is “Time is Now: Rural and urban activists transforming women’s lives”.
This year, International Women’s Day comes on the heels of unprecedented global movement for women’s rights, equality and justice. This has taken the form of global marches and campaigns, including #MeToo and #TimesUp in the United States of America and their counterparts in other countries, on issues ranging from sexual harassment and femicide to equal pay and women’s political representation.
Echoing the priority theme of the upcoming 62nd session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, International Women’s Day will also draw attention to the rights and activism of rural women, who make up over a quarter of the world population, and are being left behind in every measure of development.
Join us to transform the momentum into action, to empower women in all settings, rural and urban, and to celebrate the activists who are working relentlessly to claim women’s rights and realize their full potential.
The #TimeisNow.
Events
International Women’s Day 2018 – Observance at UN headquartersJoin us for the United Nations Observance of International Women’s Day, to be held on 8 March 2018 in the Trusteeship Council Chamber, UN Headquarters, New York. Speakers will include UN Secretary-General, UN Women Executive Director, Reese Witherspoon, Academy Award–winning actor and activist, Danai Gurira, Tony-nominated playwright, actor and activist, and civil society representatives. RSVP ►
Top Stories: Activists transforming women’s lives in Europe and Central Asia
This editorial package contains inspiring stories of activists and actions that are tackling some of the most pressing issues facing women in our region. Read about the #segakazuvam (‘I am speaking now’) social media campaign in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, which joins other campaigns, such as #MeToo to inspire widespread action for equality. Find out more about activists pushing for equal access to services, fighting against domestic violence, or integrating a gender perspective into refugee programmes. This year, International Women’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate the activists who are working relentlessly to claim women’s rights and realize their full potential in our region. The time to share these inspiring stories is now. See more ►
Video: International Women’s Day 2018: The time is now
This International Women’s Day, UN Women celebrates the rural and urban activists who have transformed the lives of women around the world. From grassroots campaigns to global movements, women’s activism over the decades has paved the way for women’s rights and a more equal future.
Multimedia
Timeline: Women of the world, unite!
A single moment can spark a revolution, collective actions can transform laws, creative expression can change attitudes and an invention can alter the course of history. It’s these threads that weave together to propel the women’s movement — even in the face of obstacles. Discover how some of these strands, big and small, have shaped your lives, and the rights and lives of women and girls worldwide. See more ►
Learn the facts: Rural women and girls
Rural women ensure food security for their communities, build climate resilience and strengthen economies. Yet, gender inequalities, such as discriminatory laws and social norms, combined with a fast-changing economic, technological and environmental landscape restrict their full potential, leaving them far behind men and their urban counterparts. View infographic►
Join the conversation for International Women’s Day, #TimeIsNow #IWD2018!
- Main hashtags: #IWD2018, #TimeIsNow (English), #DíadelaMujer, #AhoraEsElMomento (Spanish), #JourneeDesFemmes (French)
- Check out the automatic emoji on Twitter when tweeting with the hashtag #IWD2018, #TimeIsNow, #DíadelaMujer, #AhoraEsElMomento, #JourneeDesFemmes!
- Main Twitter accounts: @UN_Women (English), @ONUMujeres (Spanish), @ONUFemmes (French)
- Main Facebook accounts: UN Women (English), ONU Mujeres (Spanish), ONU Femmes (French)
- Other accounts: Instagram, Google+, LinkedIn, Pinterest
- Change your Facebook and Twitter cover image with the banners available in English, Spanish and French (under “General”) here.
- If you organize or participate in a local International Women’s Day event, share your images and messages on our Facebook Event page and bring your event to a global audience.
- Follow our accounts for live coverage from the different events and share content from our social media package, which is available with images, GIFs, videos and sample promotional messages in English, Spanish and French here.
Follow us
@un_women, @onumujeres, @onufemmes, @sayno_unite, @phumzileunwomen on Twitter
UN Women, ONU Mujeres, ONU Femmes, Say NO - UNiTE on Facebook
UN Women and Say NO – UNiTE on Instagram
unwomen on Snapchat
UN Women on Google+ / UN Women on LinkedIn / UN Women on Pinterest
See our coverage of International Women’s Day 2017
See our coverage of International Women’s Day 2016
See our coverage of International Women’s Day 2015
See our coverage of International Women’s Day 2014
See our coverage of International Women’s Day 2013
See our coverage of International Women’s Day 2012