International Women's Day 2018

Against the odds, women have created incredible change over the past 100 years. This International Women’s Day, join us in celebrating the global women’s movement by voting for the moment of feminist leadership that has inspired you most. Women's leadership, like women ourselves, comes in many forms. Recognise the moments that have shaped our lives, and the diverse women who gave so much to make them happen.

Closer to the Day, we'll highlight the moments that resonated the most, and share some you may have missed.

Vote for a moment

Featured moments

1985
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International Women's Development Agency forms
Over 30 years ago, International Women’s Development Agency (IWDA) was founded by Wendy Rose, Ruth Pfanner and Wendy Poussard, based on the conviction that women should initiate, influence and improve development policy.
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2017
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New forums on women's rights take off in Asia Pacific
In 2017 we saw women's rights forums lauching across the Asia Pacific, including the Pacific Feminist Forum and the We Rise Coalition Forum in Fiji, the Jiwaka Women's Forum in Papua New Guinea, the Young Women's Leadership Forum and Women's Human Rights Defender Forum in Bougainvi
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2014
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First openly transgender person nominated for an Emmy
Laverne Cox, US actress and activist, becomes the first openly transgender person to be nominated for an Emmy Award, nominated for Best Supporting Actress for Orange is the New Black. She also becomes the first transgender person to feature on the cover of TIME.
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1922
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Japan establishes first women's rights organisation
After founding an all-women literary magazine in 1911, Raichō Hiratsuka co-founds the New Women’s Association, which was instrumental in overturning the Japanese government’s ban on women joining political organisations or holding political meetings.
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1918
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Women in the UK given the right to vote
For the first time, women are granted the equal right to vote; though only if they're over the age of 30. Ten years later, a final Act passes that lets women over the age of 21 vote, in line with the age requirements for men.
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2015
The money collected through women-run savings clubs in Solomon Islands surpasses one million Solomon Island Dollars
WARA is a women-led, volunteer run savings club that gives women a space to come together, learn more about managing finances, and store their savings safely, hits on million Solomon Island Dollars
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2015
Brazil passes a Femicide Law
Brazil becomes the 16th Latin American country to bring in a specific Femicide Law that sees those perpetrating gender-based killings face harsher jail times.
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2014
Malala Yousafzai becomes the youngest Nobel Peace Prize recipient of all time
Malala Yousafzai becomes the youngest person ever to win a Nobel Peace Prize at 17 for her work around girl's rights in Pakistan.
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2014
First openly transgender person nominated for an Emmy
Laverne Cox, US actress and activist, becomes the first openly transgender person to be nominated for an Emmy Award, nominated for Best Supporting Actress for Orange is the New Black.
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2013
Human rights organisations release groundbreaking research on gender and disability
Triple Jeopardy, the first research into the intersection between gender-based violence, poverty and disability launched in Cambodia by IWDA, IWDA partner Banteay Srei, CBM Australia, Cambodia
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2013
Landmark case opens doors for marriage equality in the United States
Edith Windsor wins a landmark case against the United States Government, challenging the Defense of Marriage Act for discriminating against same-sex couples.
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2012
Saudi Arabian women compete in Olympics for the first time
112 years after women were first allowed to compete in the Olympics, two women from Saudi Arabia become the first in their country to do so.
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2012
Julia Gillard delivers the Misogyny Speech
Julia Gillard, Australia's first woman Prime Minister, delivers The Misogyny Speech, calling Opposition Leader Tony Abbott a misogynist, leading to the Macquarie Dictionary changing it's definition
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2011
Fiji's first lesbian, bisexual and transgender collective forms
Fiji's first lesbian, bisexual and transgender collective and IWDA We Rise Coalition member, DIVA for Equality, forms, working on issues of human rights and social justice, including sexual reprodu
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2011
Pussy Riot forms in Russia
Russian feminist protest rock group Pussy Riot perform for the first time, staging guerrilla musical performances in public places and singing about issues like feminism, LGBTQI rights, and democra
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2009
The first cross-country transgender network set up in Asia Pacific
In 2009, 15 transgender women from 10 countries in Asia Pacific came together to champion transgender rights, and from this meeting, founded the Asia-Pacific Transgender Network.
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2008
J.K. Rowling becomes the author of the best-selling book series in history
J.K. Rowling's seven-book series, Harry Potter, becomes the best-selling book series in history, selling over 400 million copies and spawning eight films. This also makes J.K.
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