International Women’s Day 2023
Every year International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated around the world on the 8th of March. It is a day to recognise how far we’ve come in achieving rights for women, while also highlighting and inspiring the actions needed to continue the work toward a gender equal future.
The very first International Women’s Day was held in 1911, with marches held in North America and across Europe aimed at gaining better working conditions and voting rights for women.
International Women’s Day has expanded in prominence and reach over the years. The growing international women’s movement has helped make International Women’s Day a central point for action, to build support for women’s rights and their full participation in the economy, politics, and community.
International Women’s Day in Australia
Australia’s first International Women’s Day was held in 1928 in Sydney. Organised by the Militant Women’s Movement, women called for equal pay for equal work, an 8-hour working day, and paid leave. The next year the event spread to Brisbane. In 1931 annual marches were launched in both Sydney and Melbourne, with both marches continuing to be held today.
About the Theme
Cracking the Code: Innovation for a Gender Equal Future
UN Women Australia’s International Women’s Day theme for 2023 is ‘Cracking the Code: Innovation for a gender equal future’.
Based on the priority theme for the United Nations 67th Commission on the Status of Women – Cracking the Code highlights the role that innovative ideas, inclusive technologies, and accessible education can play in combatting the discrimination and marginalisation of women across the globe.
Innovation is a driver of change. By embracing new technologies and championing the unique skills and knowledge of women in science, technology, mathematics, and engineering (STEM), we can accelerate our progress towards a gender equal future.
By ensuring equal access to education for women and girls and creating clear pathways and inclusive workplaces for women in STEM, we can leverage the transformative power of inclusive innovation, so critical to cracking the code to gender equality.
IWD Toolkit
The IWD toolkit has been created to support organisations and communities in the Loddon Mallee Region to participate in and lead events and activities as part of International Women’s Day – 8 March 2023. It contains some key information about International Women’s Day (IWD) and this year’s theme, some tips for how you and your organisation or community group can be involved, recommended books, films, podcasts and tv shows, and a suite of online campaign resources.
IWD Campaign Resources
WHLM developed a series of social media tiles, email banners and Zoom backgrounds for organisations, community groups and individuals to share as part of their IWD campaign.
Support Services
If you, or someone you know needs support, please see our list of local, regional and national support services.
