See how groups worldwide mobilized IWD 2023's call to #EmbraceEquity

Across the world, millions of people stepped forward to show solidarity supporting the International Women's Day (IWD) 2023 call to #EmbraceEquity.

IWD is marked in many different ways, and all are valid

One of the very best things about IWD is that the day belongs to everyone, everywhere. Groups choose to mark IWD in whatever manner they deem most relevant, engaging, and impactful for their specific context, objectives, and audiences. All IWD activity is valid, that's what makes IWD inclusive.

IWD is about women's equality in all its forms. For some, IWD is about fighting for women's rights. For others, IWD is about reinforcing key commitments, while for some IWD is about celebrating success. And for others, IWD means festive gatherings and parties. Whatever choices are made, all choices matter and all choices are welcome and valid. All choices of activity actively contribute to, and form part of, the thriving global movement focused on women's advancement. IWD has transformed considerably since 1911, and today is an entirely inclusive, diverse and eclectic moment worldwide.

As Gloria Steinem, world-renowned feminist, journalist and activist once explained "The story of women's struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist, nor to any one organization, but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights."  

Below is a quick summary of just some of the many highlights from IWD 2023 activity - with many more to come, so stay tuned.

Be inspired by impactful IWD 2023 activity

The iconic Billie Jean King, along with her friend in feminism Gloria Steinem, spent IWD at the Forbes 30/50 Summit Conference in Abu Dhabi alongside Hilary Clinton, Olena Zelenska and Mika Brzezinski - and reminded the world about the importance of beng an influencer: "Remember, each person is an influencer. Your voice matters. #WomensDay #EmbraceEquity" she tweeted alongside a picture of herself and Gloria Steinem. "Every single person. Every single day of your life, you're an influencer." One of the best things about IWD is that everyone can influence change, and all IWD activity is valid. That's what makes IWD inclusive. "Equal opportunities are no longer enough. #EmbraceEquity  #InternationalWomensDay" tweeted Billie.

Across the United Kingdom, Royal Mail marked IWD with a special #IWD2023 #EmbraceEquity postmark to raise awareness and celebrate the day.

Dallas Mavericks mobilized and engaged their community to #EmbraceEquity

Mobilizing communities behind a cause is an impactful way to forge change. Bringing people together for International Women's Day (IWD) raises awareness, educates and inspires about gender equality, and encourages solidarity and allyship for women. Basketball legends, the Dallas Mavericks, rallied and mobilized their community to #EmbraceEquity as they marked IWD across the American Airlines Center with the support of AT&T, a company that squarely puts diversity, equity and inclusion at the center of everything they do.

Women creatives used their talent inspiring the world to #EmbraceEquity 

From Africa to Zurich, women creatives drew upon their talent to inspire the world to #EmbraceEquity. From the annual IWD Typism Lettering Challenge, to spoken word poetry, rap, dance, design and more - creatives everywhere elevated their participation. Wonderfully as a result, this leads to a range of exciting new commissions and projects for many.

Groups worldwide marked IWD through reflection, learning and forward action

For some, like the UK's Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership, IWD provided an important and opportune moment for teams to come together to reflect, share information, learn, support, and consider future action. Subscribing to the ethos 'We can all play a part in forging a better world' - many groups across the world held impactful workshops and sessions to ensure inclusive futures.

Further groups educated and supported their communities like Love Army, an unignorable force of good in our world, encouraged widespread action to #EmbraceEquity and feel mobilized to be part of a worldwide push to build a better world.

Scottish Widows highlighted the gender pension gap

Women's economic advancement and financial security are key, yet on average, women in the UK have to work many more years to retire with the same pension as men. For IWD 2023, Scottish Widows highlighted the gender pension gap by campaigning for change, and raising awareness at scale.

Leaders stepped forward to explain how and why their organizations #EmbraceEquity

"Embracing equity is vital to our purpose of delivering a better world, which we bring to life by prioritizing social impact in the projects we pursue and the innovative solutions we deliver so that our work reflects the diversity of the clients and communities we serve," said AECOM CEO Tory Rudd, for example, alongside many further leaders. For many organizations, the global message that 'Equal opportunities are no longer enough' and that 'Equal is not always fair' indeed truly resonated and provided a shared direction to amplify and reinforce their focus on helping forge a diverse, equitable and inclusive world for all. 

ECB President Christine Lagarde & WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in conversation

Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank (ECB) tweeted: "We need to push beyond equal opportunities and give each and every woman what they need to succeed. This is equity. This is the future for a better and more sustainable world" as she struck the IWD #EmbraceEquity pose in an uplifting video with her colleagues. The ECB President participated in an inspiring and wide-ranging conversation on women in the economy with WTO Director-General Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

Governments worldwide encouraged attention on key gender issues

Many governments worldwide, like the UK Government, showed impressive leadership in encouraging discussion and observance of key gender-related issues. The UK Government, amidst further IWD activity, provided an outstanding series of profiles featuring female scientists and developers, to investigators and PHD students, working at the forefront of STEM areas addressing patient protection and developments in medicines and medical devices. Read more here.

Celebrities stepped forward reinforcing their commitment to #EmbraceEquity

Pink rallied her support to #EmbraceEquity and called on her community to support UNICEF: "This International #WomensDay, I join UNICEFUSA in its commitment to #EmbraceEquity and advocate for girls’ rights - so that every girl has the opportunity to become the woman she wants to be."

Singer Belinda Carlisle showed her support: "Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated.  Collectively we can all #EmbraceEquity."

Governments, industry, community groups and more showed their strong support for embracing equity in a myriad of ways.

Stay tuned for news of further activity soon!

User-generated #EmbraceEquity videos encouraged inclusion

A significant volume of impactful #EmbraceEquity videos were created, with over 3,500+ videos supporting the #IWD2023 #EmbraceEquity campaign theme. Many were educational, in that they explained important gender concepts and issues that can be better understood and challenged - with one of the most popular videos here. See a small selection of some of these #EmbraceEquity videos here, with more coming soon.

Women's equality isn't solely about women fighting the good fight. Male allies also provide an incredibly important source of support. As such across the world, many men stepped forward delivering speeches and videos about the importance of embracing equity and submitted their contribution among the many IWD #EmbraceEquity videos.  

British racing car driver Charlie Martin engaged her audience to #EmbraceEquity

British racing car driver and transgender rights activist, Charlie Martin, tweeted: "This year’s theme is #EmbraceEquity, something that truly resonates with me. As a Trans woman in motorsport, I’ve had to work harder to try and achieve parity and equality within my sport ✊🏼🏳️‍⚧️🏁 What does equity look like for you? #IWD2023"

Sky Sports elevated a focus on the importance of inclusion

To celebrate IWD 2023, Sky Sports took a look back at some of the most memorable moments from women's sport over the past year. "International Women's Day belongs to everyone, everywhere #IWD2023 #EmbraceEquity," reminded Sky Sports.

Art galleries worldwide held #EmbraceEquity exhibitions

Art galleries across the world held social #EmbraceEquity Art Exhibitions to showcase the creative talent of women artists, ​like this volunteer-run Project Contemporary Artspace Exhibition in Woollongong, Australia.

Share your IWD 2024 #InspireInclusion activity

Are you doing something amazing for IWD 2024 to rally your community to #InspireInclusion? 

Send in your news, images, published videos and more for potential inclusion in the IWD 2024 round up, and to perhaps collaborate on a potential article.

In addition to the above IWD 2023 activity, feel free to reflect on some of the 2022 activity that saw groups worldwide step forward last year committing to help #BreakTheBias.