What is the International Women’s Day theme for 2019 #BalanceforBetter about?
The campaign theme for the global event calls for balance for a better world
WOMEN across the world are celebrating International Women's Day TODAY - March 8.
The theme for this year #BalanceforBetter - but what does it mean? We explain all you need to know.
When is International Women's Day 2019 and what is it?
International Women’s Day is held each year on March 8 - TODAY.
It is a worldwide event that celebrates women’s achievements and calls for gender equality.
The day has been observed since the early 1900s and aims to bring together governments, women's organisations and charities.
International Women's Day is all about unity, celebration, reflection, advocacy and action.
What is this year's theme?
The 2019 campaign theme is #BalanceforBetter.
On the International Women's Day website it says: "A balanced world is a better world. How can you help forge a more gender-balanced world?
"Celebrate women's achievement. Raise awareness against bias. Take action for equality."
The website encourages people to post pictures on social media with the "hands out" balance pose stating their challenge with #IWD2019.
In 2018 the official UN theme was Time is Now: Rural and urban activists changing women's lives.
But in 2019 there are three focuses to the theme - Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change.
What does #BalanceforBetter mean?
The #BalanceforBetter campaign is not just a one day event, but runs the whole year until March 8, 2020.
The states that "balance is not a women's issue, it's a business issue".
It says the race is on for the gender-balanced boardroom, a gender-balanced government, gender-balanced media coverage, a gender-balance of employees, more gender-balance in wealth, gender-balanced sports coverage.
It adds that "gender balance is essential for economies and communities to thrive".
MORE ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
How did International Women's Day begin?
The day can be traced back to 1908 when 15,000 women marched through New York City calling for voting rights, shorter working hours and better pay.
On March 8, 1914, there was a march from Bow to Trafalgar Square in support of women's suffrage.
Suffragette Sylvia Pankhurst was notoriously arrested in front of Charing Cross station, on her way to speak in the central London square.
In the following years, a form of women’s day was held on varying dates in different countries, but by 1913 it was decided that March 8 would officially be International Women’s Day - and it has been that way ever since.
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