Established in 1977 by the UN, this day of struggle is embodied in different countries where women's rights are far from being equivalent.
A world tour of a high-risk fight in certain regions of the planet.
To discover
LIVE - Pensions: follow the new day of demonstration against the reform this Wednesday
Afghanistan, brave women in a country adrift
Afghan women demonstrate for their rights on International Women's Day in Kabul on March 8, 2023. AFP
About twenty women defied the ban and gathered in Kabul to celebrate this International Women's Rights Day.
And this, despite the regime's violent repression against them.
This Wednesday, March 8, the UN has also described Afghanistan as the "
most repressive
" country in the world in terms of women's rights.
Since the return of the Taliban to power, women have gradually lost all of their rights: that of traveling without being accompanied by a male relative, that of accessing parks, gardens, sports halls and public baths, or to take courses at a university.
Germany and the United Kingdom: marches in tribute to the courage of Iranian women
In Berlin, hundreds of people gathered outside the German Bundestag.
They paid tribute to the Iranians who have been fighting against the mullahs' regime since the death of Mahsa Amini on September 16.
The young Kurd had been arrested by the police in Tehran.
She was accused of breaking the strict dress code requiring women to wear the veil.
His death sparked a historic wave of protests across the country, which resulted in harsh crackdowns.
Recently, Iran has also faced a series of poisonings that have affected thousands of schoolgirls.
A woman holds the portrait of Mahsa Amini, a young Iranian woman who died last September, in Berlin, March 8, 2023. John MACDOUGALL / AFP
Portraits of missing persons or victims of the Iranian regime are visible on the ground in front of the lower house of the German parliament, in Berlin, on March 8, 2023. John MACDOUGALL / AFP
In London, dozens of women also used the day to pay tribute to Iranian women.
To do this, they walked in silence carrying the portrait of victims of the Iranian regime.
They were also dressed in red capes, clearly displaying their reference to the famous series
The Handmaid's Tale
(
La servante écarlate
in French).
This fiction evokes a world dominated by men, where women are oppressed and regulated in all aspects of their lives.
France, feminist processions criss-cross major cities
Women march during a demonstration against the pension reform project on the occasion of International Women's Day in Toulouse, March 8, 2023. Charly TRIBALLEAU / AFP
Various feminist associations, such as "WeAll" or "Women Equality", criss-crossed the streets of the major cities of France (Paris, Rennes, Lille, Toulouse) denouncing a powerful "patriarchy".
This day comes at the heart of the protest against the pension reform.
“
Feminist strike
”, “
we are not born a woman but we die of it
”, could we read on placards while several political figures denounced an unequal reform.
Kenya, women fighting for parity
Women march to celebrate International Women's Day in the slum of Kibera, Kenya, March 8, 2023. YASUYOSHI CHIBA / AFP
Women march to celebrate International Women's Day in the slum of Kibera, Kenya, March 8, 2023. YASUYOSHI CHIBA / AFP
Women and men marched through the Kibera slum in Nairobi, Kenya, to the sound of trumpets.
The walk on the sandy road also brought in children.
Read alsoFive years after #MeToo, these fighters who somehow defend women's rights
Pakistan, divisive protests
An Aurat March (Women's March) activist removes barbed wire as police attempt to arrest her during a rally to mark International Women's Day in Islamabad, March 8, 2023. Aamir QURESHI / AFP
Thousands of women took part in rallies across Pakistan on March 8, despite efforts by authorities to block divisive marches.
The marches, called “Aurat”, have been heavily criticized since their first version in 2018. Its organizers have notably been accused by conservatives of promoting Western liberal values.
In previous editions, Islamists had thrown stones at protesters in Islamabad.
Read alsoThe explosion of inflation puts Pakistan on the brink
Journalists and personalities filmed scenes of repression claiming that “
fascism in Pakistan continues
”.
“
Police have orders to teach anyone who shows up
,” reads a tweet that refers to violence in Lahore, a city in which demonstrations had been banned.
They were about 2000 women to face the police in a city of more than 11 million inhabitants.
Sri Lanka, a demonstration in a nation in the midst of an economic crisis
A protester speaks to a police officer during a demonstration organized by the group "Women for Rights", in Colombo, Sri Lanka, March 8, 2023. DINUKA LIYANAWATTE / REUTERS
Anti-government protesters shout slogans during a demonstration organized by the group "Women for Rights", in Colombo, on March 8, 2023. ISHARA S. KODIKARA / AFP
Hundreds of anti-government protesters gathered in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on March 8, 2023. The day comes as the country is hit hard by an economic crisis.
The demonstrators took this opportunity to recall their anger against recent tax reform proposals and against the economic crisis.
The latter is the largest since the country's independence in the middle of the 20th century.
Ukraine, a poignant tribute in a country at war
Antonio Guterres and Volodymyr Zelensky attend an award ceremony for Ukrainian military women on the occasion of International Women's Day, in Kiev, March 8, 2023. SERGEI SUPINSKY / AFP
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky paid tribute on Wednesday to women "
who have sacrificed their lives
" since the start of the Russian invasion a year ago.
“
I think it's important to say thank you today.
To thank all the women who work, teach, study, rescue, care for, fight for Ukraine
,” he said in a video.
Read alsoIn the heart of hell in Ukraine, the wars of women
The Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, and the Ukrainian President also attended a special award ceremony in kyiv.
On the occasion of this international day, prizes were awarded to Ukrainian military women.