Rallies mark International Women's Day 2018

Spain International Women's Day — Francisco Seco/AP

A woman waves a flag during a protest marking International Women's Day in Madrid, Thursday, March 8, 2018.

Spanish women are marking the occasion with the first-ever full-day strike, and with dozens of protests across the country against wage gap and gender violence.

Spain

People gather during nationwide feminist strike on IWD at Cibeles Square in Madrid — SERGIO PEREZ/REUTERS

People gather during a nationwide feminist strike on International Women's Day at Cibeles Square in Madrid, Spain, March 8, 2018.

Born out of the fight for women's suffrage in the early 20th century and by the activism of the Socialist movement in the U.S. and Europe, International Women's Day has been recognized on March 8 for more than a century. The United Nations began promoting International Women's Day in 1975, as a day to celebrate the cultural, economic and political accomplishments of women, as well as to call for gender quality.

Spain

Protesters take part in a demonstration for women's rights in Bilbao, Spain, March 8, 2018, on International Women's Day.

Spain

Protesters form triangles with their hands during a demonstration for women's rights in Bilbao, Spain, March 8, 2018, on International Women's Day.

Spain

A protester holds a poster reading "The Revolution will be feminist or it won't happen" in a demonstration for women's rights on International Women's Day, in Bilbao — VINCENT WEST/REUTERS

A protester holds a sign reading "The Revolution will be feminist or it won't happen," during a demonstration for women's rights on International Women's Day, in Bilbao, Spain, March 8, 2018.

Spain

Women dance during a protest as as part of a nationwide feminist strike on International Women's Day in Madrid, Spain, March 8, 2018.

Spain

Woman smiles at nationwide feminist strike on IWD at Cibeles Square in Madrid — SERGIO PEREZ/REUTERS

A woman smiles at a nationwide feminist strike on International Women's Day at Cibeles Square in Madrid, Spain, March 8, 2018.

Spain

A protester holds a banner reading "Fight Like A Girl" during a demonstration for women's rights on International Women's Day in Bilbao — VINCENT WEST/REUTERS

Protesters march during a demonstration for women's rights on International Women's Day in Bilbao, Spain, March 8, 2018.

Turkey

Participants are seen during a rally on the International Women’s Day in Diyarbakir — SERTAC KAYAR/REUTERS

Participants are seen during a rally on International Women's Day in Diyarbakir, Turkey, March 8, 2018.

Turkey

Women gather during a rally on the International Women's Day in Diyarbakir, Turkey, March 8, 2018.

Turkey

Demonstrators hold banners and shout slogans during a rally to mark International Women's Day in Ankara, Turkey, March 8, 2018. The banner reads "Freedom."

Turkey

Participants dance during a rally on the International Women's Day in Diyarbakir, Turkey, March 8, 2018.

Turkey

Activists march at the main shopping and pedestrian street of Istiklal during a rally on the International Women's Day in Istanbul, Turkey, March 8, 2018.

Turkey

Activists light flares as they march at the main shopping and pedestrian street of Istiklal during a rally on the International Women's Day in Istanbul, Turkey, March 8, 2018.

Belarus

Women participate in the "Beauty Run" to mark International Women's Day in Minsk — VASILY FEDOSENKO/REUTERS

Women participate in a "Beauty Run" to mark International Women's Day in Minsk, Belarus, March 8, 2018.

Pakistan

Female members of police commando march during a ceremony on International Women's Day, at the police headquarters in Islamabad — FAISAL MAHMOOD/REUTERS

Female members of the police march during a ceremony on International Women's Day, at the police headquarters in Islamabad, Pakistan, March 8, 2018.

Pakistan

Pakistan students take part in a rally to mark International Women's Day in Lahore, Pakistan, Thursday, March 8, 2018.

Pakistan

Demonstrators hold banners and shout slogans during a rally to mark International Women's Day in Islamabad, Pakistan, March 8, 2018.

Philippines

An effigy of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is seen while women's rights activists march along a busy street during a celebration of the International Women's Day in Quiapo city, Metro Manila — ROMEO RANOCO/REUTERS

An effigy of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is seen while women's rights activists march during a celebration of International Women's Day in Quiapo city, Manila, Philippines, March 8, 2018.

Georgia

Women's right activists march on the street on the International Women's Day in Tbilisi — DAVID MDZINARISHVILI/REUTERS

Women's right activists march on International Women's Day in Tbilisi, Georgia, March 8, 2018.

South Korea

Women attend a protest as a part of the #MeToo movement on International Women's Day in Seoul, South Korea, March 8, 2018.

India

Girls shout slogans during a protest demanding equal rights for women on the occasion of International Women's Day in New Delhi — ADNAN ABIDI/REUTERS

Girls shout slogans during a protest demanding equal rights for women on International Women's Day in New Delhi, India, March 8, 2018.

India

Hindu nuns shout slogans during a rally to mark the International Women's Day in Kolkata — RUPAK DE CHOWDHURI/REUTERS

Hindu nuns shout slogans during a rally to mark International Women's Day in Kolkata, India, March 8, 2018.

India

An acid attack survivor has her makeup done backstage prior to a fashion show to mark International Women's Day, in Thane, on the outskirts of Mumbai, India, March 7, 2018.

India

A girl holds a placard as she takes part in a movement against rapes on the occasion of International Women’s Day in New Delhi — ADNAN ABIDI/REUTERS

A girl holds a placard as she takes part in a protest against rapes on the occasion of International Women's Day in New Delhi, India, March 8, 2018.

Ukraine

Participants attend a rally for gender equality and against violence towards women on the International Women's Day in Kiev — VALENTYN OGIRENKO/REUTERS

Participants attend a rally for gender equality and against violence towards women on International Women's Day in Kiev, Ukraine, March 8, 2018.

Ukraine

Participants attend a rally for gender equality and against violence towards women, on International Women's Day in Kiev, Ukraine, March 8, 2018.

Ukraine

Participants attend rally for gender equality and against violence towards women on the International Women's Day in Kiev — VALENTYN OGIRENKO/REUTERS

Participants shout slogans during a rally for gender equality and against violence towards women, on International Women's Day in Kiev, Ukraine, March 8, 2018.

Saudi Arabia

Women run during an event marking International Women's Day in Old Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, March 8, 2018.

Mexico

Perla Reyes, whose daughter Jocelyn Calderon was reported missing to police in 2012, takes part in a protest to mark International Women's Day at a memorial for female murder victims, in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, March 7, 2018.

Mexico

Hooded women hold a banner during a demonstration on International Women's Day in Mexico City, Mexico, March 8, 2018. The banner reads, "Femicides, Negligence, Violence, Inequality."

Belgium

Women's rights activists take part in a gathering on the street on the International Women's Day in Brussels — YVES HERMAN/REUTERS

Women's rights activists take part in a rally on the International Women's Day in Brussels, Belgium, March 8, 2018.

France

Demonstrators gather Place de la Republique in Paris to mark the International Women's Day — CHARLES PLATIAU/REUTERS

Participants attend a rally for gender equality and against violence towards women, at Place de la Republique in Paris, France, March 8, 2018.

Chile

A woman takes part in a rally to mark International Women's Day in Santiago — IVAN ALVARADO/REUTERS

A woman shows a noose around her neck as she takes part in a rally to mark International Women's Day in Santiago, Chile, March 8, 2018.

Chile

Women take part in a march to mark International Women's Day in Santiago, Chile, March 8, 2018.

Nicaragua

Activists take part in a march to mark International Women's Day in Managua — OSWALDO RIVAS/REUTERS

Activists take part in a march on International Women's Day in Managua, Nicaragua, March 8, 2018.

California

MIKE BLAKE/REUTERS

McDonald's iconic "M" logo is turned upside-down in honor of International Women's Day in Lynwood, California, March 8, 2018.

Argentina

A woman has the symbol for women painted on her face during a demonstration on International Women's Day in Buenos Aires — MARCOS BRINDICCI/REUTERS

A woman is seen during a demonstration on International Women's Day in Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 8, 2018.

Argentina

Women wear knickers as masks during a demonstration on International Women's Day in Buenos Aires — MARCOS BRINDICCI/REUTERS

Women wear underwear as masks during a demonstration on International Women's Day in Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 8, 2018.

Costa Rica

Women take part during a demonstration on International Women's Day in San Jose, Costa Rica, March 8, 2018.

Paraguay

A woman participates in a demonstration as part of International Women's Day in Asuncion, Paraguay, March 8, 2018.

Peru

Andean women march during a demonstration as part of International Women's Day in Lima, Peru, March 8, 2018.

El Salvador

Activist and members of the LGBTQ community participate in a march to call for an end to violence against women during International Women's Day in San Salvador — JOSE CABEZAS/REUTERS

Activists and members of the LGBTQ community participate in a march calling for an end to violence against women during International Women's Day in San Salvador, El Salvador, March 8, 2018.

Nicaragua

An activist carries her son during a march to mark International Women's Day in Managua — OSWALDO RIVAS/REUTERS

An activist carries a baby during a march to mark International Women's Day in Managua, Nicaragua, March 8, 2018.

Uruguay

A woman participates in a demonstration as part of International Women's Day in Montevideo, Uruguay, March 8, 2018.

New York City

Activists take part in a rally on International Women's Day in New York City, March 8, 2018.

New York City

The female gender symbol is displayed on the Ernst and Young Building in Times Square, New York City, on International Women's Day, March 8, 2018.