SNP MSP Christina McKelvie notes the #PressForProgress campaign has five key asks:

1. maintain a gender parity mindset
2. challenge stereotypes and bias
3. greater visibility of women
4. influencing actions
5. celebrating women's achievements

"What we want is simple: to be treated equality", says Ms McKelvie.

Many women at Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre are on hunger strike, the MSP notes.

"I stand with these women today."

She ends by asking: "What will you do to press for press?"

One fifth of Scottish Parliament staff - including one in three women - have experienced sexual harassment or sexist behaviour while working at Holyrood.

The parliament published the results of a confidential survey of MSPs and staff which more than 1,000 took part in.

A fifth of respondents said they had experienced such behaviour, including 30% of women.

Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh said the survey results "make difficult reading".

Read more here.

Image source, bbc

SNP MSP Gail Ross says someone who shall remain nameless asked her when was International Men's Day.

Ms Ross says it reminds her of when she was a child on Mother's Day and she asked her mother when was Daughter's Day.

Every day is Daughter's day her mother replied.

The SNP MSP goes on to more serious issues and highlights the recent sexual harassment survey at the Scottish Parliament.

She says: "Let's make sure that every day is women's day."

Labour MSP Rhoda Grant calls for better support mechanisms for domestic abuse survivors.

She expresses concern about abusive partners who gain access to children, suggesting courts are facilitating abuse on behalf of the state.

Domestic abuse starts with financial abuse, says the member, and urges the Scottish government to introduce split payments for Universal Credit.

"I hope in my lifetime that women will be truly equal."

Image source, bbc

Labour MSP Rhoda Grant says she wishes there was no need for International Women's Day but says there are still many battles to be wo.

Ms Grant says period poverty has been long overlooked and says "we need to continue to press for progress", echoing this year's theme.

She says the best way to really thank women is to treat them with respect and to treat them equally.

The Labour MSP says we need to press for progress in tackling violence against women.

She says more than 60% of cases of reported revenge porn are not being passed to prosecutors.

Image source, PA

Fourteen women have given written testimonies based on their experiences of pay negotiations at the BBC.

One said her line manager told her "the BBC doesn't do equal pay".

The evidence was submitted ahead of Wednesday's parliamentary select committee hearing about the gender pay gap at the BBC.

There, the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) committee heard from the BBC's director general Tony Hall.

Carrie Gracie, who recently resigned as the BBC's China editor over pay disparity, also appeared.

Most women who gave written evidence, via the BBC Women group, did not wish to give their names out of concern for their careers at the corporation.

Read their stories in full here.

"It is absolutely right to challenge the status quo," says Tory MSP Annie Wells.

Speaking about the recent reports on the BBC's gender pay gap, Ms Wells says transparency has been key to addressing issues.

"Culturally, I believe we are still pedaling the same gender stereotypes for boys and girls as they grow up."

Gender parity across the world is over 200 years away and one in three women have experienced physical abuse because of their gender, the member says.

She commends the UK's funding of programmes to end violence against women and girls around the world, but adds more must be done.

Ms Wells ends by thanking her mum, who she describes as an inspiration - and adds she would have "got it in the neck" if she did not mention her.

Image source, Getty Images

UK companies with 250 or more employees must publish their gender pay gap data by April 2018.

About 9,000 firms will have to calculate their gender pay gap and publish it on a government website, external by 4 April 2018, or 30 March for the public sector.

With big companies revealing their figures, including the BBC, the gender pay gap is a major talking point in offices across the UK.

BBC News explains what you need to know about the gender pay gap, why companies have to report on it and what happens if they don't.

Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Annie Wells says she will support the government motion today as she fights to protect the rights of women and girls around the world.

Ms Wells says she welcomes the encouragement being given to women to take up STEM subjects and take up tech roles in the UK.

At the moment only 5% STEM apprentices are women, she says.

The Tory MSP goes on to say the UK gender pay gap is remarkably high and says women effectively work for free for 67 days of the year.

Image source, International Women's Day

This year's International Women's Day's theme is #PressForProgress.

From IWD's website........, external

With the World Economic Forum's 2017 Global Gender Gap Report findings telling us that gender parity is over 200 years away - there has never been a more important time to keep motivated and #PressforProgress. And with global activism for women's equality fuelled by movements like #MeToo, #TimesUp and more - there is a strong global momentum striving for gender parity.

While we know that gender parity won't happen overnight, the good news is that across the world women are making positive gains day by day. Plus, there's indeed a very strong and growing global movement of advocacy, activism and support.

So we can't be complacent. Now, more than ever, there's a strong call-to-action to press forward and progress gender parity. A strong call to #PressforProgress. A strong call to motivate and unite friends, colleagues and whole communities to think, act and be gender inclusive.

Girls will not accept gender inequality as inevitable, says the cabinet secretary.

She praises founder of Me Too Tarana Burke, who began the campaign in 1996 after a young girl confided in her about sexual abuse.

Ms Constance also recalls the story of the Glasgow Girls, an activist group who shone a light on poor treatment of asylum seekers.

Malala Yousafi is mentioned, as is SNP MP Mhairi Black who yesterday revealed the extent of abuse directed towards her.

The equalities secretary notes the Girlguiding survey found 57% did not believe politicians respond to issues important to them.

Equality for women and girls is good for all of us, she says.

"Every step that takes us closer to that goal is a step worth taking."

The cabinet secretary points towards efforts to encourage women into STEM, to educate young people about relationships and consent, and to get more women into political office.