International Women's Day: Marchers around the world call for equality

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Indonesian women rally for equality on International Women's Day in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, 8 March 2020Image source, Getty Images
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Despite fears over the coronavirus outbreak, thousands of people took to the streets across Asia, including this march in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Marches to raise awareness of discrimination against women are taking place in cities around the world to mark International Women's Day.

The protests have been widespread and well-attended despite concerns about the coronavirus.

People around the world have been marking 8 March as a special day for women for more than a century.

It grew out of the labour movement to become a UN-recognised annual event.

Women wear purple as they take part in a feminist bicycle protest during International Women's Day in Madrid, Spain, 8 March 2020Image source, Getty Images

Several protests took place across Spain. This one (above) in the capital, Madrid, was organised by a feminist group demanding equal working rights, women's right to abortion and an end to violence against women.

Actress Natalie Dormer (2nd-R) and others attend the "March4Women" demonstration in London, 8 March 2020Image source, Getty Images

In the UK, many feminist groups held online campaigns instead of street marches, but this "March4Women" demonstration in London drew large crowds, including the English actress Natalie Dormer (seen here in the orange scarf).

Women carry posters at a march for International Women's Day in Jakarta, 8 March 2020Image source, Getty Images

At a march in the Indonesian capital Jakarta, women from numerous organisations and trade unions demanded the government revoke what they see as gender discriminative laws - such as the "omnibus law" - and create new laws to protect women.

Women riding bicycles participate in the "Purple Ride" feminist women's bicycle protest on International Women's Day in Berlin, Germany, 8 March 2020Image source, Getty Images

In Germany, hundreds of women road bicycles through the streets of Berlin as part of a feminist demonstration labelled "Purple Ride".

Women Asylum Seekers, waiting at Turkey's Pazarkule border crossing to reach Europe, stage a demonstration at the buffer zone demanding they be permitted to cross during International Women's Day, 8 March 2020Image source, Getty Images

Women at Turkey's border with Greece held a demonstration demanding they be permitted to cross during International Women's Day. There have been fierce clashes between migrants and Greek border security as the former seek access to the EU

Bangladeshi women play basketball in a match organised by the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed and the Red Cross to observe International Women's Day on the outskirts of the capital, Dhaka, 8 March 2020Image source, Getty Images

Bangladeshi women played basketball on the outskirts of the capital, Dhaka, in a match organised for International Women's Day.

Activists of the Aurat (Woman) March shout slogans during a rally to mark International Women's Day in Islamabad, 8 March 2020Image source, Getty Images

Across Pakistan, marches took place in several cities in the face of violent threats and legal petitions. Here, people hold placards calling for an end to violence against women as they demonstrate in Islamabad.

Kyrgyz police arrest a woman activist on Victory Square during the celebration of International Women's Day in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, 8 March 2020Image source, EPA
Masked men attack women participating in a march in the Kyrgyzstan capital, BishkekImage source, Reuters

In the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek police detained dozens of women's rights activists shortly after masked men reportedly attacked marchers. Activists say women's rights are deteriorating in the country.

minsk 'beauty run'Image source, Reuters

In Belarus women took part in a "beauty run" to mark the day. Here, women warm up ahead of the run.

Women in Spain shout and make noise by hitting pots and pans as they mark the start of the International Women's Day in Sol Square, 8 March 2020Image source, Getty Images

Women in the Spanish capital Madrid's Sol Square shouted and bashed pots and pans together to mark the start of the International Women's Day.

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