The Most Powerful Photos from Around the World

International Women’s Day is a worldwide call to action for equity. As a news organization with an all-women reporting team, we understand that equity goes beyond equality. It requires recognition that the fight for women’s rights is inherently intersectional, presenting unique systemic barriers for women from marginalized communities. In many nations around the world, these obstacles are compounded by significant cultural, legal and societal hurdles.

Compelled to veil their hair and bodies, women in Iran routinely face gender-based violence and wage a historic battle for their basic rights. In Mexico, violence against women and femicide rates continue to rise; each day, 10 women or girls are killed. Meanwhile, in the United States, women grapple with the loss of abortion protections and bodily autonomy.

This week, as Global Press Journal celebrated 17 years of world-class international journalism, our local reporters covered International Women’s Day events across the globe, from the Voz de los Desaparecidos (Voice of the Disappeared) march in Puebla, Mexico, to a performance to raise awareness about digital sexual violence in Kathmandu, Nepal, and debates on critical women’s issues in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. It’s a stark reminder that fighting for women’s equity isn’t just about advocating for change in our own communities; it’s about advocating for the freedom of all women, everywhere.

Here are some of the most powerful images our local women journalists captured as the world came together to celebrate International Women’s Day.

—Shanté Cosme, Chief Content Officer