One of the most important days in the calendar is upon us and the question on our lips is: How can you play a part in forging a gender equal world for International Women's Day (IWD) and beyond?

Where Women Work is an IWD Collaboration Partner because we firmly believe that an equal world is an enabled world. 

IWD is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women - while also marking a call to action for accelerating gender equality. The race is on for the gender equal boardroom, a gender equal government, gender equal media coverage, gender equal workplaces, gender equal sports coverage, more gender equality in health and wealth . We can all be #EachforEqual and drive positive change.

Here are some ideas for how you can get involved in #IWD2020.

Strike the #EachforEqual pose

© Photograph: Sarah Koester / EyeEm

Put your arms out front and strike the #EachforEqual pose to motivate others and to make International Women's Day your day.

Share your poses across Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, and further platforms. Gather your work colleagues and strike the pose together. 

Consider moving your career to an IWD Partner or Supporter

IWD has many Partners and Supporters who actively support women's advancement - Like HCL, Amazon, Avon and Medtronic. These companies maintain a strong connection between their higher purpose and their business, they value diversity and inclusion, and they lead the way when it comes to attracting and retaining female talent.

• HCL Technologies: HCL is a next-generation global technology company that helps enterprises re-imagine their businesses for the digital age. Women's empowerment is an important part of HCL's holistic diversity agenda. 
   
• Amazon: what unites Amazonians is that they’re all striving to delight their customers and make their lives easier. Women lead some of Amazon's largest and most innovative businesses and have a positive impact on their products and services.
   
• Avon: for more than 130 years Avon has stood for women: providing innovative, quality beauty products primarily sold to women, through women. Avon supports women's empowerment, entrepreneurship and well-being and has donated over $1 billion to women's causes through Avon and the Avon Foundation. Learn about their important #SpeakOut campaign calling for an end to the pejorative words often used to describe confident, assertive women. 
   
• Medtronic: as an employer, Medtronic works to help women excel in all areas of their lives — to enjoy the benefits of balance, while pursuing meaningful, fulfilling careers that improve human welfare. 

And there are many further progressive organizations who support International Women's Day and continuously maintain a strong focus on supporting women's advancement in the workplace and beyond - so why not compare your current employer and perhaps see if the grass may be greener elsewhere.

"Go to where you're celebrated" is our mantra to all women in the workplace. 

Check out the IWD influencers leading positive change

Within their sphere of influence, executive leaders worldwide take concrete action to help forge a gender equal world. Read the IWD Influencer Statements that shine a light on champions who acknowledge their responsibility in actively encouraging others to be #EachforEqual.

Hear from these progressive leaders who promote a gender equal world - and maybe even considering finding a rewarding career within their organizations. 

Attend an IWD event

From concerts and conferences to fun runs and festivals - IWD is celebrated globally. Groups worldwide raise awareness, celebrate achievement and rally for change to help forge a more gender-equal world and show their commitment to being #EachforEqual.

Search for exciting IWD events to attend and support - or considering hosting your own event in your place of work.

Access the guidance and resources

Need help planning IWD?

Check out the HOW TO section on the IWD website to access useful guidance and resource tools to help guide and support your activity - from downloadable resources and tools like IWD Selfie Cards, Event Resources and IWD Posters, to women-owned event suppliers and speakers. Make your IWD a great success.

Enter one of the IWD Competitions

Celebrating achievements of women and organizations supporting them, some exciting competitions also mark IWD.

Here are just some of the competitions you can get involved with: Best Practice Competition, Cake Competition, Photography Competition, Women Rappers Project, Women Street Artists Competition, and Women Typographers Competition.

Year long activity and collaboration

The above suggestions are just a handful of ideas for how you can get involved in IWD - but remember that the #EachforEqual campaign runs all year long. 

The campaign theme provides a unified direction to guide and galvanize continuous collective action, with #EachforEqual activity reinforced and amplified all year.

Make this IWD a special one to remember

Remember that equality is not a women's issue, it's a business issue - and is everyone's responsibility. Women's equality requires us all to constantly think and be inclusive - all the time, everywhere.

A gender equal world can be healthier, wealthier and more harmonious - so let's make every day International Women's Day.

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