• Female farmers protest against farming laws on International Women's Day at Bahadurgarh, India. Reuters
    Female farmers protest against farming laws on International Women's Day at Bahadurgarh, India. Reuters
  • Afghan women attend an event to mark International Women's Day in Kabul, Afghanistan. AP Photo
    Afghan women attend an event to mark International Women's Day in Kabul, Afghanistan. AP Photo
  • Women's group Gabriela protests on International Women's Day near the presidential palace in Manila, the Philippines. AFP
    Women's group Gabriela protests on International Women's Day near the presidential palace in Manila, the Philippines. AFP
  • A woman waves the national flag of Kenya as female human rights defenders from 26 community-based organisations march to commemorate International Women's Day in Kibera, Nairobi. AFP
    A woman waves the national flag of Kenya as female human rights defenders from 26 community-based organisations march to commemorate International Women's Day in Kibera, Nairobi. AFP
  • A woman walks past a feminist mural vandalised on International Women's Day in Madrid, Spain. The original mural celebrated pioneering women, such as Rosa Parks, Frida Khalo, Angela Davis and Valentina Tereshkova, among others. AP Photo
    A woman walks past a feminist mural vandalised on International Women's Day in Madrid, Spain. The original mural celebrated pioneering women, such as Rosa Parks, Frida Khalo, Angela Davis and Valentina Tereshkova, among others. AP Photo
  • Jessika Sharma (4 years old) shows the art work done by her and her mother at ZeeArts organised event “The Women’s Art Therapy" on International Women’s day at the Element hotel in Al Jadaf in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    Jessika Sharma (4 years old) shows the art work done by her and her mother at ZeeArts organised event “The Women’s Art Therapy" on International Women’s day at the Element hotel in Al Jadaf in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • A yoga instructor teaches female passengers on a Mumbai train basic moves to celebrate International Women's Day. AFP
    A yoga instructor teaches female passengers on a Mumbai train basic moves to celebrate International Women's Day. AFP
  • A woman spreads red paint in front of the Ecuadorian Police during a march as part of International Women's Day in Quito, Ecuador. EPA
    A woman spreads red paint in front of the Ecuadorian Police during a march as part of International Women's Day in Quito, Ecuador. EPA
  • On the eve of International Women's Day, in Lebanon's capital city, the governor of Beirut, Judge Marwan Abboud, and relatives of the late Lebanese paramedic Sahar Fare, release doves in front of a commemorative portrait to honour the first female victim in the military corps. EPA
    On the eve of International Women's Day, in Lebanon's capital city, the governor of Beirut, Judge Marwan Abboud, and relatives of the late Lebanese paramedic Sahar Fare, release doves in front of a commemorative portrait to honour the first female victim in the military corps. EPA
  • Women place flowers and posters adorned with the names of victims of femicide on metal fences during a protest against sex-based hate crimes in Mexico City, Mexico. EPA
    Women place flowers and posters adorned with the names of victims of femicide on metal fences during a protest against sex-based hate crimes in Mexico City, Mexico. EPA
  • Ines Louihik, 26, takes part in a welding workshop in Tunis, Tunisia. She says: 'In 2019 I passed the welding exam. I was the only woman [along with] 35 men. It is very difficult to be accepted as a woman. Many people think that welding is hard work exclusively for men, but I have proven that women can be welders too and I am very proud of myself." EPA
    Ines Louihik, 26, takes part in a welding workshop in Tunis, Tunisia. She says: 'In 2019 I passed the welding exam. I was the only woman [along with] 35 men. It is very difficult to be accepted as a woman. Many people think that welding is hard work exclusively for men, but I have proven that women can be welders too and I am very proud of myself." EPA
  • Young people celebrated International Women's Day in Moscow, Russia, by taking part in a flashmob. EPA
    Young people celebrated International Women's Day in Moscow, Russia, by taking part in a flashmob. EPA
  • South Korean activists hold up portraits depicting the roles of female workers during a protest to mark International Women's Day in Seoul. The protesters called for an equal society free from institutional discrimination so that women can enjoy equal rights and live with dignity and pride, and build a democratic society where everyone's political, economic, social and cultural rights are fully guaranteed. Getty Images
    South Korean activists hold up portraits depicting the roles of female workers during a protest to mark International Women's Day in Seoul. The protesters called for an equal society free from institutional discrimination so that women can enjoy equal rights and live with dignity and pride, and build a democratic society where everyone's political, economic, social and cultural rights are fully guaranteed. Getty Images
  • A woman prepares a traditional Emirati pastry on the eve of International Women's Day in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. EPA
    A woman prepares a traditional Emirati pastry on the eve of International Women's Day in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. EPA
  • Women ride bikes as they participate in the Women Leadership Rally in Karachi, Pakistan. EPA
    Women ride bikes as they participate in the Women Leadership Rally in Karachi, Pakistan. EPA
  • Female Indian labourers work at a construction site on the eve of International Women's Day in Bhopal, India. EPA
    Female Indian labourers work at a construction site on the eve of International Women's Day in Bhopal, India. EPA
  • Ahead of International Women's day, Israeli women 'buried themselves' in mock coffins outside the District Court in Tel Aviv to represent those killed as a result of domestic violence. AFP
    Ahead of International Women's day, Israeli women 'buried themselves' in mock coffins outside the District Court in Tel Aviv to represent those killed as a result of domestic violence. AFP
  • In Italy, International Women's Day, or la Festa della Donna, is celebrated by men give mimosas to the women in their lives, and women gifting them to other women. Getty Images
    In Italy, International Women's Day, or la Festa della Donna, is celebrated by men give mimosas to the women in their lives, and women gifting them to other women. Getty Images

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International Women's Day in pictures: Global protests despite Covid restrictions

From Madrid to Istanbul, women are marking the day with street protests

The National

March 08, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Protests sparked in towns and cities worldwide on Monday as women took to the streets on International Women's Day.

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage, women have been adversely impacted, experiencing higher rates of domestic violence, balancing work and childcare and suffering economic fallout of job loss.

Despite restrictions on gatherings in many nations, women in took signs and chants to demand change.

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