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IWD is an annual event to celebrate the achievements of women and push for rights progress. It has roots in the U.S. socialist and labour movements of the early 20th century, particularly as women were fighting for better working conditions and the right to vote. The first recorded celebration was in 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland when over a million people rallied to support women’s rights. Since then, the event has grown not only in size but also in its scope. Focus has expanded to issues ranging from violence against women to parity in the workplace.

Ukrainian female soldiers walk past displayed Russian military vehicles destroyed in battle with the Ukrainian army, with their awards and flowers received from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on International Women's Day in Kyiv, Ukraine.ROMAN PILIPEY/Getty Images

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Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres (L) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (R, background) attend an award ceremony for Ukrainian servicewomen on the occasion of the Internetional Women's Day, in Kyiv.SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images

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People attend a demonstration to mark International Women's Day under the heading "together we are powerful", in Berlin, Germany.ANNEGRET HILSE/Reuters

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Women celebrate International Women's Day by taking the plunge in the waters of the the estuary of Firth of Forth, in Edinburgh, Scotland, Britain.ALICIA BRUCE/Reuters

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Demonstrators hold a banner that reads "the government owes us" during an International Women's Day march, in Caracas, Venezuela.GABY ORAA/Reuters

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Demonstrators march to Taksim Square to mark the International Women's Day in Istanbul, Turkey.KEMAL ASLAN/Reuters

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A woman displays paintings made using local and waste materials, in the area of al-Salha near Omdurman during the International Women's Day.ASHRAF SHAZLY/AFP/Getty Images

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Women chant slogans during a rally to mark the International Women's Day as multiple demonstrations took place during a nationwide day of mass strikes and protests over the country's worst rail tragedy that killed 57 people last week in Athens, Greece.LOUISA GOULIAMAKI

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Women dressed in red form a human chain as part of a demonstration against the Israeli government's judicial overhaul and to mark International Women's Day, on a beachfront in Tel Aviv, Israel.AMIR COHEN/Reuters

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A group of women perform in a march marking International Women's Day, in Lima, Peru.Martin Mejia

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A demonstrator shouts slogans demanding greater rights for women during a march on International Women's Day, in Caracas.FEDERICO PARRA/AFP/Getty Images

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A person holds a poster depicting a femicide victim during a Women's Day protest with the theme "Women united against injustice" in Valletta, Malta.DARRIN ZAMMIT LUPI/Reuters

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Women gather outside the United Nations during an International Women's Day rally in New York.TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images

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Billie Jean King (C) after receiving "The Know Your Value Award" with Chair of the 30/50 Summit Mika Brzezinski (L) and Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (R) on stage at the Forbes 30/50 Summit International Women's Day Awards Gala 2023 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.Francois Nel/Getty Images

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Demonstrators attend a rally in support to the women of Iran and Afghanistan on the International Women's Day in Berlin, Germany.Markus Schreiber/The Associated Press

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