# What’s happening on International Women’s Day 2018: the round up

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2018/03/08/whats-happening-international-womens-day-2018-the-round-up/
- Published: 2018-03-08T09:05:29+00:00
- Author: Melanie May

**Here’s a round up of some of the activity and campaigns taking place on and around
this year’s International Woman’s Day, which takes place today, 8 March.**

[[

Press for Progress is this year’s campaign theme, which carries on throughout the
year and pushes for gender parity. This year individuals and organisations are asked
to send their best #PressforProgress pictures showing their commitment to gender
parity to be shared on [the IWD website](https://www.internationalwomensday.com/)
and via social media channels.

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#### Research to read and take part in:

With sexual harassment in the sector firmly on the agenda following the [Presidents Club](https://fundraising.co.uk/2018/01/24/charities-condemn-presidents-club-wake-ft-investigation/)
and [Oxfam GB Haiti](https://fundraising.co.uk/2018/02/20/oxfam-chief-executive-appears-international-development-committee-new-misconduct-claims-announced/)
stories, there are at least two surveys currently asking for views and experiences
to be shared on the subject, while others have been seeking views on what women 
need or want:

> Check out this video made by [@Is3rdSectSexist](https://twitter.com/Is3rdSectSexist?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> Strategy Lead [@AnnieLouiseG](https://twitter.com/AnnieLouiseG?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw).
> Our respondents say organisations well equipped to deal with [#sexism](https://twitter.com/hashtag/sexism?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> and [#sexualharassment](https://twitter.com/hashtag/sexualharassment?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> have equality at their heart ❤️💚💜 We're posting new findings from our research
> everyday this week for [#IWD2018](https://twitter.com/hashtag/IWD2018?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> [pic.twitter.com/GSfUhxv9ST](https://t.co/GSfUhxv9ST)
> — Is the third sector sexist? (@Is3rdSectSexist) [March 7, 2018](https://twitter.com/Is3rdSectSexist/status/971357411792519171?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Is the third sector sexist wants to hear from anyone, of any gender, sexuality or
ethnicity, who has experienced or witnessed sexism or sexual harassment in the charity
sector. The research will contribute to research by trainees of Charityworks 2017(
[http://www.charity-works.co.uk/](https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.charity-works.co.uk/&sa=D&ust=1520453296710000&usg=AFQjCNFOO9BtZChe4QT957_CsH1pWx1cvg)),
and influence a discussion on how to create a culture of confidence and solidarity
within the third sector but is separate to the CharityWorks scheme.

 

https://twitter.com/LucyCaldicott/status/970657828724789256

Lucy Caldicott is also seeking views on equality, inclusion and solidarity in the
voluntary sector in order to assess the value in creating some form of cross-functional,
intersectional network to share stories, create a sense of solidarity, and mutual
support to make change happen in people’s own organisations and beyond.

 

> Today's the day! We hope to see you all tonight as we launch the WhatWomenWant
> 2.0 report in Parliament, alongside Shami Chakrabarti, a cross-party panel of 
> MPs and a whole host of wonderful feminist authors. Join us and find out [#whatwomenwant](https://twitter.com/hashtag/whatwomenwant?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> at the [#WWWLaunch](https://twitter.com/hashtag/WWWLaunch?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw).
> [pic.twitter.com/pDBG6ws0oV](https://t.co/pDBG6ws0oV)
> — What Women Want 2.0 (@WhatWomenWantXX) [March 7, 2018](https://twitter.com/WhatWomenWantXX/status/971301928188522496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Institute of Fundraising’s Steph Siddall has been coordinating the [What Women Want 2.0](https://www.thisiswhatwomenwant.org/).
project, which asked over 8,000 women in the UK what they want and was presented
in Parliament yesterday with a host of speakers including Shelter’s Polly Neate,
Gingerbread’s Dalia Ben-Galim, and Shami Chakrabarti. The report can be downloaded
[here](https://www.thisiswhatwomenwant.org/). Steph has also [written a blog](https://www.institute-of-fundraising.org.uk/blog/what-women-in-fundraising-want/)
reflecting on how the findings could reflect on what women in fundraising might 
want, published on the IoF site. The IoF also recently launched an [Expert Advisory Panel on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion](https://www.institute-of-fundraising.org.uk/guidance/equality-diversity-inclusion/expert-panel-equality-diversity-inclusion/),
which held its first meeting last month.

 

> [#Welsh](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Welsh?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [#Women](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Women?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)!
> We want to hear from YOU! Film yourself answering our four questions and be part
> of our [#InternationalWomensDay](https://twitter.com/hashtag/InternationalWomensDay?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> film this year! All the info you need: [https://t.co/dRdG2tXSkl](https://t.co/dRdG2tXSkl)
> [#RaisingVoices](https://twitter.com/hashtag/RaisingVoices?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> [#Wales](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Wales?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [#Women](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Women?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> [#SpeakUp](https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpeakUp?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [pic.twitter.com/FN52MEfIee](https://t.co/FN52MEfIee)
> — Oxfam Cymru (@OxfamCymru) [February 10, 2018](https://twitter.com/OxfamCymru/status/962376869738958848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

To mark International Women’s Day Oxfam Cymru is [asking people to help it create a video](https://www.oxfam.org.uk/cymru/blog/2018/02/blog-entry)
that will highlight that things that need to change for women in Wales by sending
us a short film of themselves answering four questions including What challenges
they face as a woman in Wales today and to name the one thing that would make Wales
better for women today.

 

#### A number of organisations are celebrating inspirational women:

 

> On [#IWD2018](https://twitter.com/hashtag/IWD2018?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw),
> we remember the amazing achievements of Anne Sullivan, teacher to Helen Keller
> and blind herself. The influence of her pioneering work continues in the education
> of blind and deafblind children today. [#PressForProgess](https://twitter.com/hashtag/PressForProgess?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> [pic.twitter.com/nv2mTGyHXY](https://t.co/nv2mTGyHXY)
> — RNIB (@RNIB) [March 7, 2018](https://twitter.com/RNIB/status/971435623612547074?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

To celebrate International Women’s Day RNIB has put together a list of a few of ‘
the most fierce women in literature – both fictional and real’, from Virginia Woolf,
to Helen Keller, to Jane Eyre, and Katniss Everdeen – inviting people to [read their stories](http://www.rnib.org.uk/talking-books/international-womens-day-2017)
as Talking Books.

 

> We're celebrating our Bloodwise female-funded scientists in the lead up to [#Internationalwomensday](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Internationalwomensday?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw).
> This is Chiara Pirillo, who is trying to find new treatments for leukaemia by 
> understanding the interactions btwn AML & healthy cells in the bone marrow [#Internationalwomensday](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Internationalwomensday?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> [pic.twitter.com/fW4XCuaZd4](https://t.co/fW4XCuaZd4)
> — Blood Cancer UK (@bloodcancer_uk) [March 6, 2018](https://twitter.com/bloodcancer_uk/status/971088522659557377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Bloodwise is celebrating its Bloodwise-funded female scientists who are paving the
way in blood cancer research and working to improve the lives of people with blood
cancer.

 

> All week, we'll be sharing stories on Instagram of the women who have inspired
> Openers to celebrate [#InternationalWomensDay](https://twitter.com/hashtag/InternationalWomensDay?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw).
> Kicking things off is our Chief Finance Officer, Emma Jinks who's inspired by 
> her mum. Take a look [https://t.co/tPFpWHeYuy](https://t.co/tPFpWHeYuy) [#lifeatopen](https://twitter.com/hashtag/lifeatopen?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> — Open I B Corp (@LifeAtOpen) [March 5, 2018](https://twitter.com/LifeAtOpen/status/970787772679315456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Fundraising agency Open is sharing stories on Instagram of the women who have inspired
Openers to celebrate IWD2018.

 

> 63% of GOOD are women. Today for [#IWD2018](https://twitter.com/hashtag/IWD2018?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> they are taking over. We will be sharing female led thought leadership, have made
> all our women visible on the website and have an Instagram takeover. Join us in
> celebrating these amazing women. [#PressForProgess](https://twitter.com/hashtag/PressForProgess?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> [pic.twitter.com/4ugozCuALi](https://t.co/4ugozCuALi)
> — GOOD Agency (@goodagencyldn) [March 8, 2018](https://twitter.com/goodagencyldn/status/971664431938789376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

63% of GOOD Agency are women and today it is celebrating them on its social media
channels and website.

 

> “You matter because you are you, and you matter to the end of your life." On [#InternationalWomenDay](https://twitter.com/hashtag/InternationalWomenDay?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> we remember those inspirational words from a remarkable woman, Dame Cicely Saunders
> [#IWD2018](https://twitter.com/hashtag/IWD2018?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [#WomensDay](https://twitter.com/hashtag/WomensDay?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> [#hospice](https://twitter.com/hashtag/hospice?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [#internationalwomensday2018](https://twitter.com/hashtag/internationalwomensday2018?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> [#hospicecare](https://twitter.com/hashtag/hospicecare?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> [#PressforProgress](https://twitter.com/hashtag/PressforProgress?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> [pic.twitter.com/vXXc2MbRZf](https://t.co/vXXc2MbRZf)
> — Hospice UK (@hospiceuk) [March 8, 2018](https://twitter.com/hospiceuk/status/971649219822993408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Hospice UK is remembering the founder of the modern hospice movement, Dame Cicely
Saunders.

 

> Happy Women's Day! [#DYK](https://twitter.com/hashtag/DYK?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> there are 36 million blind people in the world, and 55% of visually impaired people
> are women? This [#IWD2018](https://twitter.com/hashtag/IWD2018?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw),
> follow our Twitter thread showcasing women on the frontline protecting sight and
> fighting for disability rights! [https://t.co/azTswqed1J](https://t.co/azTswqed1J)
> [pic.twitter.com/uptS6y7maI](https://t.co/uptS6y7maI)
> — Sightsavers (@Sightsavers) [March 8, 2018](https://twitter.com/Sightsavers/status/971664970361507840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Sightsavers is celebrating the women working to protect sight and fighting for disability
rights.

 

[[

The woman who helped to set up [Emmaus](http://www.emmaus.org.uk) is also being 
remembered this International Women’s Day. Lucie Coutaz worked alongside Abbé Pierre
to develop Emmaus in the 1950s in France. In 1991 the charity was brought to the
UK and now supports around 780 formerly homeless people by providing them with a
home and work. As an active member of the resistance during the Second World War,
Lucie later dedicated her life to Emmaus, but while Abbé Pierre became the figurehead
of Emmaus, Lucie Coutaz used her skils to grow the movement internationally. The
charity now operates in 37 countries on four continents. Abbé Pierre described her
as:‘…the one, without whom, nothing would have been possible”.

 

[[

June Sullivan (L) & Amanda Nevill (R)

Finalists for the [Veuve Clicquot Social Purpose Award](http://www.veuveclicquotaward.com/)
have been announced today. The Social Purpose Award celebrates business women championing
social purpose beyond their core business case. The finalists are Amanda Nevill 
CBE, British Film Institute (BFI), and June O’Sullivan MBE, CEO, London Early Years
Foundation (LEYF). According to the judging panel, both demonstrated impressive 
evidence around how they created a strong and positive impact on their core audiences.
For June, this is supporting underprivileged children in London by offering options
for early years education. Judges noted Amanda’s work pioneering the establishment
of the BFI Film Academy which is backed by the Department for Education as a gold
standard skills training initiative.

June O’Sullivan said:

> “There is a global uprising to radically change in the film and TV world to make
> it a better, more open comfortable place where women can successfully pursue careers
> with the same level of ambition and confidence afforded men; the Veuve Clicquot
> award shortlist offers a moment for me to lend my voice to the many campaigning
> for change, fast.”

 

#### Others are showing solidarity with women who have experienced harassment, violence and pay inequality:

 

> This is not ‘beer for girls’. This is beer for equality.
> Pink IPA has landed.[https://t.co/MRWnqaADXg](https://t.co/MRWnqaADXg) [pic.twitter.com/J9Kk4khk1h](https://t.co/J9Kk4khk1h)
> — BrewDog (@BrewDog) [March 6, 2018](https://twitter.com/BrewDog/status/970949172567388161?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

BrewDog has launched [Pink IPA](https://www.brewdog.com/lowdown/pink-ipa) ahead 
of International Women’s Day to draw attention to gender pay equality. The beer 
is BrewDog’s Punk IPA but repackaged with a pink label, and when bought by someone
identifying as female is 20% cheaper than the normal Punk IPA to reflect the 20%
pay gap in the UK. In addition, for four weeks, BrewDog is donating 20% of proceeds
from Pink IPA and Punk IPA to charities that support women and fight inequality,
namely the Women’s Engineering Society and 9to5.

 

https://twitter.com/womenforwomenUK/status/969285266895753217

Women for Women UK has launched [Message To My Sister](https://www.womenforwomen.org.uk/message):
a campaign that invites women to send a few words via the charity’s site to express
their solidarity and support for women living in some of the world’s most dangerous
places, and to also share their message on social media under #MessageToMySister.

 

> If I don’t want you to touch me, don’t touch me. As women and girls that should
> be a right, not a privilege. 1 in 3 women will be beaten or sexually abused in
> their lifetime – we have the power to change that. Let’s do this and say [#MyBodyisMine](https://twitter.com/hashtag/MyBodyisMine?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> [https://t.co/RfrLem30cp](https://t.co/RfrLem30cp) [pic.twitter.com/Rt2FM6cyln](https://t.co/Rt2FM6cyln)
> — Pearl Mackie (@Pearlie_mack) [March 1, 2018](https://twitter.com/Pearlie_mack/status/969255690941403136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Action Aid has launched its [This Body is Mine](https://www.actionaid.org.uk/get-involved/international-womens-day)
campaign, asking people to show their support for survivors of violence against 
women and girls by writing #ThisBodyIsMine on themselves and posting a photo on 
social media with the hashtags #MyBodyIsMine and #IWD2018.

 

#### Funding news:

In her speech on gender equality on 7 March, International Development Secretary
Penny Mordaunt MP announced new funding including a one-off competitive UK Aid Direct
funding round of up to £10 million, the Jo Cox Memorial Grants, focusing on two 
themes close to Jo Cox’s heart: women’s social, economic and political empowerment,
and strengthening civil society capacity for early prediction of identity-based 
violence. More information is on the [UK Aid Direct site](https://www.ukaiddirect.org/news/applications-for-community-partnership-impact-and-jo-cox-memorial-grants-to-open-on-april-4/).

Mordaunt also said the Government was pledging £6million over four years for the
UN Women-led flagship programme initiative on gender data, to improve the quality
of gender data so the global goals can be effectively monitored. New support through
UK Aid Match was also announced to tackle violence against women and girls in Kenya
as well as the launch of a new shared approach across the UK Government to gender
in Syria.

Earlier in the week, Minister for Women and Equalities Amber Rudd announced a £1.5
million [Returners Fund](https://returnersfund.flexigrant.com/) to help tackle the
gender pay gap and support people back into work after time out caring. The fund
will offer grants to projects that help people to return to work in the private 
sector, such as those that help returners update their skills, provide other training,
or support businesses to increase employment opportunities for returners.

 

#### And finally:

[[

This year’s International Women’s Day charity of choice is the World Association
of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts ([WAGGGS](https://www.wagggs.org/)). It has just 
announced Sarah Nancollas as its new Chief Executive. WAGGGS is the largest volunteer
organisation for girls in the world and is the umbrella organisation for 10 million
Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in 150 different countries. Nancollas is the former 
Chief Executive of children’s charity Variety and was also Chief Executive of Canon
Collins Trust, a southern African education charity where she introduced a number
of activities to specifically empower women and girls.

 

> .[@WikiWomenInRed](https://twitter.com/WikiWomenInRed?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) is 
> a project that aims at fixing the [#GenderGap](https://twitter.com/hashtag/GenderGap?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> in Wikipedia and has inspired us to create [#wiki4women](https://twitter.com/hashtag/wiki4women?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw).
> On 8 March, be part of the change & help us bridge the gender gap in the digital
> space!
> ℹ️ [https://t.co/Bpydhqcgfd](https://t.co/Bpydhqcgfd) [#InternationalWomensDay](https://twitter.com/hashtag/InternationalWomensDay?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> [#IWD2018](https://twitter.com/hashtag/IWD2018?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [pic.twitter.com/FaJimaiJzv](https://t.co/FaJimaiJzv)
> — UNESCO 🏛️ #Education #Sciences #Culture 🇺🇳 (@UNESCO) [March 6, 2018](https://twitter.com/UNESCO/status/971112737144279040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

UNESCO is asking people to join its [#wiki4women](https://en.unesco.org/feedback/wiki4women-world-contributory-movement)
movement and bridge the gender gap in the digital space. Apparently only 17% of 
profiles on Wikipedia are of women. It is asking people to spend a few minutes writing
Wikipedia profiles of women committed in the fields of education, science, culture,
social and human sciences, or communication and information to readdress the balance.

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