In pictures: How International Women's Day was marked in countries around the world
Equal rights, violence against women and the right to an education were among just some of the crucial issues discussed during International Women's Day 2016.
Hundreds of thousands of women - and many men - took to the streets in countries around the world to highlight inequality and call for action.
Here's how the day was marked around the world:
Hundreds hit the streets for the Unite & Fight for Liberation rally and march in Harlem, New York City.
In Honduras, campaigners held an event in honour of murdered human rights and environmental activist Berta Cáceres.
She was shot at home in what her family say was an assassination for her opposition to illegal logging, dams and plantation owners.
In Britain, MP Jess Phillips stood up in the House of Commons to read aloud the names of all 120 women murdered in the country since the last International Women's Day - an average of one every three days.
Her speech was greeted by applause from fellow MPs.
A march to highlight the problem of sexual violence against women was held in Tbilisi, Georgia.
Actress and gender equality activist Emma Watson joined the First Lady of New York City Chirlane McCray to light the Empire State Building, promoting the HeForShe campaign.
HeForShe encourages men to speak out on behalf of women's rights.
Palestinian women marched through central Gaza City as part of a demonstration supporting the Palestinian cause.
Paraguay's international football team coach Ramon Diaz posed with a sign revealing his support for the HeForShe movement, after speaking during a news conference to announce his squad for the upcoming matches against Ecuador and Brazil.
US First Lady Michelle Obama welcomed young girls from the United Nations Foundation's adolescent girl campaign Girl Up.
The Girls' Lounge 'Let Girls Learn' bus turned up at the White House, helping to promote education for girls around the world.
Members of a number of non-governmental female-led organisations attended demonstrations as part of the International Women's Day celebrations in Kolej Square, Ankara, Turkey.
A performance art piece in Gijon, Spain, involved the placing of red shoes in a public square to symbolise those injured or lost to violence against women.
The event was organised by Amnesty International.
Activists in El Salvador held a march to protest rape, sexual objectification and violence against women.
A rally was held in central Istanbul, Turkey, to mark the occasion.
A conference discussing International Women's Day was held at the Arts Council in Karachi, Pakistan, featuring a talk by rape survivor Kainat Soomro.
The event was organised by Tehrik-e-Niswan, a cultural action group working on women's development through theatre.
The High Council for Equality between Women and Men (HCEfh) was launched at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, by President Francois Hollande.
A demonstration for International Women's Day was held in Berlin, Germany, by women's groups and the Die Linke party.