Leaders of the fight for women's equality are marking International Women's Day (Tuesday) by paying tribute to their advancements and achievements over the past century.
At the United Nations, thousands of delegates from 130 countries are meeting to assess progress on a blueprint for equality adopted at a similar conference in Beijing 10 years ago. That blueprint called for improving health care for women, reducing human rights violations against them, and boosting their opportunities for economic and political advancement.
In Asia, there were rallies and protests against a wide range of gender inequalities. At a forum in Bangkok, participants were told that last December's tsunami disaster across the region has led to widespread dangers for women such as giving birth in unsafe conditions.
The European Parliament marked the day by saying male attitudes must change to achieve gender equality. Officials called on EU member states to grant equal wages to women and help make their lives easier.
The first International Women's Day was established in 1910 in Copenhagen and was designed to promote women's suffrage worldwide.
Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and UN Release.