Celebrated for over a century and inspired by the work of thousands of suffragists who campaigned for more women rights, International Women’s Day is recognised across the world.
On Saturday, hundreds of people took to the streets of Edinburgh to continue that fight.
They joined millions of people around the world who are continuing to call for gender equality, women’s rights and social justice.
STV NewsLouise Kowalska remembers hearing stories about her grandmother who was one of the first women to vote in her town.
She told STV News: “[My grandmother] would have been quite horrified I think by how the world has not changed in the time since she was first able to vote.
“She was followed up to the polling station because it was considered to be such an unusual event and her husband felt he had to go with her for protection. Luckily we don’t feel we need to do that now, but yes women need to be more visible.”
STV NewsOne of the main issues being protested during International Women’s Day is gender-based violence.
Fiona Watt said: “By this point in time you would be hoping that we would be making great strides in that and actually we’re not. The internet has caused an awful lot of that sort of thing, to become more prevalent and it is being accelerated by the far right [on social media].
“We need to overcome that.”
Demonstrators Melek and Yaprak added: “In Turkey every year, 500 women die from men’s violence so it’s a really big issue for us.”
But those taking part still have hope that things can change.
STV NewsMarian Haro said: “This year’s theme is accelerate action, so hopefully we will see in our lifetime that things have changed and I would like to see that tomorrow. But yes, we still have to fight. Hopefully it is going to be sooner rather than later.”
Those protesting join millions of people across the world, celebrating how far society has come and fighting for further change.
And they say they’ll march every year until there’s full equality for everyone.
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