International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day (IWD) – 8 March – is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women, who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.

IWD 2023 Theme: Cracking the Code

UN Women Australia’s International Women’s Day theme for 2023 is ‘Cracking the Code: Innovation for a gender equal future’.

Based on the priority theme for the United Nations 67th Commission on the Status of Women – Cracking the Code highlights the role that bold, transformative ideas, inclusive technologies, and accessible education can play in combatting discrimination and the marginalisation of women globally.

Innovation is a driver of change and by embracing new technologies and championing the unique skills and knowledge of women in science, technology, mathematics, and engineering (STEM), we can accelerate our progress towards a gender equal future.

While innovation has the power to transform lives, we know that there are still many barriers to equality. Access to inclusive digital technologies and education is critical. We must innovate to close the digital divide that keeps so many women offline and away from new opportunities.

By ensuring equal access to education for women and girls and creating clear pathways and inclusive workplaces for women in STEM, we can leverage the transformative power of inclusive innovation, so critical to cracking the code to gender equality.

Get Involved

Whether you’re an individual, an organisation, in Parliament, in the office, online, or at school – there are many ways to get involved and show your support for women and girls around the world on IWD.

Previous IWD Events

Take a look at our previous IWD events held across Australia, showcasing inspiring speakers that come together to celebrate the achievements we have made and highlight actions still needed to advance the gender equality agenda.