On March 8th, nearly 500 people - mostly women - took to the streets of Montreal to mark the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day. While there was a clear focus on the rights of women in Montreal  - including the ongoing fight against cuts to social services, sexism in advertising, and the crisis in missing and murdered Indigenous women - there was also a strong a signficant contingent of international solidarity activists.

With Israeli Apartheid Week kicking off across Montreal this week, there was a significant Boycott Divestment and Sanctions block out to show their support for Palestinian women living under occupation. Smaller but just as vocal were people calling for an improvement in women's rights in Iran.

Many of the women who were out in support of women's struggles globally were united once again under the banner of Women of Divers Origins, a coalition of Montreal women's groups who "representing the diversity of cultural communities in Montreal." Active in organizing for March 8th activities since 2002, this year they rallied around the popular uprisings - and women's roles within them - taking place around the world; you can read more about it in their communiqué, "THE SLAVES OF THE SLAVES RISE UP!"

One hundred years on, some have begun to say that women have equalled - or surpassed - equality with men. Both both actions, and facts, show this still isn't really the case; here's just a few articles from around the web pointing out why:

Why International Women's Day matters - Shameless Magagazine

McQuaig: The hedge fund manager and the nurse - thestar.com

There will not be a ceasefire in the war on women today. | go it alone (together) 

What other articles did you read about IWD that others should see? Post them below!