Women around the world are today celebrating female achievements as part of the annual International Women’s Day.

The awareness day has been running for over a century (the first was in 1911) to celebrate women’s achievements and challenge bias and discrimination. This year’s theme calls on people everywhere to help build a gender-balanced world and kicks off a year long #BalanceforBetter campaign.

The campaign seeks to highlight the importance of creating balance between the sexes in everything from the boardroom and government to media and sports coverage.

Organisations including women’s business networks, schools, charities, sports centres and public sector bodies are getting involved, with events taking place around the UK this weekend. Celebrations range from events featuring women performers and comedians, such as one in Handsworth, Birmingham, to women’s business networks such as a round table for women leading high growth businesses in Nottingham.

Flagships events will be taking place in the devolved nations, including a Business Gateway Edinburgh Conference and Women Rise Up march in Belfast. Meanwhile, the market town of Brecon in Wales is playing host to a month long Women’s Festival.

For more information about what is happening this weekend and to find out how to take part, a full list of UK events is available from the International Women’s Day website.

Photo: International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), licensed under Creative Commons.