International Women's Day 2010 Sydney

IWD Poster Sydney 2010

International Women's Day (IWD) each year attempts to encapsulate the pressing concerns of women locally, nationally and internationally. From its beginnings early in the 20th century women have sought improvements to their and their children's lives. This year is no different.

The first IWD rally held in Sydney was in 1928, when women were calling for equal pay for equal work, an eight hour day for shop workers, no piece-work, a basic wage for the unemployed and paid annual holidays.

Eighty two years later, the theme for the rally is "Fair go for Women, in Australia and around the World".

More than a thousand women reclaimed the streets of Sydney for women's rights.

Community groups and individuals from around the country and abroad have come together to march ahead of International Women's Day, which takes place on Monday.

This year's local theme is Fair Go for Women, in Australia and Around the World, and the plight of women in Burma and the murder of hundreds of women in Jaurez, Mexico, were highlighted during march.

Closer to home, the issues of Australian women's pay, maternity leave, women in prison and abortion were also raised.

"This is a celebration, it's a protest, it's us women asking why aren't we there yet?" event organiser Anne Barber said.

"This is our 99th year celebrating International Women's Day. Women make up 52 per cent of the population, but we are still treated like a minority group."

The march, which was held at noon (AEDT) on Saturday, went from Town Hall to Martin Place, in the city centre.