Spain: International Women's Day: 'Millions' join Spain strike

Women workers in Spain are marking International Women's Day with an unprecedented strike targeting gender inequality and sexual discrimination.

Unions said 5.3 million women had joined the 24-hour strike, backed by 10 unions and some of Spain's top women politicians.

Hundreds of thousands of women have joined street protests across Spain, shouting "if we stop, the world stops".

Events marking the day are being held in dozens of other nations.

 Read more" International Women's Day: 'Millions' join Spain strike - BBC News

Turkey: Women march in Turkey but are confronted by police

Riot police in Istanbul forcibly broke up a rally of hundreds of women as they marked International Women’s Day two days early.

March the 8 is the official date but the city’s governor banned their rally planned for then, citing security concerns.

At least one person was detained in a scuffle with police who were seen firing rubber bullets at the women.
Turkey has drawn criticism for its handling of gender issues

According to a 2011 UN report, non-sexual physical violence committed by intimate partners was 10 times more likely there than in other European countries.

Read more: Women march in Turkey but are confronted by police | euronews, world news

EU celebrates March 8 International Women's Day in Turkey

EU Supports Turkish Women's fight  against gender inequality

On the occasion of the International  Women's Day, the Delegation of the European Union to Turkey reiterates its support to women in Turkey in fighting gender inequalities, a key issue in Turkey's development agenda and its EU accession process. 

The EU Delegation is organizing between 5-9 March 20 events, revolving around the theme of "Women's Rights and the European Union" in Ankara, Antalya, Bursa, Denizli Edirne, Erzurum, Eskişehir, Gaziantep, İstanbul, İzmir, Kayseri, Kocaeli, Konya, Mersin, Samsun, Sivas, Şanlıurfa, Trabzon and Van with the aim of promoting gender equality and generating public awareness through panel discussions, seminars and film  screenings.

In Ankara, the Chargé d'affaires a.i. of the EU Delegation, Béla Szombati, will deliver a keynote speech at an event entitled "Being WOMAN in Bold Letters" on March 6, 2015 at the Yunus Emre Cultural Centre in Ankara. The event, which starts at 15:00, will  lso feature a classical music performance by FeminIstanbul and a pantomime show for children.

Read more: EU celebrates March 8 International Women's Day in Turkey