How is Europe marking International Women's Day?

German female soldier in Berlin, Germany, March 8, 2019.
German female soldier in Berlin, Germany, March 8, 2019. Copyright  REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke
By Euronews
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Join us for coverage and a round-up of events taking place to mark International Women's Day.

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Women in Madrid are among those across the globe marching on Friday to celebrate International Women's Day and protest gender inequality.

You can watch the Spanish event in the video player, below:

In Germany, the day became a public holiday for the first time on Friday while in France President Emmanuel Macron awarded the first "Simone Veil Prize" to honour actions to advance women's rights across the world.

The €100,000-prize was given to Cameroonian activist Aissa Doumara for her work against forced marriages and other violence against women and men and.

Meanwhile human rights NGO Amnesty International also organised a protest in Paris in front of Saudi Arabia's embassy, encouraging cars to "honk for women's rights."

"By honking in front of the embassy of Saudi Arabia, we recall that even though obtaining the right to drive is a big step forward for Saudi women and women's rights in the country, those who fought for it are today unjustly imprisoned," Katia Roux from Amnesty International France said in a statement.

Saudi women's rights activists Loujain al-Hathloul, Iman al-Nafjan and Aziza al -Yousef were arrested in May 2018 but have yet to be presented with any charges.

In London, the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, who was made vice-president of the Queen's Commonwealth Trust on Friday, will take part in a special panel to discuss the range of issues affecting women today.

She will be joined by singer Annie Lennox, model Adwoa Aboah and former Australian prime minister Julia Gillard among others.

Catch-up on some of Euronews content on International Women's Day

International Women’s Day: some of Google’s most common female-related questions answered

Euronews spoke to Google to find out some of the most commonly-searched questions it had received regarding women over the last year. These include: Who was the first woman in space? To win a Nobel prize? Or to lead a country?

International Women's Day: EU progress on gender equality is moving at a 'snail's pace'

In its annual report released in time for International Women's Day, the European Commission highlighted several areas where inequality in Europe prevails, whether its the long-discussed issue of pay gaps, or the unwavering glass ceiling that looms over women reaching for high-profile employment.

How International Women’s Day is being marked across Europe

This year's official theme is #BalanceforBetter - but there are many unofficial events taking place too. Euronews recaps how the day is being recognised across Europe.

The women of Euronews

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