International Women's Day

At Digicel Pacific, this theme celebrates the great efforts of our women across our five markets - Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu and Nauru in shaping a more equal future, accepting differences and celebrating diversity.

Five feminists from the Pacific chose to acknowledge International Women's Day this year by sharing their ideas on tackling gender-based violence and gender inequality.

A Samoan woman is using her non-governmental organisation called Brown Girl Woke to empower young girls in primary schools in rural areas.

There were special female guest appearances made by the New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Tonga, Tiffany Babington and one of Tonga’s accomplished local entrepreneur, Mrs. Liz Sullivan, to celebrate International Women’s Day.

The women in business were delighted to slip away from the busy Monday morning run to be encouraged by each other’s presence, but also find inspiration from Babington and Sullivan.

The 2019 initiative is aimed at gender equality, a greater awareness of discrimination and a celebration of women's achievements.

Staff at Digicel PNG’s headquarters joined the rest of the world in celebrating International Women's Day today, which coincided with the company’s Women In Leadership League third anniversary.

One of the women leaders within the organisation, Digicel PNG’s head of human resource, Helen Gegeyo, shared her thoughts on the theme: ‘Balance for Better’.

Today is International Women's Day and the director of Tonga's Women and Children Crisis Centre said it is a good time to take stock of the fact that less than seven percent of MP's are women.

'Ofa Guttenbeil-Likiliki said Tonga has agreed to the UN target of a minimum 30 percent.

She said the theme of this year's day, 'Press for Progress,' is a call to keep pushing for legislative change that will increase the representation of women from the current two female MPs.

She said some of Tonga's neighbours have set good examples.

The music and culture network flipped its logo upside down -- turning the "M" into a "W" -- on TV and online Wednesday.

"WTV" also announced that employees running its social media accounts would go on "strike" for the day as a nod to protests expected worldwide.

A national strike movement called A Day Without a Woman has been organized to coincide with International Women's Day. The movement underscores wage disparity, discrimination and harassment.

"I think it's simply women having rights and conversations and engaging and talking, and I feel like certainly that's something I'm seeing happening much more," Dockery told CNN in an interview timed to her upcoming film, "The Sense of an Ending."

"I was at a dinner party recently, we were having a conversation, women having a conversation and being very open about our experiences and engaging, and I think that's ensuring that every woman has that right to speak up."

I bought my purple ribbon, attended a talk and heard once again about the underrepresentation of women on boards and in executive roles.

And the breakfasts: oh, the breakfasts. So many to choose from, all with interesting speakers and fantastic spreads at fancy hotels.

But this is my first International Women's Day as a mother, and I'm just hoping to be able to fit in a coffee before my baby wakes up.

Like in previous years, I looked for IWD events to attend.

Producer Ryan Murphy, the man behind "American Horror Story" and "Feud," is showing his support for A Day Without Women by telling the female employees of his production company not to show up for work.

"In honor & support of tomorrow's A DAY WITHOUT A WOMAN, ALL the women in my company will not be working," he wrote on Twitter. "So in short, nothing will get done."

Today is International Women's Day and the UN says women in the region still experience limited job opportunities, under-representation in management positions, and workplace harassment.

Deputy Representative at the Pacific office for UN Women Nicolas Burniat said women also faced more limited employment opportunities, despite making up a significant portion of the informal economy.

Mr Burniat said the under-utilisation of half the population meant the potential of the Pacific's economies was also being under-utilised.