The Facts On Paper (Or So To Speak): International Women’s Day Graphic

Each year around the world, International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8th.

The aim is to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women, while remaining vigilant for further sustainable change.

"The Gender Agenda: Gaining Momentum" is the 2013 theme of the International Women's Day website. Last year the 2012 theme was Connecting Girls, Inspiring Futures which tied in with the United Nation's first International Day of the Girl celebrated on October 11th, 2012.

The UN declares an International Women's Day theme and for 2013 it is “A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women”.

When asked what they thought the single biggest issue facing women worldwide was, Independent feminist writer Joan Smith said:

"Challenging the notion that feminism isn't the preoccupation of a few well-known women in the media. It's about everyday life: - equal pay, equal access to jobs, freedom from sexual harassment and violence. Nothing weird or niche about that."

Her colleague Victoria Wright wrote:

"The struggle to find good quality and affordable childcare for our children is still a huge barrier for us mums wanting to get back into work. I speak as a mum myself currently going through the rigmarole of trying to find childcare for my daughter."

The infographic above speaks for itself.

It shows how one third more women than men gradate from college, yet women earn an average salary only three quarters of that of a man's and only represent 2.3 per cent of Europe's CEO population.

Pic: Infographic via European Parliament