International Women's Day live: Meghan Markle attends final London events as feminist march hits capital

The day has been celebrated for more than a century

International Women's Day 2020: How it began and why it's still important

International Women’s Day (IWD) is being celebrated around the world on Sunday 8 March, as people come together to champion the advancement of women’s rights and gender equality.

The day carries the clear theme of female empowerment, with a special focus on raising awareness of social and political issues affecting women.

Follow The Independent's live blog below for all the latest news on the event.

For all the latest news on International Women's Day, click here.

Key Points

• Meghan Markle makes surprise visit to London school ahead of International Women's Day
• #March4Women to see thousands of people gather in London
• Emeli Sande says women are bearing the brunt of climate change

[8 March 2020 11:30 · sarah.young]

To celebrate International Women's Day, the Fawcett Society has released this powerful video calling for companies to finally deliver equal pay for women. 

[8 March 2020 12:00 · sarah.young]

Today, a number of famous women, including Olivia Colman, are replacing their names and Twitter photos with the number for Refuge's National Domestic Abuse Helpline. 

Refuge hopes the #SafetyInANumber campaign will ensure every woman knows they can call the charity for help and support. 

[8 March 2020 12:19 · sarah.young]

1917 star George MacKay is joining March4Women this afternoon to demand gender equality and urgent action on climate change

[8 March 2020 12:25 · sarah.young]

Meghan Markle made a surprise visit to the Robert Clack Upper School on Friday to deliver a feminist speech ahead of International Women's Day.

[8 March 2020 12:30 · sarah.young]

Workers on the London Underground are celebrating International Women's Day with a poem.

The poem was written by “@allontheboard”, a duo who work as customer service assistants on the London Underground and describe themselves as “the Banksys of the Underground”.

[8 March 2020 12:38 · sarah.young]

Women from Extinction Rebellion UK have formed a topless chain across Waterloo Bridge to highlight the vulnerability of women in the face of climate breakdown. 

[8 March 2020 12:40 · sarah.young]

People are sharing photos of their placards ready for today's March4Women.

[8 March 2020 13:00 · sarah.young]

Google is celebrating International Women’s Day with a Google Doodle inspired by the event's history.

he animation, which features a multilayered 3D paper mandala and represents both the history of the day and the significance it has for women across generations.

[8 March 2020 13:30 · sarah.young]

Beauty guru Charlotte Tilbury has designed an exclusive, limited-edition T-Shirt in collaboration with Net-a-Porter for International Women's Day.

100 per cent of profits from the T-shirt will benefit Women for Women International!

[8 March 2020 14:00 · sarah.young]

2020 marks the third year that sex workers will be marching on International Women's Day.

Find out what they hope to achieve by walking the capital's streets here.