Gender equality activist and advisor, Helen Pankhurst, follows in the footsteps of her famous great-grandmother Emmeline Pankhurst and grandmother Sylvia Pankhurst. The feminist movement and climate movements are joining forces with stars and singers in London for #March4Women on Sunday 8th March .
We asked Helen what she sees as the biggest challenges facing women today, both world wide and in the UK?
“The challenge of individual women varies, depending on where in the world they live, what their family circumstances are, with many other variables. these variations are important because it is not just our gender that determines our challenges.
Almost universally, however, the word remains a patriarchal place. The challenges for every girl and every woman is to navigate past the obstacles – economic, social, cultural, religious, political, personal and structural. It is not to not be blocked and bound, but rather to be free to define ourselves.”
What one thing would you like to draw most attention to on International Women’s Day 2020?
“On International Day 2020, I would like to draw attention to women on the front lines of the climate emergency. Around the world, women and girls are hardest hit by the impacts of the climate emergency, yet their voices in official responses and institutions of power are not sufficiently heard. We must do better.”
What advice / message would you like to send to the young girls and women of today?
“Be part of the change you want to see, be courageous, the more you engage with the world, the more it will with you.”
Helena Bonham-Carter reads testimonies 
Annie Lennox with Shaista Gohir 
Beverley Knight 
Dr Shola Shogbamimu
#March4Women will shine a spotlight on the women on the front lines of the climate crisis, and call for action from world leaders.
The event comprises an indoor rally, a march and an outdoor finale organised by charity CARE International.
The crowd in Trafalgar Square – #March4Women 2018 
Bangladesh, 2019
Natalie Dormer, George MacKay, Emeli Sande and Sandi Toksvig will be among stars from stage and screen marching shoulder-to-shoulder with grassroots campaigners this International Women’s Day, for gender equality and climate justice.
It’ll be a star-ridden day. The opening rally, hosted by BBC’s Emma Barnett, will see performances from Emeli Sandé, RAYE, Urban Voices Collective and Bond quartet. There will be inspiring speeches, testimonies, discussion and debate from figures including Helen Pankhurst, Bianca Jagger, Ugandan climate activist Hilda Nakabuye, Natalie Dormer (Game of Thrones), Himesh Patel (Yesterday) Nicola Coughlan (Derry Girls), Sanjeev Bhaskar (Kumars at No 42), founder of WOW Women of the World Festival Jude Kelly, journalist Lucy Siegle, climate scientist Dr Tamsin Edwards and poetry from Selina Nwulu.
David Tennant 
Lady Hale, Justice of the Supreme Court 
Biffy Clyro perform – #March4Women 2018 
Sue Perkins Hosts – #March4Women 2018
This year’s #March4Women will start at midday with an opening rally at the Royal Festival Hall, hosted at the WOW – Women of the World festival. Supporters will then be guided over the Thames river and muster with further crowds at Whitehall Place before marching to Parliament Square for a finale rally and music. Organisers CARE International expect crowds of 5,000 in Parliament Square where the finale is hosted by broadcaster and presenter Sandi Toksvig, with performances by Emeli Sande, Urban Voices Collective and Låpsley. Powerful speakers will include Helen Pankhurst, George MacKay (1917), Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, 15-year-old climate activist Scarlett Westbrook, and poet Nikita Gill. Music across the event is produced by David Arnold.
Sandi Toksvig said: “I am proud to support this important event and even more so because the focus of this year’s march is the climate crisis. The exploitation of women and the environment are deeply connected and we cannot hope to tackle one without tackling the other.”
#Marchers will call on world leaders ahead of COP27 in Glasgow to make gender justice and climate justice happen by: limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees, investing in climate initiatives for women and young people and ensuring they are part of decision-making process around climate crisis.
Youth campaigner Scarlett Westbrook said: “Just like society, climate change discriminates, and we must fight for those who are most vulnerable to its disastrous effects. I’ll be at #March4Women to demand intersectional justice for all.”
#March4Women is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, who have raised £900,000 for CARE International’s work fighting poverty around the world.
Organisations coming together in partnership for the event include: Centenary Action Group, Climate Coalition, Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), Fawcett Society, Friends of the Earth, Lean In, Muslim Women’s Network, Nisa-Nashim, Project Everyone, UNISON, White Ribbon Campaign, Women’s Budget Group, Women for Refugee Women, Women’s Environmental Network, Women for Women International, 50:50 Parliament.
#March4Women is a global solidarity movement which is taking place in around 50 countries.
Event details
The indoor March4Women rally at the WOW festival will start at 12.00 and finish at 13.15 pm. Tickets for the rally are on sale on Southbank Centre website.
Following the rally attendees will be guided over the river to Whitehall Place to the muster point for the march through Central London starting at 1.30pm, which will finish with a closing rally in Parliament Square from 2.15pm. For full details go to www.careinternational.org.uk/march4women
Those not attending the indoor rally can join the march and enjoy a closing rally in Parliament Square at the end.
