People around the county celebrated International Women’s Day yesterday.

International Women’s Day, which takes place every year on March 8, commemorates the cultural, political, and socioeconomic achievements of women.

The day celebrates women who are making a difference, remembers the historical figures who changed the world for the better and also raises awareness about issues women still face, such as sexism, FGM, sexual harassment and forced marriages.

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International Women’s Day has been celebrated as a global holiday since it was adopted by the United Nations in 1977.

Across Oxfordshire, there were a variety of ways people celebrated the day, with academics, activists, councillors and volunteers turning out in support of equality and empowerment. 

In the morning, a networking event was held for women in business. The event was held at the Littlebury Hotel in Bicester and featured two business masterclasses hosted by Emma Clayton and Emma Browning. Proceeds from the networking event also went to the Princes Trust’s Women Supporting Women initiative.

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Following this, in the afternoon, talks were hosted at the Ashmolean, Oxford Brookes University and Oxford University’s Kellogg College.

At the Ashmolean, art historian Alice Foster explored the work of Renaissance painter, Sofonisba Anguissola, who achieved artistic success despite the limitations of her gender.

While at Oxford and Oxford Brookes the events included panels of women speaking about their professional lives and industries.

The mayor of Oxford made an appearance at the launch of Oxfordshire’s, and the wider UK’s, first African charity shop which is in aid of women who have suffered domestic abuse.

The shop, in Templars Square Shopping Centre, is run by Jewins Women2Women and will sell second hand and brand new African clothes and arts and crafts made with African beads.

The launch for the charity shop was celebrated with a fashion show and music, while models showed off African fashion on a runway.

Oxford Mail: A fashion show and music took place to raise money for the charityA fashion show and music took place to raise money for the charity

Founder of Jewins Women2Women, Ruth Moji Obasa, said: “This is a historic event, in a sense, as the shop is the first African product lead charity shop in the UK. It is the first in Oxford and the first in the UK.

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“One of the things that the Government has said is ‘charity must try and find a way to be innovative to raise money for their services’.”

Ms Obasa told the Oxford Mail the shop will help to raise money for the charity which will support its outreach and support work. It will also provide volunteering and work experience opportunities for the women who use the service, local schools and people in the community.

You can donate to the charity here: paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VQMYJ39DG9TD6

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