Hundreds set to line streets of Manchester city centre…

Hundreds set to line streets of Manchester city centre for huge International Women's Day march

Mancunians are being urged to line the streets of the city next month for a huge march to celebrate International Women's Day.

The Manchester Walk for Women will return this year following an impressive turnout in 2022 - after a two-year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Taking place on Saturday, 4 March, the walk is an opportunity to come together with family and friends, colleagues and strangers, to celebrate a shared passion for equality and creating opportunities for women in Manchester.

Organised by Manchester City Council, the walk will begin outside Manchester Cathedral on Victoria Street at 12noon for a 12.30 start. The march will then head towards Central Library in St Peter's Square.

Those taking part are encouraged to bring along fun, safe and noisy instruments to bang, or to make the most of their voice with chants and songs.

Women line Deansgate during the march last year (Manchester Evening News)

The walk was launched to coincide with International Women's Day, which this year takes place on March 8. It is a global day celebrating the social economic, cultural and political achievements of women.

This year, the theme is 'embrace equality' and will encourage challenging gender stereotypes, calling out discrimination, drawing attention to bias and seeking out inclusion.

This year's route map (Manchester City Council)

After the Walk for Women, a number of community groups and organisations will have display stalls in the Central Library. Across the city, groups will be coming together for events with guest speakers, community meals and displays of arts, crafts and music, all focused around a celebration of International Women’s Day.

Last year, hundreds took to the streets of Manchester chanting: "We will never stop standing up and shouting for our rights," as they called for an end to gender-based violence.

Women carry placards through the streets of Manchester (Manchester Evening News)

"We are the future" and "women united will never be defeated" were just some of the chants that echoed as the protesters marched their way down Deansgate towards Manchester Cathedral.

The event last year was supported and attended by the former Lord Mayor, Tommy Judge, who spoke to crowds to thank them for their involvement, and recognise the difficulties that women, particularly from minority communities, have faced throughout the pandemic and continue to face across the world.

The Walk for Women event is totally free and anyone can take part. If you'd like to register your group to have an official place in the walk, apply using the registration form.

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