The Independent marks International Women’s Day

The Independent says it is celebrating International Women’s Day with a range of initiatives and exclusives emphasising its commitment to making change happen.

The Independent says highlights will include articles from leading female figures in British society, the launch of the brand-new Independent Women 2023: The Influence List, a new charity partnership and a virtual panel session discussing what being a woman means in 2023.

Exclusive columns

The publisher says today’s edition features exclusive opinion pieces from Akshata Murty; actress and activist Emma Thompson; singer/songwriter Annie Lennox; deputy labour leader Angela Rayner; British artist Tracey Emin and more. The articles provide a range of perspectives from distinguished women who document the challenges society faces whilst looking to the future of gender equality.

Independent Women 2023: The Influence List

The publication has unveiled its inaugural Independent Women 2023: The Influence List. The list recognises the 50 most influential women in the UK and those who are leading the way in gender equality across a variety of sectors including politics, business, entertainment, fashion and activism. This year’s list places Camilla, Queen Consort, top of the list with High Court judge Bobbie Cheema-Grubb KC and footballer Jill Scott among those also ranking highly.

Charity partnership

The Independent also announces its new charity partner for the coming year, Refuge. It represents the first partnership of its kind for The Independent and the first year-long partnership with a news brand for Refuge. The relationship will involve a number of commercial, editorial and internal initiatives to raise awareness and funding for Refuge’s life-saving work, including always-on signposting of Refuge’s National Domestic Abuse Helpline, which provides a gateway to services across the country. It builds on The Independent’s long history of working with charities and organisations as a publication dedicated to making change happen.

Panel discussion

The Independent is hosting a virtual panel event titled What Does Being a Woman in 2023 Mean? The panellists will talk about their accomplishments as women, overcoming being in male dominated environments and what positive change has taken place over the past 12 months.

The publisher says the panel will include:

• Maya Oppenheim (women’s correspondent, The Independent)
• Dr Charlotte Proudman (‘The Feminist Barrister’ at Goldsmith Chambers)
• Emily Carver (head of media, Institute of Economic Affairs)
• Yvonne John (author)
• Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu (political and women's rights activist)

The session will be chaired by Philippa Jenkins (strategy projects editor, The Independent) and is free to register online here.

You can find the Independent Women 2023: The Influence List here, and the columns published today here.

Geordie Greig, editor-in-chief, The Independent, said: “I’m delighted to mark my first International Women’s Day as editor-in-chief with such a range of initiatives. From Tracey Emin’s article to this evening’s event and our new partnership with Refuge, I’m proud to be able to demonstrate yet again our commitment to making change happen, and to equality, as a publication.”

Maya Oppenheim, The Independent's women’s correspondent, said: “It’s great to be able to mark International Women’s Day with our first ever Influence List. The women included here range from cabinet ministers to actors to musicians, royalty, sportspeople, scientists and broadcasters. You don’t need to agree with them all to recognise their clout. The 50 women who made it on to Independent Women 2023 all exert unequivocal, unshakeable influence in their own unique ways."

Ruth Davison, Refuge chief executive said: “Refuge is absolutely thrilled to be partnering with The Independent. In England and Wales, one in four women will experience domestic abuse at some point in their lifetime, and two women a week are killed by a current or former partner. These statistics are not simply numbers – they are women’s lives. Lives irrevocably changed and lives lost as a result of male violence.

“As the country’s largest single provider of specialist domestic abuse services, Refuge is only too aware of the epidemic that violence against women and girls has become, and we are absolutely steadfast in our commitment to addressing it, and eradicating it. The Independent’s rich history of campaigning makes them the perfect media partner for us at a time when awareness of domestic abuse, and the different forms it can take, has never been more necessary.

“Our partnership with The Independent is going to enable us to reach more people, raise more funds, and increase societal awareness of domestic abuse. It will help change, and save, women’s lives. Thank you to The Independent for your support and commitment to change.”