International Women's Day (SLIDESHOW)

Women around the world are pausing today to celebrate International Women's Day. Since the early 1900's, this has been a day to recognize and celebrate the important social, political and economic contributions women make to society.

To mark the day, here is a slideshow of women around the world who have overcome sexism, stereotypes and sometimes violent oppression to become leaders and role models for the women in their communities.

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Nojoud Ali, a 11-year-old girl from Yemen pictured in Paris, on the sideline of a debate organized by the Women's rights association 'Ni putes ni soumises'. Ali was married off to a 30-year-old man and sustained months of sexual abuse but managed to buy back her freedom through divorce. She was the first child bride in Yemen, where child marriage is common but has rarely been exposed in public, to go by herself to a courthouse to demand a divorce, generating a landmark legal case.