Bond Movie Star Dons Frock For Women's Day - Sky News

12:02pm UK, Tuesday March 08, 2011

James Bond movie star Daniel Craig has donned a dress and a blonde wig for a short film supporting the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day.

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The anniversary is being marked by a series of events around the world.

Craig dressed as a woman in the film directed by Sam Taylor-Wood.

The movie highlights the inequalities, violence and employment problems faced by women.

The voice of actress Dame Judi Dench - Bond's boss M - is used in the two-minute film.

The head of the new United Nations women's agency highlighted the anniversary by saying that, although remarkable progress has been made, gender equality remains a distant goal.

Former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet said women still suffer widespread discrimination and lack political and economic powers.

Celebration of the day dates back to 1911 when a million people from the socialist movement marched in rallies in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland to protest about discrimination against women.

It is now more dangerous to be a woman than a soldier in modern conflict.

Major-General Patrick Cammaert, ex-UN peacekeeping commander in the Congo

It was originally called International Working Women's Day but changed to the current title during the UN International Women's Year in 1975.

Ms Bachelet, who became the first executive director of UN Women in January, said that despite high profile advances, only 28 women are heads of state or government.

Girls are still less likely to be in school than boys, almost 75% of illiterate adults are female, and a woman dies because of pregnancy complications every 90 seconds.

Ms Bachelet said the pioneering women who launched the day 100 years ago would probably look at the world today with a mixture of pride and disappointment.

:: Cambodian authorities have banned a rally to mark International Women's Day.

No reason was given but the decision was made amid growing concern over a crackdown of freedom of expression in the country.