last Friday we celebrated the 101st International Woman's Day, a time set aside to reflect and celebrate the terrific contribution women have made to our daily lives.

In Scotland it is a day when we celebrate those women who have played significant roles in our country and in our city.

Women such as Marion Gilchrist, who was the first woman to graduate from Glasgow University and a committed suffragette, fighting to win the rights women today take for granted.

Then there is Grace Paterson, who in 1843 became the first female elected to a City School Board.

And not forgetting Maria Fyfe, a former Glasgow Member of Parliament, who fought for equal representation and became Scotland's only female Labour MP in 1987, championing women's rights and inspiring many women to stand for office.

However, as we celebrate the achievements and the progress that women have made, we must also look at our society and see what more needs to be done.

The Coalition Government's cuts have hit women. Changes to the Working Tax Credit will see up to 200,000 families across the country lose £4000 a year.

These changes come at a time of record female unemployment and when figures show that 32,000 women have had to give up work due to childcare costs.

Women make up 65% of the public sector workforce and the Government's spending cuts are expected to see over 300,000 women lose public sector employment.

From family finances to housing benefit reform, to services aimed at tackling domestic violence, Government policy is putting women under pressure.

Evidence shows that when women earn and manage their own cash, they are more likely to spend it on educating and feeding children.

The Scottish Labour Party has shown real leadership on gender balance in the past.

The historic 50/50 campaign resulted in Labour standing an equal number of women and men in the first Scottish Parliament.

But we must keep up the pressure to achieve true equality: equal pay for women; promote the living wage; strive to end child poverty; improve universal access to childcare; and champion gender equality at the top of business.

While we use International Woman's Day to recognise the contribution of women around the world we must continue to fight for equality daily.