UN Issue New Song For International Women's Day

UN Women, the United Nations organisation dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women, have been working on a special musical treat for this year's International Women's Day.

Twelve months in the making, One Woman: A Song For UN Women features more than 20 acclaimed musicians from across the world collaborating on this very special song.

Those performers include Ana Bacalhau (Portugal); Angelique Kidjo (Benin); Anoushka Shankar (India); Bassekou Kouyate (Mali); Bebel Gilberto (Brazil); Beth Blatt (US); Brian Finnegan (Ireland); Buika (Spain); Charice (Philippines); Cherine Amr (Egypt); Debi Nova (Costa Rica); Emeline Michel (Haiti); Fahan Hassan (UK); Idan Raichel (Israel); Jane Zhang (China); Jim Diamond (UK); Keith Murrell (UK); Lance Ellington (UK); Marta Gomez (Colombia); Maria Friedman (UK); Meklit Hadero (Ethiopia); Rokia Traoré (Mali); Vanessa Quai (Vanuatu); Ximena Sariñana (Mexico) and Yuna (Malaysia).

The song was written by Graham Lyle - who is most famous for Tina Turner's What's Love Got To Do With It? - and singer-songwriter Fahan Hassan.

A series of behind the scenes videos have been made in conjunction with the release. These interviews with the artists involved discuss issues like the importance of equal rights and the power of music and are available for viewing now on the UN Women website.

The song will be released on Friday 8 March through all common channels with all proceeds going directly to UN Women.