NYC march marks International Women's Day, highlighting rape as war weapon in Syria and Iraq

People walk in the International Women’s Day march for gender equality and women’s rights from the United Nations to Times Square, Sunday, March 8, 2015 in New York. About 1,000 people gathered to speak up for the gender that traditionally is paid less for work and often has a smaller voice in policy decisions. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) (The Associated Press)

A man carries a girl on his shoulders in the International Women’s Day march for gender equality and women’s rights from the United Nations to Times Square, Sunday, March 8, 2015 in New York. About 1,000 people gathered to speak up for the gender that traditionally is paid less for work and often has a smaller voice in policy decisions. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) (The Associated Press)

Men and women are gathering at the United Nations to mark International Women's Day with a march to Times Square.

On Sunday, they're joining voices around the world demanding equality for the gender that traditionally is paid less for work and often has a smaller voice in policy decisions.

U.N. officials say much has been achieved under the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, signed by 189 governments in 1995 as a pledge for realizing women's rights. But U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon says the gains have been too slow and uneven.

He says the most urgent issue is rape being used as a war weapon, from Nigeria and Somalia to Iraq and Syria.

Expected marchers include Chirlane McCray, wife of New York Mayor Bill de Blasio.