This will be the fourth year that that the organisation has bestowed the prize, which goes to someone who "embodies the spirit of the Paralympics and who inspires women within it".

Nominations, which must be made by February 21, can also be for an organisation that has promoted or developed women's sport.

International Women's Day is on March 8 this year, when the IPC will announce the winner.

The shortlisting process and selection of the winner will be led by the IPC’s Women in Sport Committee, chaired by Tine Rindum Teilmann.

"This is the fourth year that we will present the International Women’s Day Recognition and in previous years we have seen some of the most inspirational people receive the honour,” Teilmann said.

"We hope that it helps to highlight the great work carried out every day within the Paralympic Movement by and for women, and raise awareness of the opportunities for women and girls within Para-sport.

“I encourage all IPC members to look within their organisations for the unsung heroes who are helping to make a difference to participation and high performance sport.

"The Paralympic Movement should celebrate the achievements of strong women and those who contribute towards equality.”

Canada's wheelchair racer Chantal Petitclerc, a 14-time Paralympic gold medallist, won last year's prize for her work in Para-sport following her retirement.

The 2014 prize went to Rima Batalova, the Vice President of the Russian Paralympic Committee, with International Women's Day falling during the Sochi 2014 Games.

Batalova was a middle distance runner who won 13 Paralympic gold medals in her career, while Spain’s Sylvana Mestre, the then chairperson of IPC Alpine Skiing’s Sport Technical Committee, won the inaugural prize in 2013.

The campaign theme for this year's International Women's Day is "pledge for parity".

According to the World Economic Forum, the gender gap between men and women won't close entirely until 2133.