Introduction
Celebrated annually on March 8, the International Women’s Day (IWD) provides an opportunity to celebrate, reflect, and renew our commitment to promoting gender equality. It also serves as a reminder of the progress that we have made and the challenges that we still face in the fight for gender equality. For me, it represents a call to action and a reminder of our collective responsibility to advance the rights, equality, and empowerment of ALL women and girls, regardless of their race, class, geography, religion, or circumstances. As we mark the IWD 2025 under the United Nations theme, “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights, Equality, Empowerment”, and the campaign theme, “Accelerate Action”, we must ask ourselves: How far have we come and how much further do we need to go in achieving gender equality?
At the heart of the IWD 2025 theme are three core principles: Rights, Equality, and Empowerment:
Rights: Rights are fundamental principles that ensure individuals have the freedom to make choices, express themselves, and live with dignity. Every woman and girl has the inherent right to be treated with dignity and respect. This includes fundamental human rights such as the right to education, the right to live free from violence, and the right to participate fully in public and political life. Protecting these rights is essential for creating a world where women and girls are truly free.
Equality: Equality is the state of being equal in terms of status, rights, and opportunities. It means everyone has the same value, worth, and dignity regardless of their gender, race, age, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status, etc. Achieving gender equality means ensuring that women and girls have equal access to resources, opportunities, and protections as men and boys. It means creating an environment where gender is not a barrier to anyone’s potential.
Empowerment: Empowerment means gaining control, confidence, and autonomy over one’s life, circumstances, and decisions. Empowerment goes beyond providing opportunities. It is about enabling women and girls to make decisions, take ownership of their lives, and have a voice in decisions that affect them. It means providing women and girls with the tools they need to thrive in the workplace, at home, or in society.
The phrase, “For ALL women and girls emphasises the need for an inclusive and intersectional approach that ensures that women and girls of all races, socioeconomic status, abilities, background, and circumstances are seen, heard, and supported. According to the United Nations, this year’s theme calls for action that can unlock equal rights, power, and opportunities for all and a feminist future where no one is left behind. The campaign theme, “Accelerate Action” is a challenge to all sectors of society and a reminder that while rhetoric is important, results matter more. Accelerate Action means speeding up efforts to close gender gaps and achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment worldwide and across social, political, and economic spheres. For governments, it is about ensuring that laws that protect women’s rights are implemented to tackle inequality. For individuals, it means dismantling prejudices, challenging stereotypes, and becoming active allies in the fight for gender equality.
International Women’s Day: A Time to Reflect and Act
This year’s IWD is particularly significant because 2025 marks a vital moment with multiple anniversaries of key global frameworks shaping our collective journey towards women’s empowerment. This year, we commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Beijing 1995 conference on women, a landmark event that pushed women’s issues from the margins to the centre of global discussions. The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which was adopted by about 189 countries, outlined 12 critical areas of concern that needed urgent intervention to achieve gender equality:
- Women and poverty
- Education and training of women
- Women and health
- Violence against women
- Women and armed conflict
- Women and the economy
- Women in power and decision-making
- Institutional mechanisms for the advancement of women
- Human rights of women
- Women and the media
- Women and the environment
- The girl child
Since 1995, much progress has been recorded. For instance, more girls are in school; more women are in leadership; and there is greater awareness of gender-based violence. In Africa, the Africa Union’s Constitutive Act (2002), the AU Protocol on Women’s Rights (2003), and the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality (2004), among others, have reinforced commitments to gender justice. Many African countries have also embedded women’s rights in their constitutions and implemented laws and policies to protect and empower women and girls. In Nigeria for instance, we have the Child Rights Act (2003), the National Gender Policy (2006) and the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (2015), etc.
Despite these achievements, we are still far from achieving full gender equality, and progress has been uneven. While some women have broken glass ceilings, others still struggle to access basic rights like education, healthcare, and safety. Women still face discrimination, gender-based violence, economic exclusion, and underrepresentation in decision-making. The reality is that we are still far from achieving the goals set in 1995 and no country, African or otherwise, has achieved full gender equality. In fact, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2024, at this current rate of progress, it will take until 2158 to reach full gender parity. This is why the 2025 campaign theme, “Accelerate Action” resonates deeply. We cannot afford to wait for over 130 years, approximately five generations from now, to achieve gender equality. The time to act is now and we must accelerate action.
This year also marks the 25th Anniversary of the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS), the 10th Anniversary of the UNSCR 2250 on Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS), and the 10th Anniversary of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), all of which have been groundbreaking in recognising the crucial role of women and girls in peace, security, and development. As a peacebuilding practitioner focused on advancing the WPS and YPS agenda, I am reminded that the inclusion of women and girls in peace processes not only strengthens the resolution of conflicts but also fosters more sustainable and inclusive societies. The anniversary of these resolutions and policy frameworks therefore offers an opportunity for us to renew our commitment to supporting the women and girls who are leading efforts for peace and development, especially in areas affected by conflict.
Why Does Women’s Empowerment Matter?
Empowering women is not just about justice or fairness. It is about building stronger societies. Research shows that when women thrive, economies grow, communities flourish, and peace is more sustainable. Yet, despite these benefits, many barriers remain. Discriminatory laws, cultural norms, and systemic inequalities continue to hold women back. Women empowerment is about creating systems and structures that uplift all women, especially those who are most marginalised. It is about dismantling the patriarchy, not just for ourselves, but for future generations.
While advocating for structural changes, we must also address an often overlooked issue, women tearing each other down. Too often, women face criticism from other women, whether in the workplace, leadership, or personal lives. Societal norms and internalised misogyny pit women against each other. We are taught to see each other as competition: for jobs, for relationships, and for recognition, but this mindset only serves to divide us and weaken our collective power.
Scrolling through social media, I often see comments from women directed at other women that reinforce harmful stereotypes and societal pressures. For instance, when a married woman posts a picture with her husband, comments like this flood in from fellow women: When will you get pregnant? You only give birth to girls; when will you give your husband a son? As if the woman is solely responsible for determining the sex of the child or as if her worth is tied to her ability to bear children. In workplaces, women often face unnecessary competition. I have seen instances where a woman facing workplace harassment is met with silence from her female colleagues and even cases of women enabling toxic work environments instead of uplifting one another. When a woman steps up to lead in politics, rather than celebrating her courage to challenge male-dominated spaces, her fellow women often question her decision: Why is she here instead of taking care of her family? She should leave politics to men. The reality is that every time we tear down another woman, we reinforce the same patriarchal structures we are fighting against.
Imagine what we could achieve if we channelled that energy into lifting each other up; if we celebrated each other’s successes instead of feeling threatened by them; if we offered a hand to those struggling instead of judging them. As women, we have a unique opportunity to be allies to ourselves. Thus, instead of competing against one another, we should lift each other. Let us call out the subtle and not-so-subtle ways we contribute to tearing each other down, challenge negative stereotypes about women both in society and in ourselves, mentor younger women and girls, advocate for policies that benefit all women, and celebrate each other’s success. If we are serious about accelerating action for gender equality, we must speak out against discrimination, whether in workplaces, politics, or media. We must support women-owned initiatives, and create opportunities and spaces where women and girls can thrive.
When we support each other, we create a ripple effect that extends far beyond ourselves, which is the essence of true women’s empowerment. To all the women reading this, your voice matters; your actions matter; whether you are advocating for peace, breaking barriers in your workplace, or simply supporting another woman in your community, you are part of a global movement for positive change. This International Women’s Day, let us choose solidarity over competition, empowerment over envy, and action over complacency. And let us never forget: When women win, we all win.
Conclusion
The International Women’s Day reminds us that our work is not yet done, so we cannot afford to slow down. Women’s rights and gender equality are not issues that should be postponed for the future; they must be prioritised today. If we truly want to accelerate action, we must push for the full implementation of laws and politics that promote and protect women’s rights. Through my work in peacebuilding and development, I have seen the power of women coming together to advocate for peace and push for policies that benefit everyone. Let us remember that the fight for gender equality is not just for women. It is for everyone. Men, non-binary individuals, and entire communities must be part of the solution. Studies have shown that gender-equal societies are more prosperous, peaceful, and sustainable. Together, we can build a world where every woman and girl can live with dignity, freedom, and purpose.
What does the International Women’s Day mean to you? How will you contribute to creating a just and inclusive society where women and girls have rights, equality, and empowerment? How will you accelerate action for ALL women and girls? Share your thoughts and let us keep the conversation going. For me, I commit to using my voice, my platform, and my research to amplify women’s voices/stories, advocate for policies that promote gender equality, and support the next generation of female leaders.
Happy International Women’s Day 2025.