The IWD 2025 was celebrated last Saturday and the theme of the campaign was ‘Accelerate Action’ as part of efforts to accelerate action for gender equality and encourage people step forward in solidarity. YEJIDE GBENGA-OGUNDARE writes that while it is estimated that at the current rate of progress, it will take until 2158 (about five generations from now), to reach full gender parity based on data from the World Economic Forum, there were still messages on how to speed up the rate of progress worldwide.
Focusing on the need to Accelerate Action emphasises the importance of taking swift and decisive steps to achieve gender equality and calls for increased momentum and urgency in addressing the systemic barriers and biases that women face, both in personal and professional spheres. This is why specific messages were given by stakeholders on Saturday to commemorate the 2025 International Women’s Day celebration.
The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, the sixth in the position and first woman to hold the office of Commonwealth Secretary-General, in her message stated that “today, on International Women’s Day, we come together to celebrate the remarkable resilience, contributions and achievements of women and girls around the world. This year’s theme, “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment,” is a call to action for a future where every woman and girl has the opportunity to thrive with dignity, free from barriers and discrimination.
“Nearly 30 years ago, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action urged the global community to guarantee equal rights and opportunities for women and girls everywhere. Despite progress, that vision remains unfulfilled. Discriminatory laws persist, violence continues, and women’s voices are still too often marginalised. The thirst for equality is just as unrelenting today as it was 30 years ago.
“We know that empowering all women and girls is not just the right thing to do; it is the smart thing to do; when women are educated, economies grow. When they participate in decision-making, governance improves. When they are free from violence and discrimination, societies thrive. Yet, millions of women and girls continue to face systemic barriers. Intersecting inequalities, discrimination, and violence continue to hold them back. This is why we take an intersectional approach, ensuring that our policies and programmes address the unique challenges faced by women of all backgrounds.
“From reforming discriminatory laws to implementing gender-responsive budgeting, we are working to build a future where all women and girls can feel empowered and live free from fear of violence. But our journey is far from over. In fact, it is only starting. We must redouble our efforts to ensure that every girl born today enjoys the same rights, opportunities, and representation as any boy,” she said.
Xiomara Nuñez de Céspedes, the Chair of the Gender Equality Committee of the International Cooperative Alliance said the International Women’s Day during the International Year of Cooperatives is a unique opportunity to reflect on the progress made in the fight for gender equality for women members of cooperatives. It is also timely to acknowledge the great contribution made to the cooperative sector in terms of gender equality and women’s empowerment, especially as the development of cooperatives has, since they were created, relied on the contribution of women.
“It is an opportunity to pay homage to all the women who, courageously and with determination, have made a difference in our lives and in our communities through their work and by supporting the social economy as the ideal channel for improving people’s quality of life. Throughout history, women have displayed unwavering strength and an extraordinary ability to overcome obstacles. From pioneering scientists and political leaders to social activists and influential artists, women have left an indelible mark on the world. However, despite these achievements, there are still barriers and inequalities that we must dismantle as they prevent women from exercising their rights to the fullest.
“It is vital to remember that gender equality is not only a matter of social justice, but also one of development and prosperity; when women enjoy equal opportunities, society as a whole benefits. Education, economic empowerment and women’s involvement in politics are essential for building a more equitable and sustainable future. Cooperatives have made great contributions in terms of equity and participation, but we still have a long way to go to achieve said equity, especially when it comes to free and democratic participation.
“Today, we reiterate our commitment to fighting for gender equality. We pledge our committee’s commitment to supporting and promoting policies and actions that guarantee the respect and dignity of all women. We must work together to eradicate gender-based violence, close the pay gap and ensure that women have a voice and a vote in all spheres of life. Women’s full participation in decision-making is fundamental for democracy to be exercised in full,” she added.
Lending his voice, the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres stated that when the doors of equal opportunity are open for women and girls, everyone wins, adding that equal societies are more prosperous and peaceful; and the foundation of sustainable development.
“On this International Women’s Day, we recognize thirty years of progress and achievement since the landmark United Nations conference in Beijing. This transformed the rights of women and reaffirmed those rights as human rights. Since then, women and girls have shattered barriers, defied stereotypes, and demanded their rightful place.
“But we must be clear-eyed about the challenge; from pushback to rollback, women’s human rights are under attack. Age-old horrors – violence, discrimination and economic inequality still plague societies. And newer threats, such as biased algorithms, are programming inequalities into online spaces, opening up new arenas of harassment and abuse.
“Instead of mainstreaming equal rights, we’re seeing the mainstreaming of misogyny. We must fight these outrages. And keep working to level the playing field for women and girls. We need action to unlock finance so countries can invest in equality – and to prioritize those investments.
“Action to open-up equal opportunities for decent work, close the gender pay gap, and tackle challenges around care work; action to strengthen and implement laws to end all forms of violence against women and girls, action to secure women’s full participation in decision-making, including in peacebuilding; and action to remove the obstacles to women and girls in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
“The United Nations Pact for the Future and the Global Digital Compact offer blueprints to guide these actions. When women and girls can rise, we all thrive. Together, let’s stand firm in making rights, equality and empowerment a reality for all women and girls, for everyone, everywhere,” he added.
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