The world celebrates International Women’s Day (IWD) 2025 annually on March 8. This year’s theme is For all women and girls: Rights-Equality-Empowerment. The commemoration celebrates the leadership and creativity of women and girls in advancing sustainable and inclusive development, with a focus on the green and digital economies. The purpose of IWD is to advocate for gender equality and to call for action that will create a more equitable world for women and girls. It is a day when women worldwide are recognized for their achievements irrespective of divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political.
The IWD has its roots in early 20th century’s labour movements. Vladimir Lenin declared March 8 as IWD in 1922 to honour the women’s role in 1917 Russian Revolution. It was subsequently celebrated on that day by socialist and communist countries. Later in 1977, IWD became a global mainstream holiday following its adoption and promotion by the United Nations in 1977. IWD, since those early days, has assumed a new global dimension for women in developed and developing nations. The official colours associated with IWD are purple, green and white.
Collectively, women can accelerate action for gender equality. At the current rate of progress, it will take until 2158, which is roughly five generations from now to reach full gender parity, according to the World Economic Forum. Focusing on the need to Accelerate Action emphasizes the importance of taking swift and decisive steps to achieve gender equality. It calls for increased momentum and urgency in addressing the systematic barriers and biases that women face, both in personal and professional spheres. Together, let the action be accelerated to speed up the rate of progress worldwide.
It is a global call to acknowledge strategies, resources and activities that positively impact women’s advancement, and to support and elevate their implementation. Significant barriers to gender equality remain; yet with the right action and support, positive progress can be made for women everywhere. For this, gender equality, support the supporters IWD 2025 will incorporate an element of women focused fund raising. As for action in India is concerned, an action packed programme has been lined up to unlock equal rights, power and opportunities for all women and girls and a feminist future where no one is left behind.
India’s Constitution provides for equality before law, equal opportunities in all matters and non-discrimination between men and women, what so ever. But women and girls have miles to go before they get full equality with men. During the last over 200 years, more so since Independence in 1947, 39 central laws have been enacted to empower women and to enable them fully to meet the requirement of gender justice. As a sequel to these, all segments of public governance including education and judiciary at all levels have been sensitized to equality in all respects and treatment toward women and girls. Despite that, women are facing built-in prejudices under the prevailing patriarchy for all practical purposes.
Some of the classical slogans about women empowerment by the leading lights of women are described here:
“Empower women, empower the world. “Equality knows no gender. “Strong women, strong world. “There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish. “A woman is the full circle. Within her is the power to create, nurture, and transform. “Well behaved women seldom make history. “If you can dance and be free and be embarrassed, you can rule the world. “Ignore the glass ceiling and do your work. If you are focusing on the glass ceiling, focusing on what you do not have, focusing on the limitations, then you will be limited. “There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish. “A strong woman knows she has strength enough for the journey, but woman of strength knows it is in the journey where she will become strong.
Some other select slogans about women are: “Women are the real architects of society. “One girl with courage is revolution. “Call for positive change advancing women. “My body, my right. “Equal rights are not special rights. “Break the glass ceiling, and let equality prevail. “Equality is our right, not a privilege. “Ignite the mind’s sparks to rise the sun in you. “You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right. “Some leaders are born women. “Women have always been the strong ones of the world. “Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women. “Young women and girls should know, they are powerful and their voice matters. “Alone she (woman) goes to the gates of the death to give life to everyman that is born into the world. “The problems of our time will be solved only when all of the best mind, conscience and talent in the community are brought to their solutions. “Women, whether subtly or vociferously, have always been a tremendous power in the destiny of the world. “As society what women can do, there will be more women out there doing things, and we shall all be better off for it”.
Md Yunus Siddiqui is a columnist. He has a great experience of Media Space.