International Women's Day 2025

International Women's Day 2025: A Call to End Violence Against Women and Support SDG Resources

International Women's Day, celebrated annually on March 8th, is a global event that recognises the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women while advocating for gender equality. In this article, we will explore the importance of International Women's Day and its contribution to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to gender equality and ending violence against women.

The History of International Women's Day

International Women's Day has its roots in the early 20th century, when women's rights activists advocated for equal opportunities, including the right to vote, work, and hold public office. The first National Women's Day was observed in the United States on February 28, 1909, and later, it transformed into an international event. In 1975, the United Nations officially recognised International Women's Day, making it a global occasion for raising awareness and promoting gender equality.

The Significance of International Women's Day

Celebrating International Women's Day is crucial for numerous reasons. Firstly, it highlights the achievements of women and their contributions to society, thereby challenging the deeply rooted gender stereotypes. Secondly, it raises awareness about the ongoing struggle for women's rights and gender equality worldwide, motivating individuals and organisations to actively participate in achieving a more inclusive society.

International Women's Day and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals are a set of 17 global targets aiming to eradicate poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all by 2030. Two of these goals, namely, SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), are closely related to the objectives of International Women's Day.

3.1. SDG 5: Gender Equality

SDG 5 aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. It encompasses various targets, including ending discrimination and violence against women, ensuring equal opportunities for leadership, and providing universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights. International Women's Day supports SDG 5 by raising awareness and fostering discussions about gender equality and women's empowerment.

3.2. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

SDG 16 seeks to promote peaceful and inclusive societies, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable institutions. This goal addresses various forms of violence, including those against women and girls, and aims to substantially reduce them worldwide. International Women's Day complements SDG 16 by advocating for an end to gender-based violence and promoting women's participation in decision-making processes.

Ending Violence Against Women

Violence against women is a grave violation of human rights that affects millions globally. It takes various forms, such as physical, sexual, emotional, and economic abuse. International Women's Day helps in addressing this issue by:

4.1. Raising Awareness

International Women's Day serves as a platform to raise awareness about the prevalence and impact of violence against women. By shedding light on this issue, it encourages governments, organisations, and individuals to take concrete actions to prevent and address violence against women.

4.2. Advocating for Legal Reforms

International Women's Day events often involve campaigns that call for legal reforms and the implementation of policies aimed at preventing violence against women. These efforts contribute to establishing a legal framework that protects women's rights and ensures that perpetrators of violence are held accountable.

4.3. Supporting Survivors

International Women's Day also focuses on supporting survivors of violence by raising funds for organisations that provide essential services, such as shelters, counselling, and legal aid. Additionally, it encourages the sharing of survivor stories, helping women to heal and regain their confidence.

4.4. Promoting Prevention Strategies

Preventing violence against women requires addressing its root causes, such as gender inequality and harmful social norms. International Women's Day encourages the adoption of prevention strategies, including education and awareness-raising campaigns, community mobilisation, and economic empowerment initiatives.

Supporting SDG Resources for Gender Equality

International Women's Day plays a vital role in supporting SDG resources related to gender equality and ending violence against women. It does so by:

5.1. Encouraging Collaboration

International Women's Day brings together governments, civil society, businesses, and individuals to work collaboratively towards achieving gender equality. By fostering partnerships, it helps in mobilising resources and sharing knowledge to advance the SDGs.

5.2. Showcasing Best Practices

International Women's Day events often highlight successful projects and initiatives that have made a positive impact on women's lives. By showcasing these best practices, it provides inspiration and guidance for others to replicate or adapt these approaches in their own communities.

5.3. Facilitating Resource Mobilisation

International Women's Day serves as an opportunity to mobilise financial resources for gender equality and women's empowerment initiatives. Fundraising events and campaigns held during this period contribute to supporting the implementation of SDG-related projects and programmes.

International Women's Day is an essential event that not only celebrates the achievements of women but also raises awareness about the ongoing struggle for gender equality and the need to end violence against women. By supporting SDG resources related to these issues, International Women's Day contributes to building a more just, inclusive, and peaceful world for everyone. Let us all join hands in commemorating this day and working towards a brighter future for women and girls everywhere.

International Women's Day 2025 and Beyond

As we look towards International Women's Day in 2025 and beyond, we anticipate a future of strengthened global commitment towards achieving gender equality and ending violence against women. This day will continue to be a beacon of hope and a platform for change, driving the conversation and action towards realizing a world where every woman and girl enjoys her full rights and lives free from all forms of violence. The day will be filled with events, dialogues, and campaigns that highlight the need for comprehensive legal frameworks, economic policies, and social norms that ensure women's empowerment. We also foresee increased involvement from governments, non-governmental organizations, private sector entities, and individuals in championing women's causes. The hope is that International Women's Day will not just be a celebration of women's achievements but will catalyze continuous and sustainable efforts that contribute to the fulfillment of SDGs, particularly SDG 5 and SDG 16. The journey towards gender equality is long, but with each passing year and each International Women's Day, we move one step closer to a future where gender equality is a lived reality for all.

Here's a look at the themes for International Women's Day, starting from its inception:

Year	Theme	Awareness Topic
1996	Celebrating the Past, Planning for the Future	Recognizing women's historical achievements and planning for future advancements
1997	Women and the Peace Table	Promoting women's involvement in peacekeeping and conflict resolution
1998	Women and Human Rights	Highlighting the importance of women's human rights
1999	World Free of Violence Against Women	Advocating for a world without violence against women
2000	Women Uniting for Peace	Encouraging women to unite for the cause of peace
2001	Women and Peace: Women Managing Conflicts	Showcasing women's roles in conflict management
2002	Afghan Women Today: Realities and Opportunities	Focusing on the status and potential of Afghan women
2003	Gender Equality and the Millennium Development Goals	Linking gender equality with the UN's Millennium Development Goals
2004	Women and HIV/AIDS	Raising awareness about women and HIV/AIDS
2005	Gender Equality Beyond 2005; Building a More Secure Future	Looking towards a future with gender equality
2006	Women in Decision-making	Empowering women in decision-making roles
2007	Ending Impunity for Violence Against Women and Girls	Fighting against impunity for violence towards women and girls
2008	Investing in Women and Girls	Encouraging investment in women and girls
2009	Women and Men United to End Violence Against Women and Girls	Calling for unity between genders to end violence against women and girls
2010	Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities: Progress for All	Advocating for equal rights and opportunities
2011	Equal Access to Education, Training, and Science and Technology: Pathway to Decent Work for Women	Focusing on equal access to education and decent work
2012	Empower Rural Women, End Poverty, and Hunger	Empowering rural women, addressing poverty and hunger
2013	A Promise is a Promise: Time for Action to End Violence Against Women	Ending violence against women
2014	Equality for Women is Progress for All	Achieving gender equality
2015	Empowering Women, Empowering Humanity: Picture it!	Empowering women for the betterment of humanity
2016	Planet 50–50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality	Achieving gender equality by 2030
2017	Women in the Changing World of Work: Planet 50-50 by 2030	Adapting to changes in the work environment for women
2018	Time is Now: Rural and urban activists transforming women's lives	Recognizing rural and urban activists transforming women's lives
2019	Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change	Promoting equality, smart solutions, and innovative change for women's rights
2020	"I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women's Rights"	Empowering the new generation to realize women's rights
2021	Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world	Encouraging women's leadership and equality in the face of global health challenges
2022	Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow	Advocating for immediate gender equality for a sustainable future
2023	DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality	Focusing on the role of digital innovation and technology in achieving gender equality
2024	Inspire Inclusion	When we inspire others to understand and value women's inclusion, we forge a better world.