International Women’s Day 2025

March 4, 2025

International Women’s Day 2025: Why It Matters More Than Ever Before

Despite over a century of efforts to bridge the gender divide, gender inequality remains a pressing global issue. Today, startling figures remind us of the uphill battle: 2.7 billion women around the world face legal restrictions that limit their employment options, and as many as 30% of women endure physical or sexual violence at some point in their lives.

The year 2025 stands as a pivotal moment in the history of International Women’s Day. Building on its inception in 1911—when one million people rallied for women’s rights—this year’s observance deepens our commitment to change. With the United Nations declaring the theme “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment,” we are reminded that real gender equality has yet to be achieved globally. Even in developed nations like Australia, where a 13.3% gender pay gap persists, the struggle for workplace parity is far from over.

The Evolution of International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day has its roots in the dynamic labour movements of North America and Europe. In 1908, a bold demonstration saw 15,000 women marching through New York City to demand better working conditions and voting rights. This momentum carried forward, and by 1911, rallies across Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland brought together over one million supporters to champion fundamental rights such as workplace equality, suffrage, and political participation [2].

From Protest to a Global Movement

The groundwork was laid by the Socialist Party of America, which initiated the first National Woman’s Day. A watershed moment came at the 1910 International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen, where German activist Clara Zetkin proposed an annual celebration dedicated to women’s causes. Her proposal won unanimous support from 100 delegates representing 17 nations [2]. The inaugural International Women’s Day in 1911 was a vibrant display of solidarity that echoed across continents and set the stage for future activism. In Russia, the women’s “bread and peace” demonstrations in 1917 would later ignite significant political change [18].

Key Milestones: 1911 to 2025

The journey of International Women’s Day parallels society’s evolving acknowledgment of women’s rights. Initially recognized predominantly as a celebration within communist circles until 1967, the day transformed during the era of second-wave feminism into a broader platform for advocacy. Australia’s first commemoration in 1928 at Sydney’s Domain saw demonstrators demand equal pay, an eight-hour workday, and unemployment benefits [18]. Over the decades, the focus expanded to confront modern challenges through alliances between women’s groups and labor organizations, emphasizing:

Equal economic opportunities and legal rights
Reproductive rights and access to subsidized childcare
Measures to prevent violence against women [18]

The United Nations’ Role in Shaping IWD

The UN’s recognition of International Women’s Day in 1975 was a critical turning point, establishing it as a global observance. This commitment was further solidified in December 1977 when the UN General Assembly passed a resolution to create a United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace [2]. UN-led campaigns have since propelled significant legislative changes: protections against domestic violence have expanded from 12 countries pre-1995 to 1,583 measures across 193 nations today [2]. Furthermore, National Action Plans on women, peace, and security are now present in 112 countries—a striking increase from just 19 in 2010 [2]. Several nations, including Afghanistan, China, Nepal, and Vietnam, recognize the day as an official holiday [2].

International Women’s Day 2025 encapsulates both the progress made and the hurdles that remain. Its enduring activist spirit continues to challenge forces that seek to curtail women’s rights, using coordinated themes and global engagement to fortify solidarity and drive meaningful change [18].

Understanding the 2025 Theme

This year’s theme, “March Forward: For ALL Women and Girls,” commemorates three decades since the historic Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action [7].

March Forward: For ALL Women and Girls

Australia’s Minister for Women, Katy Gallagher, emphasizes the nation’s resolve to lead gender equality initiatives. Key priorities include narrowing the gender pay gap, bolstering safety measures for women, and ensuring fair recognition for both paid and unpaid care work [8]. Signature events are planned across Australia’s major cities—Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, and Perth—alongside robust digital programming on 7 March 2025. These events will unite thought leaders and activists to mobilize tangible steps towards equality [8]. Paralympian Madison de Rozario, set to speak in Brisbane, underscores the importance of ongoing progress and the need for greater representation of people with disabilities in leadership, sports, media, and business [9].

Beijing Declaration: 30 Years Later

The Beijing Declaration, endorsed by 189 governments in 1995, remains the most comprehensive framework for advancing women’s and girls’ rights worldwide [10]. Notable achievements include:

A surge in legal measures protecting against domestic violence, from 12 countries to 1,583 across 193 nations [11]
Expansion of National Action Plans on women, peace, and security from 19 to 112 countries [10]

Yet, challenges persist. Current reports show that 612 million women and girls live in conflict zones—a 50% increase over the past decade—and 736 million have experienced physical or sexual abuse by partners or others [10]. Former Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women, The Hon Dr Carmen Lawrence AO, acknowledges the Declaration’s landmark achievements while emphasizing the ongoing need for full implementation [8]. Minister Huang Xiaowei of China’s National Working Committee on Children and Women warns of stark realities: “One in ten women face extreme poverty, whilst nearly 600 million inhabit conflict-affected regions. The widening development gap threatens women’s progress” [13]. The 2025 theme directly confronts these obstacles—systemic inequalities, entrenched social norms, escalating violence, and economic disparities—with a keen focus on empowering young women and adolescent girls [12][11].

Global Progress Report 2025

“Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. It shouldn’t be that women are the exception.”
— Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States

The Women’s Rights in Review report, drawing data from 159 countries, offers a mixed picture of progress. While statistical evidence highlights significant strides, it also underscores the persistent challenges that continue to hinder true equality [14].

Workplace Equality Statistics

In Australia, workplace remuneration data reveals stark disparities. The overall remuneration gap stands at 21.8%, meaning women earn 78 cents for every AUD 1.53 that men earn [15]. While female-dominated sectors have seen modest improvements with a 5.5% gap, male-dominated industries exhibit a 16.1% difference [15]. Projections for full gender parity extend as far as 2158, with corporate leadership still overwhelmingly male [16][17].

Political Representation Gains

Encouraging trends in political representation are emerging. Twenty-seven nations now have women serving as Heads of State or Government [2]. Women’s parliamentary representation has risen to 26.9% in single or lower houses, a significant increase from the 11% recorded in 1995 [2]. Noteworthy achievements in parliamentary gender parity include:

Rwanda (61%)
Cuba (56%)
Nicaragua (54%)
Mexico (50%)
New Zealand (50%)
United Arab Emirates (50%) [2]

Education Access Improvements

Education statistics offer a varied outlook. Global primary and secondary enrolment nears parity (92% for males, 90% for females) [18]. However, in low-income countries, primary school completion rates are 63% for girls compared to 67% for boys [18]. Secondary education gaps are even more pronounced in resource-limited regions—38% for girls versus 43% for boys—and in conflict zones, girls are 2.5 times more likely to miss school than boys [18].

Remaining Challenges

Widespread barriers persist. Educational exclusion affects 119 million girls, including 34 million primary school-aged children [19]. Economic hardships particularly impact girls from low-income and remote communities [19]. Alarmingly, 60 million girls face sexual assault annually during their educational journey [18]. Policy resistance is also notable, with 24% of countries opposing gender equality measures [20]. The 2025 landscape is further complicated by autocratic regimes covering three-quarters of the global population, limiting essential rights, and by conflict zones that now shelter over 600 million women and girls as of 2022 [20]. Addressing these issues demands a united, cross-sector response.

Digital Age Challenges for Women

As our world becomes increasingly digitized, new arenas for gender discrimination have emerged. Studies show that technology-facilitated violence affects between 16% and 58% of women, creating urgent challenges in the digital realm [21].

Online Harassment Trends

Digital abuse is pervasive, with one in three women experiencing workplace-related harassment online [22]. Public figures, women with disabilities, and LGBTIQ+ individuals face even higher risks. The primary forms of digital violence include sexual harassment and stalking, alongside more sophisticated image-based abuses. Women report receiving detailed messages tracking their daily routines and discovering manipulated footage circulated without their consent [21]. The COVID-19 lockdowns further exacerbated these vulnerabilities; for instance, British data revealed a 38% increase in online abuse against women during that period [3]. Such digital assaults have led many women to withdraw from visible leadership roles, with 73% of women journalists and 58% of African women parliamentarians reporting significant online violence [21][22].

AI Bias Concerns

Artificial intelligence systems are not immune to gender bias. Research from the Berkeley Haas Centre for Equity, Gender and Leadership examined 133 AI systems, uncovering gender bias in 44% and combined gender-racial bias in 25% [1]. Systematic biases have been identified, including:

A preference for male candidates in AI-driven recruitment
Female voice defaults that reinforce service stereotypes
Gender-stereotyped professional associations in language models [23]

The underrepresentation of women in AI development exacerbates these issues. According to the World Economic Forum, women constitute only 29% of STEM workers [1]. For example, while women make up 54.3% of Australian medical students, AI-generated medical images feature only 39.9% female representations [24]. Closing the digital gender gap could unlock an economic opportunity worth AUD 764.50 billion over five years, yet current data shows a 16 percentage point lag in AI tool usage between genders [5]. The United Nations insists that technology should be an enabler of equality, urging tech companies to integrate more female perspectives into their development processes [25]. Ofcom’s guidance outlines nine critical areas for improvement to enhance women’s online safety [4].

Taking Action in Australia in 2025

“The future depends entirely on what each of us does every day; a movement is only people moving.”
— Gloria Steinem, American feminist journalist and social political activist

Across Australia, communities and organizations are taking tangible steps to advance gender equality in honour of International Women’s Day 2025.

Local Community Initiatives

Grassroots organizations are at the forefront of this movement. Soroptimist International Shepparton and Tatura Community House are leading breakfast events that spark essential conversations and confront key issues. Similarly, Manningham Function Centre’s annual International Women’s Day breakfast gathers local advocates committed to driving change [26]. Other community efforts include women-specific swimming sessions at Queens Park Pool and Ascot Vale Leisure Centre, organized by Moonee Valley City Council, and cultural exhibitions at Brunswick Library in partnership with Sussex Neighbourhood House [27].

Corporate Responsibility Programmes

Australia’s corporate sector is also stepping up. Government-backed initiatives like the Women’s Leadership and Development Strategy provide critical funding to boost female participation in the workforce [28]. These programmes offer benefits such as support for workplace flexibility and resources for entrepreneurial development. The Advancing Women programme, a targeted 26-week initiative, focuses on enhancing disability inclusion and leadership skills among women with disabilities through structured training, dedicated project support, and a 20-week eLearning mentorship [29]. Additionally, ActionAid Australia outlines pathways for active involvement, from coordinating community awareness events to engaging in activist networks [6]. Significant government childcare funding, reaching AUD 56.57 billion, is expected to increase workforce participation among 230,000 families [28]. Agencies such as the Office for Women and the Workplace Gender Equality Agency are also driving policy reforms and flexible work practices, while the National Innovation and Science Agenda opens further opportunities for women [30].

Conclusion

International Women’s Day 2025 stands as both a celebration of remarkable progress and a stark reminder of the challenges that lie ahead. Gains in political representation and educational access coexist with persistent obstacles such as Australia’s 21.8% remuneration gap and the new forms of digital abuse that target women. Decades after the Beijing Declaration, we see that while legal protections and advocacy efforts have expanded significantly, millions of women still grapple with poverty, conflict, and limited opportunities.

Every effort, from community initiatives to corporate responsibility programmes, makes a measurable impact. Through sustained collective action and targeted reforms, we are laying the groundwork for a future where every woman’s potential is fully recognized and every barrier dismantled. International Women’s Day 2025 is not only a tribute to past achievements but also a rallying cry for continued progress toward a more equitable world.

Back to blog