Recent data from the World Economic Forum suggests that, at our current sluggish pace, we might wait until 2158 for full gender parity—five more generations from now. The pandemic, economic downturns, and global conflicts have added fresh barriers to what was already an uphill climb. Yet, the sight of young girls marching in protest, the resonance of women’s voices in boardrooms, and the fearless demands on social media suggest a significant shift is brewing. Determination captures this renewed urgency: Why wait another century for equality if we can push harder today?
The official 2025 theme, “Accelerate Action,” echoes the urgency of a world tired of incremental change. Organizations like UN Women highlight that slow, steady progress is no longer enough. From equal pay legislation to digital inclusion initiatives, we need radical, measurable steps forward. For ALL women and girls—Rights. Equality. Empowerment, a parallel UN Women campaign, stresses that any such acceleration must be inclusive: every race, class, ability, and identity. If progress ignores the most marginalized, it’s not true progress at all.
This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration—an ambitious global agreement ratified by 189 countries in 1995. It set out to advance women’s rights in areas like education, health, and political participation. While significant strides have been made, many commitments remain unfulfilled, and recent reports suggest growing backlash in certain regions. In times of economic instability, political turmoil, and climate crises, we see pushback on issues from reproductive health to women’s leadership. But if anything, these setbacks underscore why acceleration is vital.
In her small office in Nairobi, human rights advocate Mariam Odongo flips through pages of statistics. They reveal a discouraging truth: 24% of countries report that backlash against gender equality has weakened efforts to uphold women’s rights. Odongo has lived this reality firsthand. “We’ve had laws on the books for years,” she notes, “but certain groups are actively trying to roll them back.” She points out, however, that such backlash signals impact: “If our work wasn’t powerful, no one would try this hard to stop it.”
Economists warn that failing to invest in women’s empowerment could cost us all—financially and in lost human potential. Closing the global gender gap by 2030 will require about $360 billion per year, according to UN Women. But inaction comes with an even higher bill. Consider the digital gender divide: bridging it alone could save an estimated $500 billion in just five years. Moreover, investing in the so-called care economy—ensuring women aren’t disproportionately burdened by unpaid caregiving—could generate up to 300 million new jobs by 2035, fueling robust and sustainable growth.
Despite the mountains still left to climb, not all news is grim. Across numerous regions, maternal mortality rates are plummeting, and more women than ever are breaking into leadership roles in business and governance. In the last decade, several countries have passed unprecedented legislation banning gender-based violence, advancing reproductive rights, and expanding financial opportunities for women entrepreneurs. These successes prove that intentional policies—backed by political will and grassroots activism—can spark genuine change.
Still, one in three women worldwide experiences physical or sexual violence, a jarring statistic that cannot be repeated often enough. Meanwhile, climate emergencies and armed conflicts disproportionately hurt women. An estimated 600 million women live in conflict-affected areas where sexual violence rates have surged dramatically. Additionally, autocratic regimes have curtailed women’s freedoms, snuffing out the critical work of grassroots organizations.
UN Women proposes six key avenues to accelerate progress:
1. Digital Access: Narrowing the digital gender gap ensures women and girls don’t get left behind in the AI-driven future.
2. Economic Security: Public services and social protections that lift families out of poverty and value women’s unpaid care work.
3. Zero Violence: Actual enforcement of anti-violence laws, coupled with transformative prevention strategies.
4. Decision-Making Power: Gender quotas in legislative assemblies and executive boards to ensure women’s leadership shapes policy.
5. Peace and Security: Adequate funding for women-led organizations in conflict zones to foster long-term stability.
6. Climate Justice: Recognizing the unique roles and vulnerabilities of women in environmental crises and ensuring they lead green initiatives.
This year, International Women’s Day organizers have one clear message: “Support the Supporters.” Activist networks, women’s shelters, and scholarship programs often run on shoestring budgets. Making March 8 a global day of giving could channel critical resources to organizations fighting on the frontlines—those ensuring that laws turn into lived realities.
The alignment of International Women’s Day with the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration amplifies the call for action. We can’t afford another century-long wait, nor can we ignore the louder voices of opposition. The backlash, paradoxically, hints that progress is real enough to threaten existing power structures. Through determination and unity, women worldwide are countering the naysayers with a simple truth: Our rights are non-negotiable. On International Women’s Day 2025, let’s not just mark another date on the calendar. Let’s accelerate, fund, advocate, and reform. Let’s ensure that, by the time our teenage daughters have grandchildren, they’ll wonder why equality ever seemed out of reach.
