IWD 2025 – #AccelerateAction: Building a Future of Equality & Empowerment
International Women’s Day (IWD), observed annually on March 8, celebrates women’s achievements and accomplishments. It also serves as a platform to advocate for gender equality and recognize the challenges they continue to face. IWD recognises progress and emphasises the need for continuous efforts to create a more just, inclusive, and equitable world.
Why The “Accelerate Action” Theme Matters
This year’s theme, “Accelerate Action” is a reminder that while progress has been made in the fight for gender equality, change is not happening fast enough. Despite decades of advocacy, gender-based discrimination and violence remain deeply entrenched in societies worldwide. Issues such as discrimination, wage inequality, gender-based violence, reproductive rights and workplace inequalities still disproportionately impact women, especially those at the intersections of gender and sexuality, posing barriers to true equality. For heterosexual women, LGBTQI+ women and people who are gender-non-conforming, disabled, or part of marginalized racial and ethnic communities, these issues are often magnified.
At The Silver Lining Foundation (SLF), we recognize that passive support is not enough. It is not enough to acknowledge inequality; we must work actively and assiduously to dismantle it. This year’s theme, “Accelerate Action,” challenges us to do more than just discuss gender equality. It urges us to mobilize, challenge oppressive systems, and demand tangible change.
How Can You Accelerate Action?
Don’t think gender advocacy and gender justice is something you know how to act on? Here are four ways you can push for urgent progress:
- Challenge Harmful Narratives:
Gender inequality is deeply rooted in societal norms and harmful stereotypes. We must actively challenge outdated beliefs that limit opportunities for women and LGBTQI+ people. Inclusive education plays a critical role in shaping perspectives and fostering environments where all people – regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation – can thrive. Schools and communities must be safe spaces for all. Comprehensive education on gender diversity and inclusion must be prioritized to break the cycle of discrimination.
- Advocate for Policy Reform:
Laws and policies shape the lived experiences of women and marginalized communities. We must push for stronger legal protections that safeguard the rights of all women – including transgender women, non-binary people and those who face intersectional oppression. We must support policies that protect women and LGBTQI+ individuals from workplace discrimination, gender-based violence (GBV) and intimate partner violence (IPV), and equal access to healthcare, including mental health support and reproductive rights.
- Amplify & Empower Youth Voices:
At SLF, we believe in creating safe classrooms, workplaces, and communities where young people are empowered to question and redefine traditional gender norms. Young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow; they are the change-makers of today. Amplifying and encouraging youth-led advocacy ensures sustainable progress toward issues that directly impact their futures, such as gender justice, LGBTQI+ rights, and mental health awareness. Organizations, governments, and communities must provide platforms, resources, and funding to empower young people to drive real change.
- Engage in Intersectional Allyship:
Feminism must be inclusive. Women’s rights and queer rights are interconnected; gender discrimination does not exist in isolation from racism, ableism, homophobia, and transphobia. The fight for gender equality cannot leave behind LGBTQI+ women, women of color, disabled women, or those experiencing economic hardship. We must all be active allies, standing in solidarity with all women and using our platforms to advocate for those who are often marginalised, ignored or silenced.
NOW is The Time to Accelerate Action
We cannot wait for equality to happen gradually. The fight for gender equality requires bold, decisive, and collective action. Each of us has a role to play—whether it’s advocating for policy changes, amplifying marginalized voices, challenging discrimination, or supporting youth-led activism. We must take urgent, collective, and intentional steps to eliminate systemic discrimination and dismantle the barriers that prevent women and gender-non-conforming people from living free, safe, and empowered lives.
This International Women’s Day, we call for collective efforts from government, civil society organisations and the citizenry to advocate for equal opportunities for women. Let us commit to more than just words. Let’s commit to action. Collectively, we can dismantle inequality and accelerate action for a future where ALL women can thrive.
