Gender inequality remains a stark global reality despite a century of progress since International Women’s Day began. Current statistics reveal troubling facts: 2.7 billion women worldwide encounter legal barriers limiting their job choices compared to men. More disturbingly, physical or sexual violence affects 30% of women during their lifetime.
The year 2025 marks a significant milestone for International Women’s Day, building upon its foundational moment in 1911 when one million people united to champion women’s rights. The United Nations has declared “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment” as the official theme, yet statistical evidence presents concerning realities. Most notably, gender equality remains unrealised across all nations. Australia exemplifies this ongoing challenge – a 13.3% gender pay gap persists, highlighting how even advanced economies struggle to achieve workplace parity.
International Women’s Day emerged from powerful labour movements across North America and Europe. The movement’s foundation stone was laid in 1908 when 15,000 women marched through New York City, voicing their demands for improved working conditions and voting rights [2].
The Socialist Party of America established the groundwork through their declaration of the first National Woman’s Day. A significant advancement occurred at the 1910 International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen, where German activist Clara Zetkin put forth a proposal for an annual celebration dedicated to women’s causes. Her proposal garnered unanimous endorsement from 100 delegates representing 17 nations [2].
The first International Women’s Day celebration in 1911 demonstrated remarkable solidarity, drawing more than one million participants to rallies across Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland [2]. These assemblies centred on core rights: workplace equality, suffrage and public office participation. The movement’s influence expanded notably to Russia, where women’s demonstrations for “bread and peace” in 1917 catalysed significant political transformation [18].
The movement’s trajectory mirrors society’s evolving recognition of women’s rights. Originally observed primarily as a communist celebration until 1967, the day evolved through second-wave feminism into a broader platform for activism [18]. Australia’s inaugural International Women’s Day observation occurred in 1928 at Sydney’s Domain, where demonstrators called for equal pay, eight-hour workdays and unemployment benefits [18].
The observance evolved to tackle modern challenges. The 1970s and 1980s witnessed strategic alliances between women’s groups and labour organisations, focusing on:
The United Nations’ official recognition in 1975 marked a crucial development, establishing International Women’s Day as a global observance [18]. The General Assembly strengthened this commitment in December 1977 by adopting a resolution for a United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace [2].
UN involvement brought systematic advocacy through themed campaigns and initiatives. The organisation’s impact is evident: legal protection against domestic violence expanded from 12 countries before 1995 to 1,583 legislative measures across 193 nations today [2].
Statistical evidence shows 112 countries now maintain National Action Plans on women, peace and security—a marked increase from 19 in 2010 [2]. The day holds official holiday status in multiple nations, including Afghanistan, China, Nepal and Vietnam [2].
International Women’s Day’s approach to its 2025 commemoration represents both achievement and persistent challenge. The observance maintains its foundational activist spirit, serving as a crucial platform against efforts to diminish women’s rights [18]. Through coordinated themes and worldwide engagement, it continues to strengthen solidarity and advance meaningful progress for women globally.
The United Nations presents International Women’s Day 2025 theme: “March Forward: For ALL Women and Girls,” commemorating thirty years since the landmark Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action [7].
Minister for Women, Katy Gallagher, outlines Australia’s readiness to spearhead gender equality initiatives. Her priorities encompass closing the gender pay gap, strengthening women’s safety measures, and establishing fair recognition for paid and unpaid care work [8].
UN Women Australia plans signature events across major cities—Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth—alongside digital platforms on 7 March 2025. These gatherings serve dual purposes: uniting thought leaders and mobilising concrete action towards gender equality [8].
Paralympian Madison de Rozario, scheduled to speak at the Brisbane event, emphasises the theme’s focus on sustained progress rather than retrospection. She highlights urgent requirements for enhanced representation of people with disabilities across leadership, sports, media and commercial sectors [9].
The Beijing Declaration stands as the most thorough framework for advancing women’s and girls’ rights worldwide, endorsed by 189 governments in 1995 [10]. Key achievements include:
Current data reveals persistent challenges. Reports indicate 612 million women and girls currently live in conflict zones, showing a 50% rise over ten years [12]. Violence remains prevalent, with 736 million women experiencing physical or sexual abuse from partners or non-partners [10].
The Hon Dr Carmen Lawrence AO, former Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women, acknowledges the Declaration’s historical significance whilst emphasising outstanding requirements for complete implementation [8].
Minister Huang Xiaowei of China’s National Working Committee on Children and Women presents sobering statistics: “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 addresses fundamental obstacles: systemic inequalities, deep-rooted social norms, escalating violence and economic disparities [12]. Young women and adolescent girls remain central to achieving lasting societal transformation [11].
“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 draws data from 159 countries, revealing mixed outcomes in gender equality progress. Statistical evidence demonstrates notable achievements whilst highlighting persistent global challenges [14].
Australia’s workplace remuneration data exposes concerning disparities. The total remuneration gap reaches 21.8%, translating to women earning 78 cents for every AUD 1.53 earned by men [15]. Female-dominated sectors show modest improvement with 5.5% gaps, yet male-dominated industries report 16.1% differences [15].
Full gender parity projections suggest a lengthy timeline extending to 2158 [16]. Corporate leadership structures mirror this imbalance, with male representation surpassing female presence across organisational hierarchies [17].
Women’s presence in political leadership shows encouraging growth. Twenty-seven nations now feature women as Heads of State or Government [2]. Parliamentary representation has climbed to 26.9% in single or lower houses, marking substantial improvement from 11% recorded in 1995 [2].
Parliamentary gender parity achievements stand out in six nations:
Educational metrics present varied outcomes. Global primary and secondary enrolment figures approach parity (92% male, 90% female) [18]. Low-income nations report primary education completion rates of 63% for girls compared to 67% for boys [18].
Secondary education disparities prove more pronounced in resource-limited regions, where girl completion rates reach 38% against 43% for boys [18]. Conflict zones amplify these gaps, with girls facing 2.5 times higher likelihood of missing school than boys [18].
Significant barriers persist worldwide. Educational exclusion affects 119 million girls, including 34 million primary school-aged children [19]. Economic hardship compounds these challenges, particularly impacting girls from low-income households and remote communities [19].
School-related gender violence remains prevalent, with 60 million girls experiencing sexual assault during their educational journey annually [18]. Policy implementation faces resistance, with 24% of countries reporting opposition to gender equality measures [20].
The 2025 landscape presents mounting concerns. Autocratic governance affects three-quarters of the global population, restricting fundamental rights. Conflict zones house over 600 million women and girls as of 2022 [20]. These realities demand robust, coordinated responses across societal sectors to advance gender equality objectives.
Digital environments create distinct safety and equality concerns for women. Research data reveals troubling statistics: technology-facilitated violence affects between 16% and 58% of women [21]. These digital safety challenges require urgent attention as International Women’s Day 2025 approaches.
Digital abuse manifests across multiple channels. Workplace-related harassment affects one in three women [22]. Public figures, women with disabilities, and LGBTIQ+ individuals face heightened risk levels [22]. Sexual harassment and stalking constitute primary forms of technology-enabled violence [21].
Perpetrators demonstrate growing sophistication in image-based abuse through digital platform exploitation. Women document receiving messages detailing their daily movements, while discovering manipulated footage of themselves circulating online [21]. COVID-19 lockdowns heightened digital vulnerability through increased online presence. British statistics show online abuse against women rose 38% during this period [3].
Professional consequences prove severe. Female participation in online spaces has declined, with many avoiding visible leadership roles [22]. Professional impact data shows 73% of women journalists experiencing online violence during work duties [21]. African women parliamentarians report a 58% rate of digital attacks [21].
Artificial Intelligence systems reflect and magnify societal gender biases. Berkeley Haas Centre for Equity, Gender and Leadership research examined 133 AI systems, finding gender bias in 44% and combined gender-racial bias in 25% [1].
Evidence reveals systematic bias:
Women’s limited representation in AI development exacerbates these issues. World Economic Forum data shows women comprise just 29% of science, technology, engineering and mathematics workers [1]. Charles Sturt University research demonstrates design impact – while women represent 54.3% of Australian medical students, AI generates only 39.9% female medical images [24].
Financial analysis reveals significant opportunity costs. Digital gender gap closure could yield AUD 764.50 billion within five years [25]. Current statistics show women trail men by 16 percentage points in AI tool usage across identical roles [5].
United Nations guidance emphasises technology’s role as an equality enabler rather than exclusionary force [25]. Solutions require increased female perspective integration throughout technological development [5]. Ofcom guidance outlines nine essential areas requiring technology company attention for enhanced women’s online safety [4].
“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
Australian communities and organisations demonstrate practical commitment to International Women’s Day 2025 through targeted programmes and measurable initiatives.
Soroptimist International Shepparton and Tatura Community House spearhead grassroots action through strategic breakfast events [26]. These gatherings create essential dialogue platforms whilst tackling fundamental issues. Manningham Function Centre’s yearly International Women’s Day breakfast unites local advocates advancing gender equality objectives [27].
Queens Park Pool and Ascot Vale Leisure Centre, under Moonee Valley City Council direction, provide women-specific swimming access [27]. Brunswick Library partners with Sussex Neighbourhood House to showcase women’s artistic achievements through curated exhibitions [27].
Australian corporate sector demonstrates strengthened commitment toward gender parity. Government funding through the Women’s Leadership and Development Strategy enables organisations to boost women’s economic participation [28]. Programme benefits include workplace flexibility implementation support and entrepreneurship development resources.
The Advancing Women programme exemplifies targeted intervention success. This 26-week initiative strengthens organisational disability inclusion whilst developing leadership capabilities among women with disabilities [29]. Key programme elements include:
ActionAid Australia outlines practical participation pathways:
Government childcare funding reaches AUD 56.57 billion, supporting family workforce participation [28]. Statistical projections indicate 230,000 families will increase work engagement through this support [28].
The Office for Women maintains policy development focus, while the Workplace Gender Equality Agency champions flexible work practices [30]. The National Innovation and Science Agenda creates additional opportunities for women across emerging sectors [28].
International Women’s Day 2025 presents dual significance: recognition of measurable progress alongside acknowledgment of persistent challenges. Political representation gains and educational access improvements mark notable achievements, yet Australia’s 21.8% remuneration gap reveals enduring workplace inequities. Digital platforms introduce additional complexities through gender-based discrimination.
Three decades post-Beijing Declaration yield substantial evidence of progress. Legal protections against domestic violence show marked expansion, while parliamentary representation demonstrates steady growth worldwide. Statistical evidence, however, confirms millions of women continue facing fundamental challenges through poverty, conflict zones and restricted opportunities.
Individual participation holds measurable impact. Local community programme support, workplace equality advocacy and online safety initiatives create momentum for systematic change. Australian organisations provide structured engagement pathways through corporate programmes and community-based activities.
Gender equality advancement yields society-wide benefits. Practical government measures combined with community-driven initiatives establish foundations for meaningful progress. International Women’s Day 2025 represents another crucial milestone toward achieving equitable outcomes for women and girls worldwide.
[1] – https://www.bbc.com/news/world-64723201
[2] – https://www.internationalwomensday.org/history-of-international-womens-day/
[3] – https://www.internationalwomensday.com/Activity/15586/The-history-of-IWD
[4] – https://www.britannica.com/topic/International-Womens-Day
[5] – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Women’s_Day
[6] – https://www.un.org/en/observances/womens-day/background
[7] – https://www.un.org/en/observances/womens-day
[8] – https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2023/mar/08/happy-international-womens-day-a-look-back-at-over-a-century-of-the-global-fight-for-justice-and-equality
[9] – https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-communities/international-womens-day
[10] – https://unwomen.org.au/march-forward-un-women-australia-announces-international-womens-day-2025-theme/
[11] – https://aapnews.aap.com.au/news/international-women-s-day-plants-message-for-future
[12] – https://unwomen.org.au/explainer-the-beijing-declaration-and-platform-for-action-at-30-and-why-that-matters-for-gender-equality/
[13] – https://www.iwd.net.au/
[14] – https://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/news/2024/09/thirty-years-of-the-beijing-declaration-and-platform-for-action
[15] – https://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/media-advisory/2025/02/international-womens-day-2025-8-march-for-all-women-and-girls-rights-equality-empowerment
[16] – https://www.wgea.gov.au/pay-and-gender/gender-pay-gap-data
[17] – https://www.internationalwomensday.com/Theme
[18] – https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/women-in-the-workplace
[19] – https://www.unwomen.org/en/articles/facts-and-figures/facts-and-figures-womens-leadership-and-political-participation
[20] – https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/girlseducation
[21] – https://www.unicef.org/education/girls-education
[22] – https://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/feature-story/2025/02/womens-rights-in-2025-hope-resilience-and-the-fight-against-backlash
[23] – https://www.unwomen.org/en/articles/faqs/digital-abuse-trolling-stalking-and-other-forms-of-technology-facilitated-violence-against-women
[24] – https://www.esafety.gov.au/research/how-online-abuse-impacts-women-working-lives
[25] – https://unric.org/en/cyberviolence-against-women-and-girls-the-growing-threat-of-the-digital-age/
[26] – https://www.unwomen.org/en/articles/explainer/artificial-intelligence-and-gender-equality
[27] – https://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/interview/2025/02/how-ai-reinforces-gender-bias-and-what-we-can-do-about-it
[28] – https://news.csu.edu.au/latest-news/generative-ai-creates-gender-bias-new-study-reveals
[29] – https://www.unwomen.org/en/articles/explainer/make-2025-count-for-feminism-what-you-can-do-right-now
[30] – https://time.com/7210973/women-in-the-ai-revolution/
[31] – https://cms-lawnow.com/en/ealerts/2025/02/online-safety-act-ofcom-publishes-ambitious-draught-guidance-on-improving-online-safety-for-women-and-girls
[32] – https://greatershepparton.com.au/whats-happening/news/news-article/!/456/post/council-to-celebrate-international-womens-day-2025-with-a-line-up-of-community-events
[33] – https://www.woodards.com.au/insights-inspiration/international-womens-day-events-in-your-suburb/
[34] – https://www.agec.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/2017-Australian-Government-Workforce-Strategy-Towards-2025-strategy-Womens-Workforce-Participation.pdf
[35] – https://pwd.org.au/join-the-advancing-women-project-in-2025/
[36] – https://actionaid.org.au/iwd/
[37] – https://www.pmc.gov.au/office-women
In Australia, International Women’s Day is a national observance celebrating women’s achievements and advocating for gender equality. It features community events, political rallies, and corporate initiatives that spotlight challenges such as equal pay and workplace rights, building on a rich history of feminist activism.
The 2025 theme is “March Forward: For ALL Women and Girls.” This theme marks 30 years since the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, emphasizing continued progress in rights, equality, and empowerment on a global scale..
We celebrate International Women’s Day to honour the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women, while also recognizing the ongoing struggle for gender equality. The day serves as a call to action to address disparities and promote justice and empowerment for all women.
March 8th has historically been a day of significant action and remembrance. It began with early 20th-century marches—such as the 1908 demonstration in New York City and the 1911 rallies in Europe—where women demanded better working conditions and voting rights. Today, it is marked globally by events that celebrate achievements and push for continued change.
Purple is widely recognized as the colour of International Women’s Day. It symbolizes justice, dignity, and the ongoing fight for gender equality, and is commonly featured in campaigns and events related to the day.
The origins of International Women’s Day trace back to early labour movements in North America and Europe. Its modern form was shaped by activists such as Clara Zetkin, who proposed an annual celebration at the 1910 International Conference of Working Women, leading to the first International Women’s Day in 1911.
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