Thirty years ago, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action laid out an ambitious vision for gender equality. It was a bold promise, one that called for economic empowerment, leadership, safety, and representation for all women and girls. Since then, we have seen progress, but we are still far from where we need to be. The theme of International Women’s Day 2025, March Forward: For ALL Women and Girls, is a powerful call to action, a reminder that our work is far from over, and a challenge to ensure no one is left behind.
For me, March Forward is both deeply personal and universally relevant. As a trauma survivor and someone who works to support others on their healing journeys, I have seen firsthand how systemic inequalities and entrenched socio-cultural norms impact women and girls. Too many are still silenced, held back by barriers they did not create. Too many are fighting to reclaim their voices in a world that often refuses to hear them. Marching forward means making space for those voices, ensuring they are not just acknowledged but amplified.
This theme also speaks to the urgency of action. Progress is not guaranteed, it requires effort, persistence, and collective movement. We are witnessing an erosion of rights globally, from increased violence against women to widening economic disparities. March Forward means refusing to accept these setbacks as the status quo. It means actively challenging injustice, whether in boardrooms, communities, or our own households and families. It is about recognising that gender equality is not just a women’s issue, it is a human issue that benefits everyone.
Perhaps most importantly, March Forward is about inclusivity. The fight for gender equality cannot be for a select few; it must be for ALL women and girls. It must include the voices of those who have been marginalised, women of colour, LGBTQ+ women, women with disabilities, Indigenous women, and women in conflict zones. It must recognise that empowerment looks different for each person and that true progress means lifting up those who are most often overlooked.
As we mark Beijing+30, I am reminded of the resilience of the women who came before us and the responsibility we have to those who will come after. This International Women’s Day, I choose to March Forward by continuing to create spaces where survivors are seen and heard, by advocating for policies that protect and uplift, and by refusing to let the weight of history silence us or hold us back.
Together, we can be the generation that turns promise into progress. Let’s March Forward, not just today, but every day, until equality is not just an aspiration, but a reality for all women and girls.
