International Women’s Day 2025 – Accelerate Action

On 8th March, it was International Women’s Day (IWD). This year’s theme, ‘Accelerate Action’, emphasises the importance of prompt and effective action to accomplish gender equality – not just within Australia, but globally too.

Since 1911, IWD has been recognised around the world. It’s an important day to celebrate women’s achievements and hard-won gains, while also emphasising the need for action to achieve gender parity.

As an inclusive event, IWD makes us all reflect on what we can do to achieve gender equality for women and girls in Australia and around the world.

In our everyday lives, we can challenge stereotypes and discrimination, uplift the voices of women, share our knowledge and encourage others to participate.

Organisations can also contribute to achieving gender parity by empowering women, employing and retaining diverse talent and supporting women in leadership, decision-making, business and STEM roles.

The importance of this year’s theme – Accelerate Action – can be seen in light of recent data released by the World Economic Forum (WEF), which revealed that it will take until 2158 to reach full gender parity.

Australia’s global ranking for gender parity in the WEF report improved from 43rd in 2022 to 24th in 2024 – a welcome change, while also signalling that there’s still more to do to improve gender parity in Australia.

To accelerate action, we can highlight the strategies that are working to achieve gender parity and advocate for these changes to be implemented more swiftly and widely.

We can also support the work of impactful organisations and groups who are committing their time and resources to improve gender equality in a variety of areas: from health, participation in sport and education, to food security, the environment and the arts.

When gender is considered in the policies, activities and decision-making of governments and organisations, we can work towards closing the gap.

By Stella Zikos