– International Women’s Day 2025: UN’s Stand on Women’s Rights
– UN Secretary-General Urges Action for Gender Equality
– Global Push for Women’s Empowerment on IWD 2025
On March 8, 2025, the United Nations marked International Women’s Day (IWD) under the theme “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that women’s rights are under increasing threats, calling for collective action to fight back against discrimination and violence. Guterres highlighted how new technologies amplify biases and harassment, making women’s rights a global battleground. He emphasized that achieving gender equality requires dismantling power structures that sustain inequality. UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous reinforced this urgency, stating, “Equality with exceptions is not equality.”
The event also marked the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration, a landmark framework for advancing women’s rights. However, recent UN reports show setbacks in gender equality efforts worldwide. Despite progress in education and healthcare, nearly a quarter of governments report regression in women’s rights policies.
The UN is urging leaders, policymakers, and individuals to reaffirm their commitment to gender equality. Guterres concluded with a powerful call to action: “Let’s make rights, equality, and empowerment a reality for all women and girls.”
