Every year on March eight, the world   recognize International Women’s Day  which is a day set aside to celebrate the achievements of women while also calling for gender equality in 2025.

The Theme  for this year’s celebration   “Accelerate action”  is a call to move forward in order to achieve gender equality which should not just focus on celebration but on action that brings real change to issues that continue to hinder women’s progress in society.

While there have been undeniable advancements in women’s rights, the reality remains that gender-based violence, economic disparity, and lack of political representation continue to be major challenges.

The recent rise in workplace discrimination cases and the persistent gender pay gap show that there is still much work to be done.  A 2025 study by the International Labour Organization  revealed that, on average, women earn twenty per cent less than men for the same work globally. Experts have linked this disparity to multiple factors, including workplace discrimination, unequal opportunities for promotions, and the burden of unpaid care work, which often falls disproportionately on women. Advocacy groups are calling for stronger wage transparency policies and strict enforcement of equal pay laws to close the gap.

There is also growing reports of gender-based violence across the world. The United Nations has reported a fifteen per cent increase in domestic violence cases over the past year, with economic hardships and conflict situations worsening the crisis.

Organizations advocating women’s rights are calling for more shelters, legal aid, and stricter punishment for perpetrators.

 In many parts of the world, women remain underrepresented in leadership roles, despite proving their competence and dedication in various fields.

Despite an increase in the number of women in political positions, gender parity in governance remains far from reality which is glaring even in Nigeria’s politics. According to the latest data from the Global Gender Equality Index, only twenty-six per cent of parliamentary seats worldwide are occupied by women, with some countries still lacking female representation in government cabinets.

Moreover, the digital space, which should be a tool for empowerment, has become a battleground for cyber harassment against women, discouraging many from fully participating in discussions that shape policies and governance. Social media platforms and governments must take stronger measures to protect women from online abuse while ensuring their voices are heard.

This year’s International Women’s Day must go beyond slogans and hash tags. It should be a call for concrete policies that ensure safe workplaces, legal protection against gender-based violence and equal opportunities for women in technology, politics, and business. While we celebrate the contributions of women globally, we must also push for systemic changes that will create a truly inclusive world for the next generation.

As the International Women’s Day 2025 is observed, the message is clear: women deserve not only recognition but also the right to equal opportunities, safety, and representation. The world must act now, not later.

MARTHA  IBEZIM

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