International Women's Day 2025: Celebrating Progress and Addressing Ongoing Challenges

Image credits: Source Link

The world is gearing up to celebrate International Women's Day 2025, a day dedicated to recognizing the achievements and contributions of women and girls globally. This year's celebrations come at a time when the world is facing numerous challenges, including economic instability, climate change, and democratic erosion, which have a disproportionate impact on women and girls. Despite these challenges, there are many reasons to celebrate, including the launch of the Women's Rights in Review 30 Years After Beijing report, which reveals urgent trends shaping the global state of women's and girls' rights. The report is based on submissions by 159 countries to the UN Secretary-General and highlights the progress made towards achieving gender equality, as well as the significant challenges that remain.

The Women's Rights in Review 30 Years After Beijing report is a significant milestone in the journey towards gender equality, as it marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. The report highlights the importance of addressing the backlash against gender equality, which is hampering the implementation of critical policies, including those addressing gender-based violence. The report also emphasizes the need for increased investment in education and economic empowerment programs, which are critical for achieving gender equality. In addition to the Women's Rights in Review 30 Years After Beijing report, the Girl Goals joint report by UNICEF, UN Women, and Plan International will also be launched, highlighting the progress made towards achieving adolescent girls' rights over the past 30 years.

International Women's Day 2025 will be celebrated with various events and activities around the world, including a special event at the UN General Assembly Hall in New York, which will feature a Broadway cast performance from the Tony Award-winning SUFFS the Musical. The event will be moderated by Sade Baderinwa, Anchor, ABC Eyewitness News, and will include a discussion on the importance of achieving gender equality. The event is open to the public, and registration is mandatory for those who wish to attend in person. For those who cannot attend in person, the event will be live-streamed on UN WebTV. In India, the celebrations will be marked by various events and activities, including a strike by ASHA workers in Kerala, who are demanding better pay and working conditions.

Despite the progress made towards achieving gender equality, there are still many challenges that remain, including the significant gap in unpaid housework and care work between men and women. According to the 2024 Time Use Survey, women spend an average of 289 minutes per day on housework, compared to 88 minutes per day for men. This gap has significant implications for women's economic participation and must be addressed through policies and programs that promote greater equality in unpaid work. The survey also highlights the importance of recognizing the challenges and opportunities that women face in their daily lives, including the need for remote work options and flexible working arrangements. Some of the key statistics from the survey include: * Women spend an average of 341 minutes per day on employment and related activities, compared to 473 minutes per day for men * Women spend an average of 137 minutes per day on unpaid care work, compared to 75 minutes per day for men * The gap in unpaid housework and care work between men and women has decreased by only 10 minutes over the past five years, highlighting the need for greater efforts to address this issue.

In conclusion, International Women's Day 2025 is an important milestone in the journey towards gender equality, and it is essential that we continue to work towards addressing the ongoing challenges that women and girls face. This includes addressing the backlash against gender equality, increasing investment in education and economic empowerment programs, and promoting greater equality in unpaid work. By working together, we can create a more just and equitable world for all, where women and girls have the opportunity to reach their full potential. Some of the key stakeholders who will be involved in the celebrations include: * UN Women * UNICEF * Plan International * Governments around the world * Civil society organizations * Private sector companies * Individuals who are committed to achieving gender equality. The policy points that will be addressed during the celebrations include: * Increasing investment in education and economic empowerment programs * Promoting greater equality in unpaid work * Addressing the backlash against gender equality * Improving access to healthcare and other essential services * Promoting women's participation in decision-making processes.