International Women’s Day celebrations

International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated every year on 8 March. On this day, we recognise the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women worldwide. The day calls for action to accelerate women’s equality and provides a platform to educate and raise awareness. It also calls for positive change and fundraising for women-focused charities.

This year’s campaign emphasises the importance of taking swift and decisive steps to achieve gender equality and speed up the rate of progress worldwide

The official campaign focus of International Women’s Day 2025 is centred on the need to ‘accelerate action’. It calls for increased momentum and urgency in addressing and breaking down the barriers and biases that women face, both in personal and professional spheres. According to data from the World Economic Forum, if the rate of progress remains the same as it is now, it will take until 2158 for full gender parity to be reached. That’s roughly five generations from now. This year’s campaign emphasises the importance of taking swift and decisive steps to achieve gender equality and speed up the rate of progress worldwide. There’s urgent work to do, and we can all play a part.

Since the first IWD gathering in 1911, the day has grown tremendously and is supported by over a million people, all committed to celebrating women and furthering the efforts to achieve gender equality. It is a versatile day of celebration that belongs to all groups. You can participate in many activities to celebrate IWD, such as campaigns, events, rallies, lobbying, and performances that encompass festivals, parties, fun runs, and celebrations.

All IWD activity is valid, whether it is big or small. For instance, when International Women’s Day rolls around on 8 March, there are many things you could do to promote awareness, appreciation, and action towards gender equality. You could organise or attend events where inspiring female leaders share their experiences or participate in discussions on gender equality, women’s leadership, and career advancement. In the workplace, you could share stories of female employees and their achievements through newsletters or social media. Take some initiative and provide training to raise awareness of unconscious bias and diversity. Share resources like articles, books, or podcasts that highlight women’s accomplishments and issues they face. You could partner with organisations that support women’s causes or donate to women-focused charities. Use this opportunity to review workplace policies to ensure they promote gender equality and hold open forums for discussions about women’s experiences in the workplace.

On 8 March, wear the official colours of International Women’s Day – purple, green, and white – and recognise the progress made in the fight for women’s rights

Depending on where you are, celebrations range from the giving and receiving of gifts to political demonstrations. In many countries, IWD is an official holiday. These countries include Belarus, China (for women only), Russia, and Zambia. In Germany, Berlin’s parliament approved a bill in 2019 to make International Women’s Day a public holiday, so although it is only a recent recognition, it is still widely celebrated, and evidently, the day provides a highly substantial and visible opportunity for impact across the globe. In Italy, IWD is called ‘Festa Della Donna’, and women are traditionally given bunches of small yellow mimosas, the chosen symbol of the festival in Italy. In the United States, March is Women’s History Month. An annual presidential proclamation honours the achievements of all American women. Flower sales in Russia typically double around International Women’s Day. In Spain, more than 5 million female workers marked International Women’s Day in 2018 with a 24-hour strike to protest the gender pay gap, domestic violence, and sexual discrimination in the workplace. Rallies took place around the country in more than 200 locations.

The celebration is versatile, so take the day to enjoy and acknowledge the important women in your life. On 8 March, wear the official colours of International Women’s Day – purple, green, and white – and recognise the progress made in the fight for women’s rights and the steps that still need to be taken to achieve absolute gender parity.