Sahildeep Singh Raina

Women are the drawing force and building block of any community and help in forging a strong future for the generations to come. International Women’s Day is the day where we celebrate the women of different societies, countries and the whole generations overall. It is a day when women are recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political. International Women’s Day has assumed a new global dimension for women in developed and developing countries alike. The growing international women’s movement, has helped make the commemoration a rallying point to build support for women’s rights and participation in the political and economic arenas.
Women’s Day: History and significance
Women’s Day has its roots in the early 1900s, when labor movements voiced their disapproval against poor working conditions amid rapid industrialisation. In the meantime, the United States created National Women’s Day in 1909. Clara Zetkin came up with the concept of International Women’s Day in 1910, and the first commemorations were conducted in several nations in 1911.

International Women’s Day

Since 1917, when Russian women went on strike, March 8 has been observed as International Women’s Day. Last but not least, International Women’s Day gained even more international recognition in 1975 when it was legally recognised by the UN. By promoting dialogue on laws and social mores that affect women’s lives, International Women’s Day guarantees worldwide unity among women from all walks of life.

Theme of International Women’s Day: ‘Accelerate Action’
Collectively, we can Accelerate Action for gender equality. At the current rate of progress, it will take until 2158, which is roughly five generations from now, to reach full gender parity, according to data from the World Economic Forum.
Focusing on the need to Accelerate Action emphasizes the importance of taking swift and decisive steps to achieve gender equality. It calls for increased momentum and urgency in addressing the systemic barriers and biases that women face, both in personal and professional spheres.
So, together, let’s Accelerate Action to speed up the rate of progress worldwide.
One of the best ways to forge gender equality is to understand what works and to do more of this, faster.
Accelerate Action is a worldwide call to acknowledge strategies, resources, and activity that positively impact women’s advancement, and to support and elevate their implementation. Significant barriers to gender equality remain, yet with the right action and support, positive progress can be made for women everywhere.

And one of the biggest ways to help Accelerate Action for gender equality is to Support the Supporters. With so many impactful groups across the world delivering critical work that assists women and girls, we can all lend our support in solidarity.
From grassroots groups to large-scale bodies, philanthropic entities are working tirelessly to support and advance women and girls. So let’s step forward in solidarity and commit to helping these groups Accelerate Action for IWD 2025 and beyond.
We can call out stereotypes, challenge discrimination, question bias, celebrate women’s success, and so much more. Additionally, sharing our knowledge and encouragement with others is key.
Impactful organizations and groups across the world deliver an array of effective strategies, resources, and activity that help Accelerate Action in many areas including:
• forging women’s economic empowerment
• recruiting, retaining and developing diverse talent
• supporting women and girls into leadership, decision-making, business and STEM
• designing and building infrastructure meeting the needs of women and girls
• helping women and girls make informed decisions about their health
• involving women and girls in sustainable agriculture and food security
• providing women and girls with access to quality education and training
• elevating women and girl’s participation and achievement in sport
• promoting creative and artistic talent of women and girls
• addressing further areas supporting the advancement of women and girls

Thus we can say that “Accelerate Action” is a call for urgency, inclusion, and transformative change. It signals that equality cannot wait, and that all sectors of society must work together to quicken the pace of progress for women’s rights and empowerment.
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