This year’s theme of International Women’s Day (IWD) is “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.” This calls for action to unlock equal rights, opportunities and power for everyone. A key focus is empowering the next generation—particularly young women and adolescent girls—as catalysts for lasting change.

IWD has been observed since March 1911, and while it isn’t tied to any one country, group or organization, it is a global movement for gender equality. Some countries, including Angola, Armenia, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Laos, Madagascar, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nepal, Russia, Uganda, Ukraine and Zambia, recognize IWD as an official holiday. The United States has yet to follow suit.

As the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg once said:

“As women achieve power, the barriers will fall. As society sees what women can do, as women see what women can do, there will be more women out there doing things, and we'll all be better off for it.”

A MILESTONE YEAR FOR WOMEN’S RIGHTS

The year 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the most progressive and widely endorsed blueprint for advancing women’s and girls’ rights worldwide. Since its adoption, the landscape of women’s rights has transformed significantly:

The declaration was the first global policy document to specifically address girls' rights.

In 1995, only 12 countries had legal sanctions against domestic violence. Today, 193 countries have implemented 1,583 legislative measures, including 354 targeting domestic violence.

The number of countries with National Action Plans on women, peace and security has grown from 19 in 2010 to 112 today.

IWD is a day to celebrate women’s achievements across national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic and political divides.

ACCELERATING ACTION FOR WOMEN’S ADVANCEMENT

A key sub-theme of IWD 2025 is “Accelerate Action,” a call to support and elevate strategies that drive real change. Around the world, organizations are leading initiatives in:

• Economic empowerment - Closing the gender pay gap and advancing women in business
• Leadership and decision-making - Supporting women and girls in governance, STEM and entrepreneurship
• Health and well-being - Ensuring access to reproductive healthcare and informed decision-making
• Education and training - Expanding opportunities for lifelong learning
• Sustainable agriculture and food security - Empowering women in farming and environmental conservation
• Sports, arts and culture - Elevating female talent and representation

Each of us has a role to play. We can challenge bias, call out stereotypes, celebrate women’s success and support efforts to create a more inclusive world.

The Grand Junction Branch of AAUW (American Association of University Women) invites you to make International Women’s Day your own. Let’s champion rights, equality, and empowerment for ALL women and girls—not just on March 8, but every day.