Quote from Alex bobby on March 9, 2025, 5:24 AM

Women’s Rights Under Threat: Global Activists Rally at the United Nations on International Women’s Day

On International Women’s Day, female activists took centre stage at the United Nations, raising their voices against the global backsliding on hard-won rights. As the world grapples with increasing challenges to gender equality, the event served as a stark reminder of the obstacles that remain and the urgent need for action.

A Call to Confront the Backlash

Sima Bahous, executive director of U.N. Women, emphasised the significance of the day, stating, “International Women’s Day is a powerful moment, and this year, more than ever, the call of gender equality has never been more urgent, nor the obstacles in our way more apparent. But our determination has never been more unshakable.”

Bahous called on women worldwide to stand firm against the setbacks, reinforcing that equality is not something to fear but to embrace. Despite progress in areas such as education and political representation, women continue to face discrimination, violence, wage gaps, and restrictions on their reproductive rights.

Thirty Years After Beijing: Progress and Setbacks

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the historic 1995 Beijing Conference on Women, which recognised women's rights as human rights and set forth an action plan for advancing gender equality. The conference paved the way for major policy changes, yet many of its goals remain unfulfilled.

According to the United Nations, while more girls are in school and more women hold leadership positions today than ever before, progress is slow and uneven. Women still face systematic barriers that limit their economic independence and personal freedoms.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres did not mince words in his address to the gathering: “We cannot stand by as progress is reversed. We must fight back.” He warned that, at the current pace, it will take 130 years to eradicate extreme poverty for women and girls.

“The fight for gender equality is not just about fairness,” Guterres added. “It is about power—who gets a seat at the table and who is locked out.”

Survivors Turned Advocates

Among those who shared their powerful stories was Jaha Dukureh, a U.N. goodwill ambassador for Africa and the founder of Safe Hands for Girls. Dukureh, who survived female genital mutilation (FGM) as an infant and was forced into marriage at 15, has dedicated her life to ending such harmful practices.

“For all women and girls, economic independence is the foundation of freedom,” she said. “A woman who can provide for herself can make choices. A girl who has an education can build her own future.”

Dukureh urged governments to prioritise social protection programs and education for women, which she believes are fundamental to achieving gender equality.

The Commission on the Status of Women: A Critical Gathering

As part of International Women’s Day events, the annual meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) will take place at U.N. headquarters, bringing together hundreds of advocates and activists. The 10-day summit is dedicated to promoting gender equality and advancing women’s rights globally.

Sarah Hendriks, director of policy for U.N. Women, highlighted the increasing influence of anti-women’s rights groups, stating that such actors are well-funded and strategically organised. “Where they cannot roll back legal or policy gains altogether, they seek to either block or slow down their implementation,” she said.

Despite three decades of advocacy since the Beijing Conference, Hendriks acknowledged that progress has been fragile, slow, and inconsistent across different regions. However, she remains hopeful that 2025 can mark a turning point.

“It is our ambition that 2025 will be remembered as a pivotal year,” she declared. “A year when history looks back and says, ‘This was the year we refused to back down, we held our ground, and we stepped forward instead of stepping back.’”

Looking Ahead: What’s at Stake?

CSW is expected to approve a political declaration by consensus on its opening day, following weeks of negotiations. The strength of the final document remains uncertain, particularly regarding sensitive topics such as reproductive rights.

As the world marks another International Women’s Day, one thing is clear: the fight for gender equality is far from over. Women’s rights activists remain determined to push forward, ensuring that the progress of past decades is not erased but built upon for future generations.

The call to action has been made. The question remains: will the world listen and act?

A Call to Action for Lasting Change

As the world marks International Women’s Day, the message from the United Nations and female activists is clear: progress must not only be protected but accelerated. The fight for gender equality is not just a struggle for fairness but a battle for power, opportunity, and justice. While setbacks persist, so does the unwavering determination of women and their allies worldwide. The upcoming Commission on the Status of Women offers a critical moment to turn words into action, ensuring that the future does not mirror the past. The year 2025 must be remembered as the turning point where the world refused to step back and instead pushed forward with renewed purpose—because equality is not just an ideal but a necessity for a better, more just world.