On International Women’s Day 2025 (March 8), the United Nations (UN) has called upon global leaders and communities to take firm action in ensuring women’s rights, gender equality, and empowerment for all.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in his official message, urged countries to recognize that women’s progress is essential for the advancement of all societies. He emphasized, “When women and girls can rise, we all thrive.” However, he expressed concern over a disturbing trend, stating, “Instead of mainstreaming equal rights, we are seeing the mainstreaming of misogyny.”

Three Decades Since the Beijing Conference: Progress & Challenges

Marking 30 years since the landmark Beijing Conference on Women’s Rights in 1995, Guterres reflected on progress and challenges in advancing gender equality. He reiterated that equal societies are more prosperous, peaceful, and key to sustainable development.

He called for urgent action in five key areas:

1. Unlocking financial resources for gender equality and ensuring investment in women’s rights.
2. Creating equal opportunities for decent work, eliminating the gender pay gap, and addressing unpaid care work.
3. Strengthening and implementing laws to end all forms of violence against women and girls.
4. Ensuring women’s full participation in decision-making, particularly in peacebuilding and governance.
5. Breaking barriers for women and girls in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).

A Call to Action: UN Pact for the Future & Global Digital Compact

To guide these efforts, the UN introduced two major frameworks:

• The United Nations Pact for the Future – A global roadmap for ensuring gender equity, human rights, and sustainable development.
• The Global Digital Compact – A strategy to bridge the gender gap in digital access, education, and technology-driven industries.

Theme for International Women’s Day 2025: "For ALL Women and Girls"

This year’s International Women’s Day (IWD) theme, "For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.", underscores the need for:

• Inclusive policies that leave no woman or girl behind.
• Empowering young women and adolescent girls as future leaders.
• Building a feminist future where women and men share equal opportunities.

Guterres’ Closing Message: A Future of Equality

Guterres concluded his speech by emphasizing that women’s empowerment is not just a women’s issue—it is a global priority. He urged governments, businesses, and civil society to take bold steps toward gender equality.

He reiterated, "When the doors of equal opportunity are open for women and girls, everyone wins."

On this International Women’s Day, the UN reminds the world that progress is possible, but only if nations commit to real change—ensuring that women and girls everywhere can rise, thrive, and lead.