Accelerate Action this International Women’s Day | 2025

International Women’s Day?(March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality. The first IWD gathering in 1911 was supported by over a million people but today the event is supported globally. It brings together women to celebrate one another, their achievements and so much more.

Accelerate Action | IWD 2025

This year’s IWD theme is?#AccelerateAction. It will take?until 2158, to reach full gender parity, according to the World Economic Forum. Focusing on the need to?Accelerate Action?emphasises 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.

How did International Women’s Day develop into a global movement?

1776 – Abigail Adams’ ‘Remember the Ladies’ Letter: Abigail Adams urges the Continental Congress to consider women’s rights when drafting U.S. laws, foreshadowing future feminist movements.

1908-1911 – The Birth of International Women’s Day (IWD): Women workers in New York march for fair conditions (1908), followed by the Socialist Party establishing ‘National Woman’s Day’ (1909). Clara Zetkin proposes an international version (1910), leading to the first IWD celebrations in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland (1911).

1975 – United Nations Recognises IWD: The UN officially marks International Women’s Day and declares 1975 as International Women’s Year, solidifying global recognition.

1987 – Women’s History Month Established in the U.S.: The National Women’s History Project successfully petitions for March to be designated Women’s History Month, leading to annual presidential proclamations.

2000s-Present – Mainstream and Global Expansion of IWD: IWD becomes widely recognised, with governments, brands, and celebrities supporting the movement through events, campaigns, and activism, highlighting its continued relevance worldwide.

Read a more extensive timeline of IWD on the movement’s official website.

How are we supporting the movement?

At Leekes, we commit to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment by educating our team about the significance of IWD and its history. To promote learning and awareness, we provided resources that help our staff understand the movement’s impact and evolution. As part of our ongoing efforts, we have captured photos of our team members holding official IWD pledge cards, each one showcasing a message of how they, alongside the company, plan to support the movement and its values each year. This visual initiative highlights the collective commitment to gender equality and the empowerment of women within our organisation and beyond.

Additionally, we encourage our team to engage in fun yet meaningful activities that celebrate IWD. One such activity is a light hearted crossword puzzle filled with important words and concepts related to the event. This provides an opportunity for our staff to learn key terms and themes in an enjoyable and accessible way. By combining education with engagement, we aim to create a space where our employees can recognise the significance of the day. All while, actively contribute to its ongoing celebration and advocacy.