Celebrated on March 8, International Women's Day 2025 emphasizes women's rights and gender equality. Marking the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration, the day underscores the importance of empowering women and girls. The theme 'For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.' highlights the need for collective action towards a feminist future.
Despite the brevity of the term 'women,' their contributions are vast. Celebrated annually on March 8, International Women's Day recognizes women's accomplishments and advocates for worldwide gender equality. The day highlights women's social, economic, cultural, and political contributions and advocates for their rights around the world.
The origins of Women's Day trace back to the labor movements of the early 1900s, which arose as a reaction to poor working conditions amid rapid industrialization.
The 1908 New York protest marked a significant milestone in the women's rights movement. The First Wave of Feminism, which lasted from the mid-1800s to the 1920s, involved movements advocating for voting rights, equal pay, and gender equality across the Western world.
Meanwhile, National Women's Day was created in the United States in 1909. The following year, in 1910, Clara Zetkin suggested the concept of International Women's Day, leading to the first celebrations in several nations in 1911.
The celebration of International Women's Day on March 8 started following a strike by Russian women in 1917. It gained global significance when the United Nations officially acknowledged it in 1975.
"People tend to forget that in their struggle for freedom, India owes much to the courage and resilience of its women."Indira Gandhi
International Women's Day, observed annually on March 8, will occur on a Saturday in 2025. This year is especially important as it marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, acknowledged as the most advanced and widely endorsed framework for the rights of women and girls worldwide.
The proclamation revolutionized the women’s rights agenda by enhancing legal protection, improving access to services, increasing youth involvement, and altering outdated social norms, stereotypes, and beliefs.
"Human rights are women's rights, and women's rights are human rights"Hillary Clinton
The theme for International Women's Day in 2025 is For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment. The theme for this year emphasizes the need to take action to ensure equal rights, power, and opportunities for women, aiming for a feminist future where equality is universal.
According to the United Nations, a key aspect of this vision is to empower the youth, especially young women and adolescent girls, to act as agents of enduring change.
"When we empower women in a family, we empower the entire household. When we help with a woman’s education, we ensure her family’s well-being."Narendra Modi
In recent years, the Indian government has also introduced several initiatives to guarantee that women receive their rightful place in society. These programs acknowledge the significance of women and strive to enhance their empowerment.
*Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
Initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January 2015, the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme seeks to eradicate gender bias in India, especially in states with a distorted sex ratio. The Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY), a component of BBBP, allows parents to open a bank account for their newborn daughter.
*Ujjwala Yojana
Initiated in May 2016, the primary goal of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) is to offer free gas connections and subsidized gas cylinders to families living below the poverty line. The government originally aimed to provide five crore LPG connections to underprivileged households, later raising this goal to eight crore. This target was met in September 2019, seven months earlier than planned.
"If you educate a boy, you educate an individual. But if you educate a girl, you educate the whole family."Savitribai Phule
*Mission Indradhanush
Mission Indradhanush is a bold government initiative aimed at empowering women in India. The scheme guarantees complete immunization for pregnant women and children.
*Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandhana Yojna
A direct cash incentive of Rs 5,000, given in three installments, is provided to pregnant women and lactating mothers (PW&LM) for their first living child, contingent upon meeting certain conditions.
*Protection Against Domestic Violence
A mediation service is offered by the Prohibition cum Protection Officer to address domestic violence.
"Empowering women is a prerequisite for creating a good nation. When women are empowered, society with stability is assured."A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
*Kishori Shakti Yojna
The program seeks to enhance the nutrition, health, and personal development of girls aged 11-18 years. Additionally, it provides training and resources to help adolescent girls improve their other life skills.
*Mudra Yojana
The Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) offers unsecured loans to small entrepreneurs up to Rs. 20 lakhs, with the limit increased in the 2024-25 budget.