March Forward or Accelerate Action? Understanding the Two International Women’s Day Themes in 2025

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Inhoudsopgave
  1. Inleiding
  2. The Dual Themes of International Women’s Day 2025
  3. Is There an Official International Women’s Day Theme?
  4. Comparing the Two Themes
  5. Which Theme Holds More Authority?
  6. Why These Themes Work Best Together
  7. Bringing Both Themes Together in Content Creation
  8. Moving Forward Together
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Rubina
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The Dual Themes of International Women’s Day 2025

International Women’s Day (IWD), celebrated annually on March 8th, is a global movement advocating for gender equality, women’s empowerment, and social justice. Each year, different organizations introduce themes that shape the narrative of IWD campaigns worldwide.

In 2025, two dominant themes have emerged:

  • “March Forward: For ALL Women and Girls” – promoted by iwd.net.au, emphasizing the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and a renewed commitment to inclusivity and equality.
  • “Accelerate Action” – spearheaded by internationalwomensday.com, urging immediate steps to speed up progress towards gender parity.

These themes share the same ultimate goal—advancing gender equality—but they approach it from different angles. This raises a key question: Which theme holds more authority, and how can they work together?

Is There an Official International Women’s Day Theme?

The United Nations (UN) typically sets its own official IWD theme, separate from those promoted by internationalwomensday.com or iwd.net.au. However, internationalwomensday.com has become the dominant platform for corporate engagement, making it more visible worldwide.

That being said, both themes serve different but complementary roles in the global conversation on gender equality.

Comparing the Two Themes

Both themes address the challenges women face today, but they offer distinct perspectives on how to drive change.

“March Forward: For ALL Women and Girls”

This theme marks 30 years since the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action—a landmark global commitment to gender equality signed by 189 countries in 1995. While the declaration set ambitious goals, many of its promises remain unfulfilled.

  • Focus: Ensuring that gender equality efforts are truly inclusive and benefit all women and girls, regardless of their background, location, or socioeconomic status.
  • Key Message: The world must continue the fight for women’s rights and ensure that past commitments are turned into meaningful action.
  • Call to Action: Governments, businesses, and communities must recommit to long-term gender equality goals and make systemic changes to close gaps in opportunity and representation.

“Accelerate Action”

This theme calls for urgent action, emphasizing that at the current rate of progress, gender parity will not be achieved until 2158—over 130 years from now.

  • Focus: Speeding up gender equality efforts by taking immediate, measurable actions in workplaces, communities, and policy-making.
  • Key Message: The world cannot afford to wait—we must accelerate efforts to break down barriers for women now.
  • Call to Action: Organizations and individuals must take tangible steps such as implementing equitable policies, supporting women-led initiatives, and contributing to women-focused fundraising efforts.

Which Theme Holds More Authority?

One of the biggest questions around IWD every year is which theme is the “official” one. The answer? It depends on context.

The Influence of internationalwomensday.com (“Accelerate Action”)

  • Widely recognized by corporations, media, and large organizations.
  • Provides ready-made campaign toolkits for companies and institutions.
  • Drives engagement with major brands and businesses worldwide.
  • Not officially affiliated with the United Nations (UN) but has a strong online presence driven by Aurora Ventures.

The Influence of iwd.net.au (“March Forward”)

  • Deeply rooted in advocacy and feminist activism.
  • Calls for renewed government and global commitments based on the Beijing Declaration.
  • More relevant to grassroots movements, NGOs, and policy-driven discussions.
  • Less corporate adoption compared to “Accelerate Action.”

Why These Themes Work Best Together

Rather than seeing these themes as competing, they should be viewed as two essential parts of the same movement.

  • “March Forward” ensures that gender equality remains a long-term, systemic priority. It keeps the conversation focused on policy changes, feminist activism, and historical commitments like the Beijing Declaration.
  • “Accelerate Action” mobilizes immediate efforts to make gender parity a reality today. It encourages businesses, communities, and individuals to act quickly and implement real solutions.

By integrating both themes, we create a holistic approach to International Women’s Day—one that recognizes the importance of history while pushing for faster progress.

Bringing Both Themes Together in Content Creation

If you are creating content around International Women’s Day 2025, here’s how you can integrate both “March Forward” and “Accelerate Action” effectively:

  • Storytelling & Awareness Campaigns: Share stories of women who have benefited from long-term gender equality movements (March Forward) while also highlighting urgent issues that need immediate attention (Accelerate Action).
  • Corporate Messaging & Initiatives: Companies can reflect on their progress toward gender equality over the years (March Forward) while setting actionable goals for the coming year (Accelerate Action).
  • Social Media Engagement: Use both hashtags (#MarchForward and #AccelerateAction) to engage different audiences, sparking discussions on both long-term change and urgent action.
  • Educational Content & Thought Leadership: Develop blog posts, webinars, or panel discussions that explore how historical commitments to gender equality influence today’s policy decisions and workplace inclusivity efforts.
  • Fundraising & Community Support: Encourage participation in initiatives that provide immediate relief and empowerment to women (Accelerate Action) while also advocating for policy and systemic reforms (March Forward).

By blending these approaches, content creators, businesses, and activists can amplify their message and maximize impact, ensuring that International Women’s Day 2025 is both a moment of reflection and a catalyst for real, immediate change.

Moving Forward Together

International Women’s Day 2025 presents a unique opportunity to blend advocacy with action. Whether you align more with “March Forward” or “Accelerate Action,” the most important step is to get involved in the movement for gender equality. By working together, we can build a future where gender equality isn’t just a promise—it’s a reality.

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