International Women’s Day: A Call for Action and Equality
International Women’s Day is celebrated every year on 8 March to honour the achievements of women worldwide and to highlight the ongoing fight for gender equality. The theme for International Women’s Day 2026 is #GiveToGain, focusing on driving gender equality through collective action. This year, the observance serves as both a moment of recognition and a reminder of the shared responsibility to advocate for women’s rights.
The history of Women’s Day traces back to the early 20th century, during a time when women were campaigning for better working conditions, voting rights, and equal pay. The first National Women’s Day was celebrated in the United States on 28 February 1909, marking the beginning of a movement that would grow into a global observance. The idea for International Women’s Day was coined in 1910 by German women’s rights activist Clara Zetkin, and the first official International Women’s Day took place in 1911. Since 1975, the United Nations has sponsored this important day.
Recent statistics reveal that in 2024, 14% of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with employees in the UK were female-led, down by 1% from 2023. This decline underscores the ongoing challenges women face in leadership roles within the business sector. Furthermore, in 2025, the median gender pay gap for full-time employees in the UK was recorded at 6.9%, highlighting the persistent disparities in earnings between genders.
In the corporate world, the automotive supplier FORVIA has made strides in promoting gender equality. Women represented more than 28% of the Top 300 at FORVIA in 2025, a significant increase from just 13% in 2018. The company aims to reach 30% women in the Top 300 and 35% women among managers and skilled professionals by 2030. Additionally, FORVIA plans to achieve 38% women among external hires by 2026, demonstrating a commitment to fostering a more inclusive workplace.
Despite these advancements, challenges remain. In 2025, 15% of women reported feeling discriminated against due to their gender, compared to 8.5% of men. This disparity indicates that while progress has been made, there is still much work to be done to ensure equal treatment and opportunities for all genders in the workplace.
Judit Mora, a spokesperson for FORVIA, emphasized the importance of International Women’s Day, stating, “We approach IWD as a prompt for action and conversation rather than a one-day celebration.” She added, “Supporting spaces like this matters to us because it helps create opportunities for learning, visibility and shared experience beyond internal conversations.” This perspective reflects a growing recognition that the fight for gender equality requires sustained effort and dialogue.
The importance of Women’s Day lies in its ability to raise awareness, inspire action, and motivate societal change. As the world prepares for the next International Women’s Day, observers expect a continued focus on collective action to address gender disparities and promote equality. The commitment to these goals remains critical as society strives to create a more equitable future for all.