[Sydney, 1 October 2024] – UN Women Australia unveils ‘March Forward’ as the official theme for International Women's Day (IWD) 2025, commemorating 30 years since the United Nation’s Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action for gender equality.
Since 1995, women have broken barriers, reshaped policies, and ignited powerful movements worldwide. But despite these advances, millions of women and girls still face systemic inequalities, rising violence, and economic disparities that hold them back from reaching their full potential.
Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Katy Gallagher, said, “Australia is committed to leading the charge on gender equality. As our Beijing+30 Gender Equality Report to the United Nations shows, we have made significant strides, but there is still much work ahead to close the gender pay gap, ensure women's safety, and fairly value both paid and unpaid care work.”
“The theme 'March Forward' reminds us that progress is not just about reflection but about taking decisive, bold steps to turn our commitments into action. This is our moment to drive change and ensure a truly equal future for all women and girls,” she continued.
The Hon Dr Carmen Lawrence AO, who was Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women in 1995, reflected on the progress since Beijing, "The Beijing Declaration was a watershed moment for women's rights globally, but our work is far from finished. As we 'March Forward', we must redouble our efforts to dismantle the persistent barriers to gender equality."
On Friday, 7 March 2025, UN Women Australia will host its signature IWD events in Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth, and online. These events are the largest IWD celebrations in Australia, bringing together thought leaders, change-makers, and advocates.
Simone Clarke, CEO of UN Women Australia, stated "Our 2025 events will serve as a powerful platform to amplify voices, share insights, and mobilise action," added Clarke. "We invite all Australians to join us in this crucial conversation and ‘March Forward’ toward a more equitable world."
For more information about UN Women Australia's IWD 2025 events, visit www.iwd.net.au.
Ticket sales open 28 October 2024.
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Key Facts:
About Beijing+30
Considered the most progressive blueprint ever for advancing women’s rights, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action was adopted by the United Nations in 1995 and set forth an ambitious agenda for achieving women's empowerment across 12 critical areas, from economic empowerment and political participation to climate action and media representation.
Read the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
March Forward: Key Statistics
Global[1]
1 in every 8 women and girls aged 15-49 was subjected to sexual and/or physical violence by an intimate partner in the previous year.
The UN confirmed a 50% increase in cases of conflict-related sexual violence since 2022, with women and girls suffering 95% of these crimes.
Globally, women spend 2.5 times as many hours a day on unpaid care and domestic work as men.
At current rates, it will take an additional 137 years to end extreme poverty among women.
By 2050, climate change may push up to 158 million more women and girls into extreme poverty ($2.15 per day), 16 million more than men and boys.
In 2023, women held 26.9% of seats in parliaments, 35.5% of seats in local governments and 27.5% of managerial positions.
Today, 119.3 million girls remain out of school, down by 5.4 million since 2015.
37% of women hold jobs that could be replaced by AI, compared to 1.4% of men.
National
1 in 3 Australian women experience physical violence, and 1 in 5 experience sexual violence in their lifetime.[2]
Australian women spend 16 hours on unpaid care work on average compared to 12 hours for men.[3]
Australia’s total remuneration average gender pay gap is 21.7%. For every $1 on average a man makes, women earn 78c. Over the course of a year, that difference adds up to $26,393.[4]
Nationally, women make up just 22% of CEOs, 37% of key management personnel and 42% of managers.[5]
41% of women in media have experienced harassment, bullying and tolling on social media.[6]
[1] UN Women. (2024). Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The Gender Snapshot 2024. https://www.unwomen.org/en/resources/gender-snapshot
[2] Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021-22). Personal Safety, Australia. ABS. https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/crime-and-justice/personal-safety-australia/latest-release.
[3] Finder. (2024). Equal Pay Day Report. https://www.finder.com.au/news/equal-pay-day-statistics
[4] Workplace Gender Equality Agency. (2023). https://www.wgea.gov.au/pay-and-gender/gender-pay-gap-data
[5] Workplace Gender Equality Agency. (2023). https://www.wgea.gov.au/data-statistics/data-explorer
[6] The Australian Government. (2024) National Report on the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action
About us:
UN Women Australia is a non-profit organisation committed to achieving gender equality for all women, empowering them to contribute their unique knowledge and skills to help create a better world for themselves, their families and their communities. Working in over 100 countries across the globe, UN Women runs vital programs that provide women and girls access to technology, training programs and safe spaces, empowering women and girls to obtain an education, become leaders in their community and build a brighter, more equal future for us all.
Contact details:
Jessica Lewington
External Engagement Manager
UN Women Australia
Jessica.lewington@unwomen.org.au
+61 2 5112 2060
