8th March 2025
International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global celebration of women’s achievements and a call to action for gender equality. This year, we embrace the theme #AccelerateAction, focusing on the urgent need to create real, lasting change for women everywhere.
Why #AccelerateAction Matters in the UK
While the UK has made great strides, gender inequality persists. Women still face pay gaps, underrepresentation in leadership, and barriers in education and healthcare. Women of colour, disabled women, and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds experience even greater disparities. It’s time to accelerate change, pushing for a future where every woman has equal opportunities to thrive.
Women in Sport: Accelerating Action for Equal Opportunities
Sport has long been an arena where gender inequalities are evident—yet women are pushing boundaries and proving that sports are for everyone. This International Women’s Day, let’s not only celebrate women’s achievements in the athletic world but also focus on the importance of physical activity for all women.
When women engage in sport, they’re not just improving their physical health; they’re building confidence, developing leadership skills, and setting examples of strength and resilience. Women like Dina Asher-Smith, Emma Raducanu, and the Lionesses are leading the way, showing that women belong at the top in any field. But the fight for equal representation, funding, and respect in sport continues.
This IWD, let’s accelerate the push for equal opportunities in sports. Let’s ensure that all girls and women have access to the resources, support, and platforms they need to thrive in athletic spaces.
Active Travel: Empowering Women to Move Freely and Sustainably
Active travel, such as walking, cycling, or using public transport, is another powerful way to #AccelerateAction for gender equality. Women should have the freedom and safety to travel actively, whether for work, leisure, or daily errands. But often, women face unique barriers when it comes to active travel—safety concerns, inadequate infrastructure, and limited access to transport options.
By promoting safe and accessible active travel for women, we can not only improve public health but also empower women to take control of their own mobility. This International Women’s Day, let’s advocate for urban spaces designed to support active travel, where women can walk, bike, or use public transport confidently and without fear.
When women are encouraged and supported in making active travel choices, it benefits their physical health, reduces their carbon footprint, and helps them reclaim their independence.
How Can You Get Involved?
Here’s how you can join the movement:
- Support Women’s Leadership: Advocate for equal representation in politics, business, and all sectors. Women leaders make a difference.
- Champion Equality at Work: Demand fair pay, equal career opportunities, and workplace flexibility for women.
- Challenge Gender Bias: Speak out against everyday discrimination and work towards changing harmful stereotypes.
- Amplify Women’s Voices: Share inspiring stories, support women-owned businesses, and celebrate the women who are making an impact.
- Encourage Women in Sport: Support female athletes, encourage girls to participate in sports, and advocate for equal investment in women’s sports at all levels.
- Advocate for Active Travel: Support infrastructure and policies that make active travel safer and more accessible for women, from well-lit bike lanes to reliable public transportation.
Make Every Day Count
#AccelerateAction is more than just a hashtag—it’s a movement for immediate and impactful change. As we celebrate women’s achievements this International Women’s Day, let’s commit to making gender equality a reality, not just a goal. It’s time to move faster, together.
For more on this year’s theme, visit International Women’s Day 2025 Theme.