International Women’s Day (8 March) is more important than ever. Globally, things are changing and not always for the better.
We have seen the President of the United States reinstate the global gag order, which prohibits international NGO’s from receiving funding from the US government if they provide, advocate for, or refer to abortion services.
In the UK, the National Audit Office reported that one in 12 women are victims of gender based violence every year.
Yet, despite the constant attacks on women and their rights, an IPSOS study published on 4 March revealed that 60% of Gen Z men across 31 countries believe gender equality discriminates against men.
So, in a world that is increasingly stripping back women’s rights, we take a look at some campaigns that champion them.
SheSays
Not-for-profit gender equality group SheSays has unveiled its “biggest” recruitment drive ever, ahead of International Women’s Day.
The campaign comes as global talent agency, Major Players, announces that the number of women working in the creative industries has dropped 5% since 2021.
As part of the campaign, the charity will be advertising voluntary advocacy roles using LinkedIn job ads and taking applications via She Says, We Act.
SheSays has highlighted that International Women’s Day “isn’t about being performative, it’s about action and support from everyone, not just women!”
B&Q
For this year’s International Women’s Day, DIY store B&Q’s trade branch B&Q TradePoint collaborated with acclaimed photographer, Sane Seven, to showcase tradeswomen breaking barriers within the industry.
The campaign showcases ten tradeswomen and spotlights the barriers women face when entering the field.
This follows research from B&Q that revealed three-quarters of girls leaving school do not know any women who work in the trade sector.
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Refuge
Domestic abuse charity Refuge has launched a thought-provoking Outernet campaign highlighting the “unseen, unrecognised and unreported” forms of control and harm women face.
The execution, which features commentary from domestic abuse survivors, aims to show that there are “many red flags” when it comes to abuse.
It premieres on the 8 March 2025 at London’s Outernet building on Tottenham Court Road.
WPP
WPP has continued its partnership with Visible Start to offer a free eight-week course to enable midlife women to re-enter the advertising and creative marketing industry.
Visible Start combines practical skills training, with personal development.
The 2025 programme begins 10 March and has a strong track record of placing its graduates in roles across WPP’s agencies.
Beyond Equality x Forsman Bodenfors
A collaboration between positive masculinities charity Beyond Equality and creative agency Forsman & Bodenfors, this offering highlights female personal safety concerns.
The work – entitled ‘See what she sees’ – aims to engage men in conversations about women’s safety.
It comes after results from a national poll revealed that around six in ten men believed women’s safety concerns were sometimes exaggerated.
