Global Protests Highlight Ongoing Fight for Equality

On International Women’s Day 2025, millions of women and allies took to the streets across Europe, Africa, South America, and beyond, united in their demands for equality and an end to gender-based violence. In Istanbul, Turkey, a vibrant rally in the Kadikoy district on the Asian side of the city brought together members of dozens of women’s groups. Despite the spring sunshine, the atmosphere was charged with determination as women listened to speeches, danced, and sang, all under the watchful eyes of a heavy police presence, including riot gear and water cannon trucks. The protest was a direct response to the Turkish government’s declaration of 2025 as the Year of the Family, which many view as an attempt to confine women’s roles to marriage and motherhood. Demonstrators carried banners rejecting this vision, with slogans like “Family will not bind us to life” and “We will not be sacrificed to the family.”

In Turkey, the fight for women’s rights has taken on renewed urgency following President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s controversial withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention in 2021, a treaty designed to protect women from domestic violence. Critics accuse the government of rolling back women’s rights and failing to address the alarming rate of violence against women. According to the Turkish rights group We Will Stop Femicides Platform, 394 women were killed by men in 2024 alone. Yaz Gulgun, a 52-year-old protester, encapsulated the struggles many women face: “There is bullying at work, pressure from husbands and fathers at home, and pressure from patriarchal society. We demand that this pressure be reduced even further.”

European Demonstrations for Women’s Rights and Health

Across Europe, women marched to address a wide range of issues, from workplace discrimination to reproductive rights. In Warsaw, Poland, activists made a bold statement by opening an abortion center directly across from the parliament building. The center, which provides access to abortion pills, was launched on International Women’s Day as a symbolic challenge to Poland’s restrictive abortion laws, some of the toughest in Europe. The move was met with both support and backlash, reflecting the deep divisions over women’s reproductive rights in the traditionally Catholic nation.

Meanwhile, in London, thousands joined the 18th annual Million Women Rise march, calling for an end to violence against women and greater equality in all areas of life. Similar marches took place in cities such as Belgrade, Serbia, where protesters emphasized the need for systemic change to tackle discrimination and violence. In Rome, a Transfeminist strike highlighted the importance of intersectionality in the fight for women’s rights, emphasizing solidarity with transgender and non-binary individuals.

Economic and Political Demands Take Center Stage

From Madrid to Skopje, women demanded greater economic and political equality. In Madrid, protesters carried hand-drawn portraits of Gisele Pélicot, a French woman who was drugged by her ex-husband and raped by dozens of men over a decade. Her story has become a symbol of the global fight against sexual violence. Thousands marched in the streets, calling for justice for survivors and an end to impunity for perpetrators.

In North Macedonia, women’s rights activists highlighted stark economic disparities. Only 28% of women in the country own property, and in rural areas, just 5% of women—mostly widows—have property in their names. Organizers noted that only 18% of rural women surveyed reported that family property was divided equally between brothers and sisters, underscoring the pervasive gender discrimination within families. “The rest were discriminated against,” organizers said, calling for systemic reforms to address these inequalities.

South America Rises Against Femicides

In South America, International Women’s Day took on a somber tone as thousands marched to denounce the killings of women, known as femicides. In Quito, Ecuador, women marched to the beat of drums, carrying signs that rejected violence and the “patriarchal system.” Chants of “Justice for our daughters!” echoed through the streets, honoring the memories of women slain in recent years. In Bolivia, protesters began their marches late Friday, scrolling graffiti on courthouse walls to demand respect for women’s rights and an end to impunity in femicide cases. Shockingly, less than half of such cases in Bolivia reach a sentencing, leaving many families without justice.

The marches in South America were not just acts of mourning but also calls to action. Women demanded stronger legal protections, improved access to justice, and a cultural shift to end the normalization of violence against women. The events served as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for women’s safety and dignity in the region.

Celebrations and Reflections on Progress

While many protests were driven by urgency and frustration, International Women’s Day also brought moments of celebration and reflection. In Russia, the day was marked with official ceremonies, including honor guard soldiers presenting flowers to girls and women in St. Petersburg. The event carried a formal tone, contrasting with the more confrontational protests elsewhere. In Lithuania, men and women alike flocked to flower markets to purchase bouquets, a tradition tied to the holiday. These gestures of appreciation, while meaningful, were overshadowed by the broader calls for systemic change.

In Berlin, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier issued a stark warning against complacency. He called for renewed efforts to achieve equality and cautioned against efforts to roll back progress made so far. Steinmeier pointed to concerning trends, including tech companies abandoning diversity initiatives and embracing rhetoric about “masculine energy.” His remarks resonated with women worldwide, many of whom fear that hard-won gains are being eroded.

A Day of Both Celebration and Resolve

International Women’s Day 2025 was a day of contrasts—celebration and protests, hope and frustration. While flowers and ceremonies acknowledged the contributions of women, marches and demonstrations reminded the world of the immense challenges still ahead. From Istanbul to Quito, Madrid to Lagos, women made their voices heard, demanding an end to violence, greater equality, and a world where their rights are fully recognized. The day served as a powerful reminder that while progress has been made, the fight for true equality is far from over.