Each year on March 8, the global community marks International Women’s Day (IWD) as a moment to reflect on the struggles and achievements of women throughout history, while renewing commitments to advancing gender equality, justice, and rights for women and girls.
The origins of International Women’s Day lie in the labor and women’s rights movements of the early twentieth century. Women across different countries mobilized to demand better working conditions, fair wages, and the right to vote. These efforts gradually grew into a global movement advocating for equality and social justice. Although the United Nations officially recognized March 8 as International Women’s Day in 1975, the date carries more than a century of activism behind it.
This year’s UN International Women’s Day theme, “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls”, calls for action to eliminate all barriers to equal justice, including discriminatory laws, insufficient legal protections, and harmful practices and social norms.
As a commemoration of this year’s IWD, the co-chairs of APRU’s Asia Pacific Women in Leadership (APWiL) program, Professors Dimitria Groutsis from The University of Sydney and Karla Urriola González from Tecnológico de Monterrey, shared their reflections on the meaning of this day and the responsibility that institutions hold in advancing gender equality.
As Professor Dimitria Groutsis explains:
“International Women’s Day allows us to pause to honor the hard-won strides women have made in facilitating gender equality over the last century, while also reaffirming our shared responsibility to advance equality and inclusion.”
Despite important progress, significant barriers remain. Gender-based violence, persistent pay gaps, and structural inequalities in leadership continue to affect women across societies and sectors. Professor Karla Urriola emphasizes that addressing these challenges requires moving beyond reflection toward meaningful change:
“We need to commit to action… to ensure no woman or girl is left behind.”
Across the Asia Pacific academic community, APWiL reflects a long-standing commitment to these goals. Over the years, women across APRU institutions have worked to elevate gender equality within their universities and across the region, building a community that supports leadership, mentorship, and collaboration.
Building on this legacy, APWiL continues to focus on three key pillars: mentoring and connections, education and continuous development, and advocacy and networking. Together, these pillars aim to strengthen collaboration across institutions and create opportunities for women to support one another in their leadership journeys.
Ultimately, International Women’s Day reminds us that progress toward equality is collective work. As Professor Dimitria Groutsis notes:
“It’s action that will make the difference… particularly for the next generation of women coming through.”
On this International Women’s Day, APRU joins the global community in commemorating the efforts of the women who came before us, while continuing the work to ensure a more equitable future for those who follow.