Accelerating action: Moving forward together

Every year on International Women's Day, brands offer discounts on clothing, spas, and makeup, commercialising a day meant to honour women's achievements.

- BY SUBUHI SAFVI

This year's theme, Accelerate Action, reminds us that true change requires urgency, accountability, and collective effort.

WHY WE NEED TO AMPLIFY DIFFERENT VOICES Equality is not experienced the same way by all women. A woman without sight navigates different barriers than one fighting for equal pay. A trans woman facing violence will likely have a different experience with the legal system than an upper-caste, cisgender woman.

Even where laws exist, cultural biases and inadequate infrastructure keep many women and girls trapped in unsafe environments. If we want true progress, we must address how gender inequality intersects with caste, class, disability, and sexuality.

WHAT CAN WE CHANGE? Change happens through legislation and collective action. Consider the 1992 reservation of one-third of Panchayat seats for women. Initially, many women were proxies for male family members. Over time, however, they took charge, creating meaningful change. The abolition of sati and child marriage followed similar patterns—resisted at first, but ultimately unstoppable.