Women’s rights were observed globally through diverse rallies and protests on International Women’s Day, with demands for equality and an end to gender-based violence.
Women took to the streets in cities across Europe, Africa, and elsewhere on Saturday, March 8th, to mark International Women’s Day with demands for ending inequality and gender-based violence. The day saw a mix of colorful protests and more official celebrations, as women from all walks of life came together to demand their rights.
The struggle for women's rights has been a long-standing issue, dating back to ancient civilizations.
In the early 20th century, women like Emmeline Pankhurst and Susan B. Anthony fought for suffrage in the UK and US.
The 1960s saw the rise of feminist movements, with pioneers like Betty Friedan and Gloria Steinem advocating for equal pay, education, and reproductive rights.
Today, women continue to push for greater representation, equality, and justice worldwide.
Protests in Turkey
In Istanbul, a rally was held near Taksim Square, where members of dozens of women’s groups listened to speeches, danced, and sang in the spring sunshine. The protest was overseen by a large police presence, including officers in riot gear and a water cannon truck. Protesters pushed back against the government’s declaration of 2025 as the ‘Year of the Family,’ arguing that it would confine women’s roles to marriage and motherhood.
Critics have accused the Turkish government of overseeing restrictions on women’s rights and not doing enough to tackle violence against women. The withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, a European treaty aimed at protecting women from domestic violence, has been particularly criticized. According to Turkey’s ‘We Will Stop Femicides’ platform, 394 women were killed by men in 2024.
In recent years, Turkey has seen significant advancements in women's rights.
The country ratified the Istanbul Convention in 2014, a landmark treaty aimed at preventing and combating violence against women.
Despite this progress, challenges persist.
According to a 2020 report by the Turkish Ministry of Family and Social Policies, 37% of women in Turkey experience physical or sexual violence.
Efforts are being made to increase women's participation in politics, with female representation in parliament increasing from 14% in 2011 to 18% in 2018.
Protests Across Europe
In many other European countries, women also protested against violence, for better access to gender-specific healthcare, and for equal pay. In Poland, activists opened a center across from the parliament building in Warsaw where women can go to have abortions with pills, either alone or with other women. This was seen as a symbolic challenge to authorities in a traditionally Roman Catholic nation with one of Europe’s most restrictive abortion laws.
European women have a long history of protesting against social, economic, and political injustices.
From the suffragette movement in the UK to the feminist protests in Poland, women have been at the forefront of demanding equal rights and challenging patriarchal norms.
In 2019, millions of women across Europe participated in the 'Women's Strike' protest, calling for better pay, reproductive rights, and an end to violence against women.
Statistics show that 1 in 5 European women experience domestic violence, highlighting the need for continued activism and awareness.
From Athens to Madrid, Paris, Munich, Zurich, and Belgrade, women marched to demand an end to treatment as second-class citizens in society, politics, family, and work. In Madrid, protesters held up large hand-drawn pictures depicting Gisèle Pelicot, the woman who was drugged by her now ex-husband in France over the course of a decade so that she could be raped by dozens of men while unconscious.
Celebrations Around the World
In Lagos, Nigeria, thousands of women gathered at the Mobolaji Johnson stadium, dancing and singing to celebrate their womanhood. Many were dressed in purple, the traditional color of the women’s liberation movement. In Russia, the women’s day celebrations had a more official tone, with honor guard soldiers presenting yellow tulips to girls and women during a celebration in St Petersburg.
US Protests
In the US, demonstrations popped up in cities including Washington DC, New York City, and Los Angeles, with many protesters rallying against the Trump administration’s policies. The marches were organized by the Women’s March feminist network and come seven weeks into Trump’s second term. Since returning to office, ‘It is Trump blaming plane crashes on DEI. It is JD Vance denigrating women who don’t have children. And these towering misogynists have the audacity to claim their attacks on trans people are in the name of ‘protecting women’.’
- theguardian.com | Global celebrations and protests mark International Women’s Day
