Women's rights and gender justice

It’s time to amplify the power of all women – leaders, disruptors, change-makers, carers.

We’re living through an inequality crisis. Those in power are choosing profit over people and planet – with the most marginalised the worst affected.

For a select few, climbing the steps to power is easy. Yet it’s women who are paving the way for the rest of us. Especially those from BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, working-class, disabled, refugee and/or migrant communities.

They’re leaders, disruptors and change-makers. And on top of all this – the care work they do is the glue holding together every society and economy worldwide. This is true power. And now’s the time to amplify it.

Women are leading the way. Like Magda, in Indonesia, who supports women harnessing power to fight back against the harshest impacts of the climate crisis.

Or Rowena in the Phillippines. She and her community’s all-women disaster committee are restoring the forest to prevent the devastation caused by typhoons.

And in Yemen, women-led organisations are calling for Yemeni women to have a seat at the table as paths to peace are being built.

Following the recent earthquakes in Turkiye and Syria, Oxfam KEDV led our response – a long-standing women’s organisation who’ve been working with refugee and Turkish communities for years. Their understanding of the additional challenges women and girls face during crisis means gender justice is embedded from emergency response to long-term recovery.

Often taken for granted, care work is the bedrock of societies around the world.

And this vital work is mainly done by women, particularly those from marginalised communities.

These women are the reason children grow and learn. That elderly relatives are able to live healthy and safe lives. That our homes keep running. That every society and economy functions worldwide.

They are powerful. And they must no longer go ignored or overlooked. Because true power is caring about people in a world that seems not to.

Solidarity with all women means making different choices – whether by us, those in power or global institutions.

We can start to tackle the inequality crisis once the steps to power become a path towards truly valuing women.

When every woman is seen, heard, and celebrated loudly.

Because real power is defending against the climate crisis. Caring for loved ones. Being true to yourself.

Celebrate the power of women everywhere. Caring, leading, teaching – and building a better world for us all.

Every year, on International Women's Day, Oxfam GB is with every woman. Those calling out the systems of injustice that fuel poverty. Those ensuring communities are cared for. Those redefining the role women play in our world.

At every turn, women are leading the way. This is real people power. Because when women are on the field, we all win the game.

On International Women's Day, we call for every woman’s power to be seen, heard and valued. We choose to celebrate it. Amplify it. We choose the power of all women everywhere.