International women’s day 2025 marks 30 years since the international community committed to achieving greater gender equality collectively, through the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

This year, UN Women Australia’s theme is March Forward, accompanying the declaration that ‘it’s time to turn promises into progress’ – reminding us that the sincere commitment to achieving women’s equality made in 1995 is still a work in progress.

This theme is a call to action – gender justice will only be realised through sustained, collective efforts to challenge sexism and discrimination on all levels of society.

WHGNE recently marked 30 years of gender equity advocacy in our little region of the world – northeast Victoria and the Goulburn Valley. Our work too, cannot have a broad impact without the support and commitment shown by our stakeholders, collaborators and regional partners.

Embedding gender equitable policies and practices takes a whole of society effort – each organisation, institution, community and individual takes small, consistent actions over time, which together can create long-term social and systemic change.

This IWD we’d like to thank all of the organisations and individuals that contribute to fostering gender equity in our region, the state of Victoria and across Australia – whether it be their sole focus or something they weave through other work with community and stakeholders.

We’d also like to acknowledge that this work can often feel like taking one step forward and two steps back – Angela Priestly explores the mainstreaming of misogyny for Women’s Agenda, capturing a burgeoning trend away from women’s equality across the globe.

But it is the solidarity, the allyship and the unwavering commitment to gender justice we share with our community of colleagues, collaborators, advocates and gender equity champions that enable us to progress this work towards equity and justice for women and girls from all walks of life.

As we march towards this future and away from misogyny and discrimination, we must remember that allyship is reciprocal. When one community is targeted for bigotry based on their culture, sexuality or gender identity, we all become potential targets. WHGNE stands with all people in our communities who advocate for human rights, equity, justice and compassion.