As the world cheerfully celebrates 8 March—International Women’s Day—corporate offices hand out flowers and chocolates to their female employees. Social media overflows with appreciation posts for women and girls. Yet, in 2024, one in four countries has reported a backlash on women’s rights, according to the latest UN Women report.
Closer to home, the reality is far grimmer. Just two days ago, a Dhaka University student was harassed in Shahbagh—by a DU staff member. His swift arrest and termination from his job initially felt like a victory. But in a shocking twist, the man was granted bail after an agitated mob stormed the Shahbagh Police Station.
Really? Is this country anything but a joke to women?
During the country’s most recent uprising in July, women stood at the forefront, protesting with the same courage and determination as everyone else. We envisioned a Bangladesh 2.0—a nation where gender equality and women’s safety were no longer just dreams but realities. Yet, in a cruel twist of fate, rape and sexual violence have surged to an all-time high, leaving women in a constant state of fear, bracing for the next act of violence or harassment. Fear hangs heavy in the air. And yet, amid this suffocating reality, we dare to hope. Hope is, indeed, a dangerous thing.
We hope for a future where women’s safety is non-negotiable.
On this International Women’s Day, the UN theme is just as right: Rights. Equality. Empowerment. As the world marks 30 years of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, it’s clear that progress has been made—but it’s nowhere near enough.
Progress? A slow, uneven struggle
Yes, there have been some victories:
- 89 percent of governments now claim that ending violence against women is a priority, and 193 countries have laws against it.
- Countries with domestic violence laws report fewer cases of abuse.
- Education gaps are closing, and more women are shaping the fields of science and technology.
- Care services have expanded, with 32 percent of countries promoting better pay and safer working conditions for care workers.
- 112 countries now have national plans to involve women in peace and security efforts—a major leap from just 19 countries in 2010.
These numbers matter. But do they match the reality women face every day?
International Women’s Day: Born from protest, not performative praise
The origins of International Women’s Day were never about corporate campaigns or purple-themed marketing. It started in 1909 as National Women’s Day in the United States, inspired by labour activists.
In 1910, at the International Socialist Women’s Conference in Copenhagen, German activist Clara Zetkin proposed a global day of action for women to demand their rights—not to be “celebrated” with platitudes.
By 1911, Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland marked the first official International Women’s Day. Russia followed in 1913, and by 1977, the United Nations recognised it worldwide.
Over a century later, it is still a fight.
Why this day still matters
While the UN’s 2024 theme reflects the evolving struggles of women in the 21st century, the brutal, age-old issues persist: poverty, violence, lack of economic opportunity, and reproductive rights.
- Nearly one in three women worldwide will experience physical or sexual violence in her lifetime, according to a 2021 World Health Organization report.
- The fight for equal pay, political representation, and workplace rights continues.
- Women’s bodies are still policed, legislated, and violated with impunity.
This is not a day for corporate virtue-signaling. It is a day to demand real change.
So, instead of handing out flowers and posting hollow words, ask:
- Are women truly safe in this country?
- Why are survivors still silenced, doubted, or denied justice?
- Why do laws exist on paper but fail in practice?
Until we have real answers—and real change—there is nothing to celebrate.