Written by Maureen Zulu and Costa Siwale
Article should be referenced as: Zulu Maureen and Siwale Costa (2025). 2025 International Women’s Day Theme Information Brief – GWYD-005, Lusaka 10101, Zambia.
Website: www.marchassociates.org
March Associates stands in solidarity with the global community in commemorating International Women’s Day (IWD) 2025. Celebrated annually on March 8, IWD is a moment to recognize and honor the achievements of women while advocating for gender equality. On this day, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and brilliance of women in Zambia and across the world—those who rise against adversity, break barriers, and pursue bold dreams with determination. Women are the foundation of families, the backbone of communities, and the driving force behind meaningful change. Whether in workplaces, boardrooms, classrooms, farms, or frontlines, they lead with wisdom and unwavering resolve.
This year’s IWD theme, “Accelerate Action” highlights the urgency of intensifying efforts toward gender parity by dismantling systemic barriers and biases that hinder progress. It calls for swift, decisive action across all sectors—personal, professional, and societal—to create lasting and meaningful change. This theme is a powerful reminder that every girl and woman, regardless of background or status, deserves equal access to rights, opportunities, and the freedom to pursue her aspirations. Gender equality and empowerment must be actively pursued so that every girl can learn, every woman’s voice is heard, and every dream is given a fair chance.
The Zambian Context: Progress and Challenges
Zambia has made progress in promoting women’s rights and participation in various sectors. However, challenges remain, including underrepresentation in leadership, socio-cultural barriers, and rising gender-based violence. After the latest general elections in 2021, women held 26 out of 167 seats in Parliament, constituting 15.6% of all MPs[1]. This represents a reduction from 30 out of 166 seats held by women in the 2016 General elections. At local council level, women constitute 132 out of 1,858 (7.1%) Councilors[2]. According to the Zambia Police Victim Support, a total of 42,178 gender-based violence cases were reported in 2024. Of these, 78% were against women and girls, showing the intensity of gender-based violence against women and girls[3]. On the social front, Zambia has one of the highest cases of child marriage in the world with 42% of girls said to be married before the age of 18. The 2025 IWD theme resonates deeply with Zambia’s context, calling for urgent action to overcome these obstacles and accelerate progress toward true gender equality.
Key Actions to Achieve Gender Parity in Zambia
- Strengthening Legal and Policy Frameworks: The Gender Equity and Equality Act (2015) must be strictly enforced, ensuring the full establishment and operation of the Gender Equity and Equality Commission. The Anti-Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Act should be enforced effectively, ensuring justice for survivors and accountability for perpetrators.
- Advancing Women’s Economic Empowerment: While Zambia has various empowerment programs for women and girls, research indicates gaps in targeting the right beneficiaries. The government must improve the selection process to ensure the intended women and girls benefit from these initiatives. In addition, access to finance should be expanded for women entrepreneurs, including low-interest loans and grants to support business growth and economic independence.
- Promoting Women in Leadership and Decision-Making: A quota system should be enforced to ensure at least 50% representation of women in parliament and local governance. Further, the government should collaborate with local NGOs to establish mentorship programs that connect young women with female leaders, inspiring and guiding them toward leadership roles.
As we celebrate IWD 2025, let us commit to accelerating action toward a future where gender equality is not just an aspiration, but a reality.
Happy International Women’s Day and Women’s Month to all women and girls!
[1] https://www.parliament.gov.zm/members/gender
[2] Mumba E and Mwale Mkandawire (2024). Analyzing Representation and Performance of Women in the 2016 and 2021 Elections in Zambia: A Step towards Gender Equality. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Growth Evaluation
[3] https://www.zambiamonitor.com/zambia-reports-42178-gender-based-violence-cases-in-2024-representing-1-8-drop-over-2023-figures/
