By Mary Watson-Burton
Every year, International Women’s Day gives us a chance to pause and ask ourselves: How far have we really come? How do we take the next step? In 2025, the theme “March Forward: For ALL Women and Girls” reminds us that true equality isn’t about progress for a select few—it’s about ensuring that no one is excluded. If we are serious about a just and fair world, then gender justice must be at the core of our efforts.
At the Edmund Rice Centre, we’ve seen firsthand how empowering women and girls can transform entire communities. When one group achieves justice, the ripple effect benefits everyone. One giant step forward for women and girls means a great leap toward justice and prosperity for all – and we don’t even have to leave planet Earth!
Social Justice is at the core of gender equality
Gender equality isn’t just about laws or policies—it’s about creating a world where every person, regardless of gender, background, or identity, when barriers to opportunity are removed. Social justice is the core of equality, and gender equality.
Think about education. When the barriers for girls to engage in learning are dismantled, entire economies improve. When women are financially independent, their families, communities, and nations thrive. When girls are included in leadership, policies become fairer, more sustainable, and more representative of the world we want to build.
But what happens when barriers are left unaddressed or even strengthened through policy and law? Women’s health is placed at risk, financial insecurity creates homelessness, communities fail to thrive. When women and girls face discrimination, whether in Australia, the Pacific, or globally, it’s not just their futures at risk—it’s a sign of deeper systemic failure.
Young Women and Girls: Leading the Way
The next generation of women and girls isn’t just waiting for change—they are creating it. Across Australia and the Pacific, young women are standing up for climate action, human rights, and social justice. From Indigenous leaders advocating for land rights to Pacific youth fighting to protect their homes from rising sea levels, young women are shaping our world.
Despite their passion, they still face enormous barriers. Discriminatory laws, limited access to education, gender-based violence, and economic inequality are just a few of the challenges standing in their way. So, what do we do? We don’t just acknowledge their leadership; we invest in it.
At the Edmund Rice Centre, we support young women by giving them the tools, resources, and confidence to lead. Because when young women are empowered, they don’t just transform their own lives—they lift their communities.
Awareness and Advocacy
History proves that when we achieve advancement for one group’s rights, we all move forward. The feminist movement has long driven broader social change—whether through women’s suffrage expanding democratic rights or workplace protections benefiting all workers.
The same is true today – awareness and advocacy on issues of racial justice, climate action, and disability rights intersect with the fight for gender equality and social justice. Indigenous women in Australia and the Pacific are historically and presently strong advocates, working to reminding us that the “March Forward” is a continual journey that we can all become part of.
Turning Words into Action: The Edmund Rice Centre Approach
This International Women’s Day let’s move beyond slogans and take real action. And action requires collaboration. The Edmund Rice Centre works at the nexus of corporate leadership, government, community, and faith-based organisations to embed a consciousness of social justice through awareness, action, and advocacy.
One of our key approaches is ensuring decision-makers are equipped with a deeper understanding of the power of social justice. Through board and professional education, we enable leaders to make informed, socially responsible choices that enhance corporate social responsibility (CSR) to include and empower youth, particularly young women and adolescent girls – as catalysts for lasting change
At the same time, we remain committed to grassroots development. In the Pacific, we work directly with young women, empowering them with leadership skills, mentorship, and opportunities to advocate for their own futures. We know that by amplifying their voices, we can help shift policies, create inclusive economies, and inspire systemic change—not just in our region, but globally.
We cannot achieve social justice without gender justice. And gender justice cannot be selective—it must include every woman and girl, from Australia to the Pacific and beyond.
This International Women’s Day, let’s commit to a future where all women and girls are not just seen but truly valued, not just heard but leading the way. Because when we create a world where every woman and girl can thrive, we all win.
One giant step forward for women and girls is one great leap toward justice and prosperity for all. It’s time to march forward—together.
