Statement by PMNCH Board Chair on International Women’s Day 2025

On this International Women’s Day 2025, PMNCH joins the global community in recognizing this year’s theme: Accelerate Action. It is a powerful call to move beyond promises and step up efforts to achieve gender equality – not only as a matter of justice but also as an urgent priority for improving women’s health and well-being worldwide.

Gender equality is inextricably linked to getting better health outcomes for women, children, and adolescents. When women have equal access to education, economic opportunities, and decision-making power, they can advocate for their own health and the health of their families. Yet, despite decades of commitments and progress in some areas, we continue to see gender disparities result in poor health outcomes. Too many women and girls still face preventable deaths in childbirth, limited access to contraception, and lack of essential maternal and newborn care services. Gender-based violence, child marriage, and discriminatory laws further compromise their ability to live healthy and fulfilling lives.

Additionally, global efforts to improve SRHR have been repeatedly undermined by funding cuts, restrictive policies, and political resistance. In recent years, we have witnessed a disturbing backlash against women’s rights, threatening hard-won gains in gender equality and reproductive autonomy. These setbacks disproportionately affect the most vulnerable—young girls, marginalized communities, and those in conflict-affected settings—deepening inequalities and widening health gaps.

We cannot afford to stand by as these challenges persist. We must accelerate action by strengthening partnerships, increasing investments, and ensuring that every woman, everywhere, has the right to make informed decisions about her own body and health.

PMNCH calls on all partners—governments, civil society, the private sector, and global health leaders—to reaffirm their commitments to gender equality and women’s empowerment. We urge renewed dedication to the promises made in Beijing, particularly as the global community gathers at the Commission on the Status of Women. Now is the time to uphold and advance policies that protect and promote the health and rights of all women and girls.

The path forward requires bold leadership, accountability, and unwavering solidarity. Together, let us take meaningful action to accelerate gender equality and secure a healthier, more just future for women and girls everywhere.