Women’s Day Protests Demand Equal Rights, End to Gender Violence/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Women worldwide took to the streets on International Women’s Day, demanding equal rights, an end to discrimination, and action against gender-based violence. Protests spanned Europe, Africa, and beyond, with demonstrators calling for gender equality in work, politics, and society. In Turkey, activists pushed back against government policies limiting women’s rights, while in Poland, campaigners defied restrictive abortion laws. From Madrid to Lagos, Berlin to Paris, women stood in solidarity, urging governments to protect their freedoms and reject policies that threaten past progress.
International Women’s Day Protests: Quick Look
- Global Protests Call for Gender Equality
- Women marched in Europe, Africa, and beyond.
- Demands included equal pay, protection from violence, and abortion rights.
- Turkey’s Women Push Back Against Government Policies
- Protesters reject the “Year of the Family” initiative.
- Banners read: “We will not be sacrificed to the family.”
- Poland Activists Defy Restrictive Abortion Laws
- Women’s rights groups open an abortion center in Warsaw.
- Challenge to one of Europe’s strictest abortion policies.
- Madrid Protesters Highlight Shocking Sexual Violence Case
- Marchers display images of Gisele Pélicot, drugged and raped for years.
- Call for stronger protections against sexual assault.
- Nigerian Women Celebrate and Demand Change
- Thousands gathered in Lagos wearing purple, the movement’s color.
- Sang and danced while demanding stronger protections for women.
- Germany’s President Warns of Backlash Against Progress
- Frank-Walter Steinmeier urges protection of gender equality gains.
- Criticizes corporations embracing “masculine energy” under Trump’s policies.
Deep Look: Women Worldwide Demand Equality and Protection from Violence
Women Across the Globe March for Rights
On International Women’s Day, women across Europe, Africa, and beyond took to the streets demanding:
✔ Equal pay
✔ Access to safe abortions
✔ Protection from domestic and sexual violence
✔ Legal and political representation
The demonstrations varied from marches and rallies to symbolic actions, with protesters calling on governments to stop restricting women’s freedoms.
Turkey: Women Reject Government’s “Family-First” Policies
In Istanbul, Turkey, thousands gathered in Kadikoy, rallying against policies that reinforce traditional roles for women.
- President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared 2025 the “Year of the Family.”
- Women’s rights groups argue it promotes regressive gender norms.
- Banners read: “Family will not bind us to life.”
Activists also criticized Turkey’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, a treaty designed to combat domestic violence.
Yaz Gulgun, 52, told AP: “There is bullying at work, pressure from husbands and fathers at home, and pressure from patriarchal society.”
Poland: Abortion Rights Activists Take Direct Action
In Warsaw, Poland, activists opened an underground abortion center across from the country’s parliament building.
- Poland has one of Europe’s most restrictive abortion laws.
- Women can now access abortion pills at the center.
- The move directly challenges the conservative government.
Activists framed the act as a symbol of resistance against government policies limiting reproductive rights.
Spain: Protesters Highlight Sexual Violence Cases
In Madrid, marchers held up images of Gisele Pélicot, a French woman who was:
✔ Drugged by her ex-husband for over a decade
✔ Raped by dozens of men while unconscious
✔ Left with no memory of the assaults
Her story has become a symbol for the fight against sexual violence across Europe.
Nigeria: Women in Lagos Demand Equal Rights
In Lagos, Nigeria, thousands of women gathered in the Mobolaji Johnson Stadium, dressed in purple—the traditional color of the women’s liberation movement.
✔ Dancing and singing in celebration of womanhood
✔ Calling for legal protections against gender discrimination
✔ Demanding action against domestic violence and abuse
The event combined joyful celebration with powerful demands for change.
Germany: President Warns of Gender Equality Backlash
In Berlin, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier warned that progress on women’s rights is at risk.
- Criticized corporations pushing “masculine energy” under Trump-era policies.
- Condemned populist parties for trying to roll back gender equality.
- Urged greater protections for workplace diversity programs.
Steinmeier: “Populists are trying to create the impression that equality is just a progressive fantasy.”
The Global Fight for Women’s Rights Continues
Despite widespread celebrations, activists warn that women’s rights remain under threat in many regions. Protests in 2025 highlighted:
- Restrictive abortion laws in Poland
- Surging gender-based violence in Turkey
- Sexual abuse cases in France and Spain
- Workplace discrimination under Trump-era policies
As the fight for equality continues, women across the globe remain determined to push for justice, rights, and recognition.
