“For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.”
In a world plagued by persistent inequalities, achieving equality for ALL women and girls remains both a fundamental conviction and an enduring challenge.
As the UN Secretary-General stated “At our current rate, legal equality is some three hundred years away”. Society risks further delaying the realisation of this goal. The world is struggling with multiple crises—environmental degradation, social transformations, widening economic disparities, political upheavals, and wars. In this context, both the achievements and the aspirations in the fight for women’s equality are at risk.
While progress has been made in advancing women’s rights, a concerning rollback is unfolding in some regions. Fragile gains are eroding in certain parts of the world, while in others, further advancements are becoming increasingly difficult. Equality for ALL women and girls is both a hard-earned achievement and a distant goal—one that remains far from reach due to persistent disparities imposed by geography, economics, and culture.
This year’s theme for the UN International Women’s Day serves as a much-needed call to action in defence of women’s and girls’ rights, against systemic inequalities, and in pursuit of gender equality.
Studies show that peace agreements involving women signatories are more likely to be effectively implemented and to endure over time. Women actively engage in climate action and address society’s challenges, and they must be guaranteed their rightful role in shaping a better future.
On 8 March 2025, the International Union of Architects (UIA) aligns with the UN in celebrating International Women’s Day under the theme, “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.” The UIA also reaffirms its “Policy on Gender Equity in Architecture,” adopted in 2017.
This is about the empowerment of women—across all geographies and sectors—to ensure their rightful place in education, professional fields, and governance. However, it is not only about women’s empowerment; it is about equality for ALL, calling on everyone—regardless of gender—to actively contribute to the advancement of a more inclusive, just, and peaceful world, as well as a more sustainable natural and built environment.
Despite progress, women architects—like their counterparts in many other professions—remain underrepresented.
With its 120 Member Sections, the UIA serves as a powerful platform for promoting equality within the architectural profession. In the term 2023-2026 all 13 UIA Work Programmes and 5 out of the 6 Commissions are co-directed by women architects.
The Union reaffirms the essential role of women architects and remains committed to fostering conditions that enable them to contribute meaningfully to a better world.
Yet, in a society increasingly losing sight of its values and ethical foundations, at a time when human rights are under threat, the road to equality remains long and full of obstacles. We must remain alert and active—we cannot afford to lose the hard-earned progress that has already been made.
Regina Gonthier
UIA President
On the occasion of International Women’s Day 2025, the UIA highlights and recognises the achievements of talented women architects within its community. View our Member Sections nominations here.