International Women’s Day 2025
Together we can ACCELERATE ACTION for women’s equality. #AccelerateAction #ForAllWomenAndGirls #IWD2025
Celebrate, Support and Take Action for Women in Galway
International Women’s Day (8 March) is a global commitment to a vision for gender equality and celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.
At COPE Galway, we believe that working together as a community and as individuals, we can accelerate action for gender equality.
This year’s theme, “Accelerate Action” for the rights, equality and empowerment of women, highlights the urgency of breaking down barriers and creating real opportunities for ALL women and girls.
We honour the resilience and strength of the women we support, as well as those who work alongside us – our staff, volunteers, and supporters. Together, we can build a more inclusive Galway, where every woman has the opportunity to thrive.
#Accelerate Action
We asked team members across our services what this year’s theme, ‘Accelerate Action for women’s equality’ means to them and how we can create a future where no one is left behind.
These are some of their responses.
“Recognition of the contribution of women to the community and voluntary sector. Social care is a profession that has been driven and held up by women.”
– Peter
“Safety.
Physically, emotionally, intellectually –
a community that stands against gender inequality.”
– Gillian
“Supporting and valuing women’s role and allowing them to participate fully in society in whatever way they wish too.”
– Jackie
“We are all human, and each of us regardless of gender, should feel included.”
– Jarlath
“Creating an environment where women feel appreciated, respected, and empowered by providing them with opportunities to fully participate in all spheres of life”
– Sapna
“Inspiring inclusion is the opposite to accepting exclusion. It means we all have the responsibility to recognise the exclusions we come across in daily life.”
– Sinéad
“Inspiring women’s inclusion involves actively listening to women’s voices, understanding their unique challenges and perspectives.”
– Michael
“Be alert to the potential of bias within ourselves. Encourage one another, support each other as individuals and not by categories.”
– Peter
“Educate people around the many obstacles that women face on a daily basis in relation to their health and talk about menopause and bring more awareness to the topic.”
– Margaret
“Inspiring women’s inclusion involves actively listening to women’s voices, understanding their unique challenges and perspectives.”
– Michael
“Be alert to the potential of bias within ourselves. Encourage one another, support each other as individuals and not by categories.”
– Peter
“Educate people around the many obstacles that women face on a daily basis in relation to their health and talk about menopause and bring more awareness to the topic.”
– Margaret
“Recognition of the contribution of women to the community and voluntary sector. Social care is a profession that has been driven and held up by women.”
– Peter
“Safety.
Physically, emotionally, intellectually –
a community that stands against gender inequality.”
– Gillian
“Supporting and valuing women’s role and allowing them to participate fully in society in whatever way they wish too.”
– Jackie
“We are all human, and each of us regardless of gender, should feel included.”
– Jarlath
“Creating an environment where women feel appreciated, respected, and empowered by providing them with opportunities to fully participate in all spheres of life”
– Sapna
“Inspiring inclusion is the opposite to accepting exclusion. It means we all have the responsibility to recognise the exclusions we come across in daily life.”
– Sinéad
“Inspiring women’s inclusion involves actively listening to women’s voices, understanding their unique challenges and perspectives.”
– Michael
“Be alert to the potential of bias within ourselves. Encourage one another, support each other as individuals and not by categories.”
– Peter
“Educate people around the many obstacles that women face on a daily basis in relation to their health and talk about menopause and bring more awareness to the topic.”
– Margaret
“Inspiring women’s inclusion involves actively listening to women’s voices, understanding their unique challenges and perspectives.”
– Michael
“Be alert to the potential of bias within ourselves. Encourage one another, support each other as individuals and not by categories.”
– Peter
“Educate people around the many obstacles that women face on a daily basis in relation to their health and talk about menopause and bring more awareness to the topic.”
– Margaret
“Recognition of the contribution of women to the community and voluntary sector. Social care is a profession that has been driven and held up by women.”
– Peter
“Safety.
Physically, emotionally, intellectually –
a community that stands against gender inequality.”
– Gillian
“Supporting and valuing women’s role and allowing them to participate fully in society in whatever way they wish too.”
– Jackie
“We are all human, and each of us regardless of gender, should feel included.”
– Jarlath
“Creating an environment where women feel appreciated, respected, and empowered by providing them with opportunities to fully participate in all spheres of life”
– Sapna
“Inspiring inclusion is the opposite to accepting exclusion. It means we all have the responsibility to recognise the exclusions we come across in daily life.”
– Sinéad
“Inspiring women’s inclusion involves actively listening to women’s voices, understanding their unique challenges and perspectives.”
– Michael
“Be alert to the potential of bias within ourselves. Encourage one another, support each other as individuals and not by categories.”
– Peter
“Educate people around the many obstacles that women face on a daily basis in relation to their health and talk about menopause and bring more awareness to the topic.”
– Margaret
“Accelerating action means that we are always curious of ways that we can improve our service for our female clients.”
– Martin
“Educating both males and females in schools is a crucial step in breaking down harmful gender stereotypes and creating a culture of respect and understanding.”
– Elaine
“The current gender pension and pay gaps are completely unfair for women and to society as a whole. We all miss out when half of the population are unable to contribute to their full potential.”
– Sally Anne
“I am grateful to be part of COPE Galway, because I do see a lot of women in roles that I wouldn’t have seen before.”
– Frances
“It’s upon all of us to challenge the growing misogyny both here and worldwide.”
– Jackie
“Accelerating action for the equality of women, to me, is striving for zero tolerance of domestic, sexual and gendered based violence.”
– Amy
“Accelerating action means actively listening. Attempting to understand the unique perspectives of the women that we work with and the women that work for us across our services and the wider organisation.”
– Michael
“It’s a call to action to continue striving for a world where every woman and girl can be safe.”
– Gillian
“There’s no equality for women without equality for women of all abilities, all backgrounds, nationalities, orientations.”
– Eilish
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