International Women’s Day 2025: strengthening gender equality worldwide

Today, on the 8th of March, we celebrate International Women’s Day, with ‘For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.’ as this year’s theme. We reflect on how our organisation contributes to making progress towards strengthening gender equality worldwide. At a time when diversity, equality and inclusiveness are under increased pressure globally, we must continue to show its importance. On a day like today, we therefore want to draw extra attention to the inspiring work done for and by women. 

Headerphoto: © Gaia Amazonas 

New report: Women in a degraded Amazon

How do gender dynamics intersect with issues like deforestation, environmental degradation, territory and violence in the Amazon region? Women environmental defenders, and women in general, are disproportionately affected by these issues, facing multiple types of violence linked to their gender. Yet, little research adopts a gender approach or explores the role, effects and struggles of women in the degraded Amazon rainforest. 

IUCN NL published a report based on studies conducted in the Peruvian and Colombian Amazon. By applying a gender lens to socio-environmental issues and focusing on the lived experiences of Amazonian women, the report ‘Women in a degraded Amazon: Struggles for land body and nature highlights how extractive economies, weak governance and structural inequalities disproportionately affect women. 

A woman in Madre de Dios © Thomas Muller / SPDA

Extraordinary women 

At the end of 2024, our long-term partner LILAK (Purple Action for Indigenous Women’s Rights) received the embassy tulip award from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Philippines. This is a local award from the Dutch government for individuals or organisations that are making an exceptional contribution to human rights. LILAK was celebrated for their work to eliminate the barriers that Indigenous women face by giving these marginalised women a voice and platform. 

2024 also marked the first year of the Irene Dankelman Young Ecofeminist Award. This award was called into life to celebrate the work of the extraordinary women who are making a difference in the world. The award ceremony took place in October 2024, at the CBD COP16 in Cali, Colombia. This award is a joint effort of WECF, WEDO, Both ENDS and IUCN NL to honour and highlight the work of young women for a more gender- just and biodiverse planet. Daniela Soto Pito, based in Colombia, Aprianti Nadila Selvanus, based in Indonesia, and Marie Christina Kolo, based in Madagascar were all awarded.  

A just future for women in Uganda 

With the Green Livelihoods Alliance (GLA) Forests for a Just Future programme, we took action for women around the world in several ways over the past year. In Uganda, women in the Bugoma Central Forest Reserve can counter deforestation through the support of IUCN NL and AFIEGO. The effects of deforestation in this area particularly affects the elderly and women. This programme helps these women to work towards a greener future, where inclusiveness and (gender) justice play a key role. 

Community in Bugoma © AFIEGO

Guidelines for inclusive language 

As IUCN NL strives for a just and inclusive society, we would also like to use inclusive language and images. This way, we can tell a story and show images that a diverse group of people can identify with. To achieve this, we created guidelines for inclusive writing, including an overview of words we would rather avoid or rather see different words for. This guide also contains information on how to collect and select inclusive images by always ensuring that the images are balanced and representative. These guidelines bring us one step closer to this just and inclusive society. 

Knowledge sharing 

Over the last year, IUCN NL also contributed to sharing knowledge on gender equality. For instance, a Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) training on ‘Gender-Responsive Ecosystem-Based Adaptation’ in Madagascar and the Indian Ocean was organised in June 2024. This session was used to learn about gender-responsive approaches and share personal experiences with them. 

Furthermore, a webinar was given last February on ‘Inclusive agro-ecological practices for women and youth as climate adaptation mechanism’. One of IUCN NL’s environmental justice experts, Frederique Holle, informed listeners about basic concepts on gender and youth and how to ensure projects apply the right approach. This session is part of a series of webinars organised by IUCN NL, reNature and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, on behalf of the Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RVO).

Gender-based violence and the link to the environment  

IUCN NL spearheaded an exchange and learning session within the GLA programme on gender-based violence and the link to environmental degradation. IUCN provided an insightful presentation on this issue and our partner, ECOTRUST, shared valuable information about the Gender Action and Learning Systems (GALS) method. GALS Aims to promote gender equality by helping communities identify challenges and develop strategies to address them. This will help these communities to become aware of inequality and achieve sustainable change. 

Gender equality and inclusion are important pillars for IUCN NL, and we will continue to push for a green and just future for ALL women and girls.