IWD 2027 campaign theme: PROGRESS PARITY

Advancing gender equality through collective action, shared knowledge and opportunity.

Each year, the International Women's Day (IWD) website features a campaign to inspire action and support progress towards gender equality. For 2027, the campaign is Progress Parity.

The campaign encourages individuals, organizations and communities to recognize progress, share ideas, challenge barriers and explore meaningful ways to advance gender equality. Groups can embrace the campaign, incorporate its ideas into their own initiatives or pursue further gender equality priorities aligned with their objectives.

Progress Parity as an IWD 2027 campaign theme is built around a powerful, forward-looking philosophy: Progress builds progress.

When we Progress Parity, we build a better future

Progress towards gender parity matters. According to the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Global Gender Gap Report, parity is still 120 years away. And, with no economy having reached full parity, every step forward matters.

To progress gender parity is an urgent call to action. The current pace is far too slow.

Gender parity is about more than numerical representation. It also involves equitable access to opportunities, resources, participation, support, influence and outcomes. WEF's Global Gender Parity Sprint calls to "reset the time to parity" and deliver more inclusive economic transformation, innovation and growth.

The Progress Parity Campaign encourages collective action to help accelerate progress towards gender equality worldwide. It celebrates achievements while recognizing the work that remains, encouraging people and organizations to share what works, open doors, challenge barriers and turn commitments into meaningful action.

Because progress builds progress

IWD 2027 theme

This campaign celebrates progress towards gender equality while recognizing the work that remains. When women have equitable opportunities to participate, lead, create, innovate and thrive, society benefits.

Progress requires sustained effort, and everyone can contribute.

Visibility matters. Action matters. Measurable progress matters.

The journey we make today shapes the future we create tomorrow

Progress Parity is about helping move towards a world where women have equitable opportunities, meaningful representation and the ability to participate, influence decisions and lead. It means recognizing advancement, championing effective approaches, challenging barriers, investing in women and girls, sharing knowledge and inspiring others to act.

Every contribution can help move progress forward. A shared idea can inspire a new approach. An opened door can create an opportunity. A collective effort can help turn ambition into lasting change.

Together, we can help accelerate progress towards gender equality.

Progressing gender parity requires momentum

IWD 2027 theme

Whether you are an individual, business, community, nonprofit organization, government, educator, campaigner or change maker, your actions can contribute.

Celebrate progress.
Champion women.
Challenge barriers.
Create opportunities.
Share what works.
Keep moving forward.

Because the journey matters. Every conversation can shift a mindset. Every opportunity can change a trajectory. Every voice can influence change.

Here are five ambitions to build on existing progress and inspire further action.

Share the Progress Parity campaign gesture to raise awareness

Take part in the Progress Parity campaign by using the balanced-hands gesture to symbolize parity as a concept and a goal.

A simple gesture can spark conversation, raise awareness, express solidarity and inspire others to take action.

Together, let's #ProgressParity.

Share what your group is doing for IWD 2027

Is your group planning IWD activity, making an announcement, launching an initiative or sharing an idea that could inspire others?

News, articles, resources and updates about activities that celebrate women's achievements and help advance gender equality are welcome.

Submit your information for consideration for publication on the IWD website and potential promotion through its social media channels. Publication on the IWD website is free of charge.

Sharing knowledge helps ideas travel further. Showcasing initiatives, experiences and practical solutions inspires others and amplifies collective efforts to advance gender equality.

Diverse campaigns. Collective impact.

IWD brings together a wide range of people, organizations, ideas and activities. Various campaigns and priorities can contribute to shared progress towards gender equality. The Progress Parity campaign offers one way to focus attention and inspire action. Groups are welcome to adopt it, adapt it or pursue other themes and priorities that reflect their own objectives and communities.

Different approaches. Shared ambition. Collective impact.

Every campaign, conversation and collective effort can contribute to meaningful progress.

Together, let's help turn shared ambition into lasting change.

Submit an IWD 2027 Progress Parity image and statement

Have something to share for the Progress Parity Campaign? Submit your image and a short statement for consideration for inclusion in the IWD 2027 Gallery. Selected contributions can help raise awareness, showcase participation and inspire others to take positive action for gender equality.

Get involved with IWD Giving

IWD offers an opportunity to celebrate women's achievements while helping direct attention and support towards organizations advancing the lives of women and girls. Imagine the collective impact if more IWD events raised funds for, or increased visibility of, a charity supporting women and girls.

Explore the IWD Giving Directory to discover women-focused charities and find ways to support their work through your IWD activities. Every contribution can help make a difference.

Remember, all IWD activity is valid

IWD has a long history of collective action, celebration and advocacy for gender equality. The first International Women's Day gatherings took place in 1911, and the observance has continued to evolve through the efforts of people and organizations worldwide. Today, groups mark IWD in many different ways, according to their objectives, audiences and local contexts. IWD activities celebrate achievements, raise awareness, champion women’s rights, share knowledge, strengthen commitments, inspire action and bring communities together. Each group can decide how best to use the occasion to support gender equality.

The IWD website exists to help people connect with information, resources, ideas and activities that can support these efforts. By sharing knowledge and showcasing initiatives, the website helps make useful information more accessible and gives ideas and inspiration a wider reach.

IWD is powered by the collective efforts of people everywhere who care about gender equality. World-renowned feminist, journalist and activist, the late Gloria Steinem, reportedly once explained: "The story of women's struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights."

Find your focus. Share your ideas. Celebrate progress. Help advance gender equality.

Get involved with International Women's Day 2027.