Save the Children, in collaboration with various stakeholders, celebrated International Women’s Day 2025 in their local outpost, with the aim of Empowering Women for a Brighter Future.
The celebration highlighted the importance of gender equality and the need for localized strategies to empower women, particularly those from marginalized communities. It brought together government officials, development partners, private sector representatives, NGOs, and women-led organizations to honor women's achievements and discuss strategies for their empowerment.
The event included a flash mob articulating the collective effort to achieve gender equality by the Shobujer Ovijan Foundation, keynote presentations and discussions, and an award ceremony for the “Shaping Tomorrow: Women’s Empowerment Innovation Challenge”, recognizing outstanding contributions to women’s empowerment.
Speeches were given by the guest of honor - Andre Carstens, Charge D’Affaires, Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands in Bangladesh; and chief guest - Keya Khan,
Director General of the Department of Women Affairs, Government of the Peoples’ Republic of Bangladesh.
The event also featured the award-giving ceremony for the “Shaping Tomorrow: Women’s
Empowerment Innovation Challenge”, recognizing 11 organizations and their outstanding contributions to women’s empowerment.
Andre Carstens, Head of Mission, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh-, stated: “It's about fifty years since the UN adopted IWD, but back then, the day was already more than sixty years old. Similar movements for women's equality started more than a century ago. 2025 is pivotal as it marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. This document is the most progressive and widely endorsed blueprint for women’s and girls’ rights worldwide. It transformed the
agenda in terms of legal protection, access to services, youth engagement, and changes in social norms, stereotypes, and ideas stuck in the past."
This year’s theme, "Rights. Equality. Empowerment," calls for action that can unlock equal rights and opportunities for all. A future where no one is left behind. Central to this vision is empowering the next generation - particularly young women and adolescent girls - as
catalysts for lasting change.
Keya Khan, Director General of the Department of Women Affairs, stated:
“We are working very hard for women’s empowerment. Many government posts are working withdevelopment partners for their economic empowerment. Society blocks them when they try to access these services."