International Women’s Day 2025

This year’s Northern Ireland theme for the annual International Women’s Day march and rally is “Solidarity Beyond Borders: Women for World Peace”, a demand to end violence both globally and at home.

Marchers and supporters will gather at Writer’s Square at 11:30am on Saturday 8th March, leaving at noon to march along Royal Avenue for speeches at Belfast City Hall at 12.30pm. A celebration event including information stalls, music, children’s story time and dancing will be held afterwards at 2 Royal Avenue.

This year’s theme has been illustrated by 14-year-old south Belfast girl Catelyn Dillon and her colourful poster will be carried by participants at the march.

Zimbabwean-born peace activist and women’s rights campaigner Sipho Sabanda will host the event on stage outside Belfast City Hall.

Ahead of two concerts later that day, Afghan rapper and activist Sonita Alizadeh will speak to the crowd. Sonita was sold into child marriage at the age of 10 and escaped at the age of 16 when her viral music video, ‘Daughters for Sale’, helped her secure a scholarship to study in the United States. Through her music and advocacy work,

They will be joined by speakers including Dawn Hopper, Chair of the newly formed ‘Belfast See Change’ campaigning group, who raises awareness of the issues faced by those who are blind or partially sighted. Sophie Nelson, the Senior Policy Development Officer from LGBTQIA+ women’s charity, Here NI; Amina Moustafa, the Women’s Leadership Programme Manager at the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation; Brenda Gough – co-founder of the Three Sisters Gardening Group and an activist on food security, and Cori Strain a young woman from Youth Action

The IWD 2025 march and rally is the focal point of a host of events taking place throughout March. For the full list of events taking place go to: https://www.reclaimtheagenda.com/international-womens-day-2025-events