Women’s Day and keeping humanity’s promise: Why your efforts today are crucial
To achieve gender equality by 2030, the world needs our attention.

As nostalgia for 2016 resurfaces across social media, it is easy to focus on the cultural trends that defined the year. Yet beyond the viral moments and pop hits, 2016 also marked the adoption of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). All 17 goals were set with a target of 2030—a deadline that now stands just four years away, underscoring the urgency of commitments made by the global community.

With a short timeline and a huge ambition for the well-being of humanity as a whole, there are opportunities we must not miss and act on immediately. In light of Women’s Day coming up on March 8, this article will reflect and seek ways to contribute to SDG 5—Achieving Gender Equality and Empowering all Women and Girls. 

Canadian efforts

As established in the Canadian Indicator Framework for the SDGs, Canada’s ambitions for SDG 5 are three-pronged: to eradicate gender-based violence and harassment, facilitate gender equality in leadership roles and decision-making levels, and ensure equal sharing of household and family roles and responsibilities.

Several initiatives that focus both domestically and internationally have been established and committed by the federal government to work towards these ambitions. One recent notable advancement includes the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence (GBV) launched in 2022. 

The Government of Canada’s webpage outlines five key pillars to end GBV: (1) support for victims, survivors and their families; (2) prevention; (3) a responsive justice system; (4) implementing Indigenous-led approaches; and (5) social infrastructure and an enabling environment.

These priorities were developed in conversation with primary stakeholders and relevant literature. While they have been assigned a longer goal timeline of ten years and only government frameworks have been discussed, there is a consistent effort made by a variety of communities. If you can’t wait to contribute, don’t worry, some opportunities and ways to get involved will be discussed shortly.

While there are many efforts in place, the fight for gender equality persists, and the need to act intensifies. For example, as per Canada’s official, data-driven SDG progress tracker, limited progress has been made in reducing the gender wage gap. 

Between 2015 and 2024, the median hourly gender wage ratio for core-age workers improved from 0.83 to 0.87, meaning women earned 87 cents for every dollar men earned in 2024 — a modest gain but still short of full parity.

For example, women in the community of Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) have experienced greater wage gaps according to Women and Gender Equality (WAGE) Canada. The ramifications of this have extended to senior, retired women. In 2022, retired women earned 26 per cent less than men. And once again, this inequality is exacerbated for women belonging to BIPOC, who experience the highest rates of low income. 

Similarly, limited progress has been made in filling the gap in women in leadership roles. While there has been a roughly five per cent increase in women in parliamentary positions, the general official status is that limited progress has been made. For instance, the transportation, production, and utilities industries have only experienced a 0.3 per cent increase, according to Statistics Canada. 

However, Canada has made significant progress in its legal frameworks in combating gender inequality. According to Our World in Data, an innovative research team partnered with the University of Oxford, Canada has progressed 80 per cent between 2018 and 2024. 

Specifically, legal frameworks that respectively address violence and employment have progressed nearly 90 per cent. Of course, this is brilliant and may be a huge relief among the many past statistics regarding progress in realizing gender equality. 

Our individual responsibilities 

Gender equality matters to us on an individual level. Carrying the passion to contribute to the well-being of humanity, we may excitedly partake in International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 8. IWD serves as a reminder to celebrate the achievements of women and gender equality efforts, while highlighting the still-existing inequality that we must strive to eradicate. 

As you celebrate IWD, it is natural to feel unsure of whether an individual’s efforts would make a difference. However, your efforts are crucial. As discussed above, while many legal frameworks are in place, it is the social attitudes, behaviours, and practices that must be reformed for the wider social progress to be achieved. 

Some general ways to take action this Women’s Day include supporting women-led initiatives and gender equality-advancing initiatives, committing to advocating in your personal spaces, and sharing stories of women changemakers in your community. 

You can also reflect on ways to incorporate gender-equality initiatives into your interests and passions. For example, the Aga Khan Foundation in Canada has created a guide on how to teach SDGs, including SDG 5, through art in partnership with the Government of Canada. If you are still looking for an accessible starting point, the UN Women’s IWD page is an excellent resource, with detailed information on how to learn, advocate, and donate to the initiative. 

Ensuring equality empowers us all

It’s crucial to remember that gender equality isn’t just about benefiting women—it strengthens society as a whole. According to a report cited by the Canadian Women’s Foundation, gender equality is the strongest predictor of peace, even surpassing a country’s level of democracy.

Beyond social impact, gender equality drives economic growth. The McKinsey Institute estimates it could add C$150 billion to Canada’s GDP, as highlighted by the Government of Canada.

Let’s take action now, so that by 2030, we can look back at 2026 as the turning point that sparked meaningful change—and inspired others to follow.