Women’s rights activist, Nalini Singh is calling for a renewed focus on the activist roots of International Women’s Day, warning that increased visibility must not overshadow the voices of grassroots women’s movements.
In a social media post, Ms Singh said while global attention on gender equality issues can create opportunities for dialogue and awareness, visibility alone is not enough.
She said a key concern is who sets the priorities of the movement and whose voices shape the global narrative.
She emphasised that International Women’s Day was built through collective struggle by working women, trade unionists and feminist organisers across the world.
According to Singh, the legitimacy of the day comes from those movements and the communities they represent.
Rather than allowing the occasion to become mainly a moment for branding, networking events or symbolic celebrations, she said many activists believe the day should remain focused on demanding accountability from governments, corporations and institutions that shape women’s lives.
Singh said reclaiming International Women’s Day means returning to its core purpose of advancing rights, confronting inequality and pushing for structural change.
She added that this includes addressing issues such as labour rights, economic justice, violence against women, reproductive autonomy and political representation.
Singh stressed the importance of amplifying voices that are often marginalised in global conversations, particularly women from the Global South, Indigenous communities, the LGBTIQA++ community and working-class movements.
“International Women’s Day belongs to feminist movements everywhere, not to any single organisation, corporation or website,” she said.
