A resilient future requires women at the table

"Each time a woman stands up for herself, she stands up for all women."
— Maya Angelou

International Women's Day is often treated as a moment for celebration. In Bangladesh – and across the Global South – it must also be a moment for reflection and resolve. The realities women face – climate shocks, economic inequality, shrinking civic space and persistent violence – remind us that gender justice cannot be taken for granted.

This year's call to "Give for Gain" carries a clear message: if we want a fairer and more resilient future, societies must be willing to give up the systems and norms that sustain inequality. Patriarchal attitudes, exclusion from decision-making and tolerance for violence against women cannot coexist with genuine progress.

Across Bangladesh, women are already demonstrating what a different future can look like. They are farmers adapting to unpredictable weather, community leaders preparing for floods and cyclones, workers sustaining families and local economies, and activists demanding accountability from institutions. In the face of the climate crisis, their leadership has become indispensable.

Yet women continue to carry a disproportionate burden of climate impacts while being excluded from the spaces where climate policy and development decisions are made.

Climate justice must begin with a simple principle: those most affected by climate change must have a decisive voice in shaping the response. In Bangladesh's coastal and climate-vulnerable regions, women hold knowledge, skills and leadership that are critical for building resilience. Their lived experience offers insights essential for effective adaptation.

But too often, climate finance, national planning and global negotiations fail to recognise this leadership. If the world is serious about climate justice, women must not only be consulted; they must be empowered to lead.

This is a message that must be repeated in national and global platforms. Climate justice is ultimately about people: whose voices are heard, whose rights are protected, and whose futures are prioritised. When women participate meaningfully in decision-making, climate solutions become more grounded, equitable and sustainable.

At the same time, these challenges are unfolding in a world marked by deep uncertainty. Conflicts across parts of West Asia and the Gulf region are contributing to economic instability, rising energy and food costs, and growing insecurity for millions. In such moments, women and girls are often the first to bear the consequences, yet their voices remain underrepresented in shaping responses to crises.

If we are serious about building resilient societies, women must be at the table in decisions about peace, recovery and development.

Another urgent challenge is the persistence of violence against women and girls. Whether in homes, workplaces, public spaces or digital platforms, gender-based violence continues to undermine women's safety, dignity and participation.

No society can claim progress while women continue to live under the threat of violence.

Ending gender-based violence is therefore not only a moral and human rights obligation; it is essential for sustainable development and democratic participation. When women feel safe and respected, they can engage more fully in education, economic life and leadership. Respect for women's dignity must be non-negotiable.

Equally important is women's participation in politics and governance. Bangladesh has witnessed important milestones in women's leadership, yet representation alone does not guarantee influence. Women in public life continue to face structural barriers, harassment and limited access to the resources and networks that enable effective leadership.

Women must not only occupy seats in institutions; they must be able to shape agendas, influence policy and make decisions that affect their communities and futures. Democracy is stronger when women participate fully in it.

Evidence from around the world shows that when women are at decision-making tables, priorities often shift towards investments in education, social protection, environmental sustainability and community wellbeing. In other words, women's leadership produces outcomes that benefit entire societies.

But empowerment must also begin at a more personal level – in the beliefs women and girls hold about themselves. Too often, social expectations encourage girls to compromise their aspirations or accept unequal treatment within families and relationships. True empowerment requires women and girls to recognise their own worth and agency. They must trust their voices and refuse to compromise their dignity – whether pressure comes from parents, siblings, society, or within relationships. Boundaries must be set from the beginning. Respect, equality and consent must form the foundation of every relationship.

When girls grow up with the confidence to assert their rights and define their own futures, societies become stronger and more just.

The theme of "Give for Gain" reminds us that progress requires courage and transformation. For societies to gain resilience, sustainability and fairness, they must be willing to give up systems that concentrate power and privilege in the hands of a few.

That means confronting patriarchal norms, investing in women's leadership at every level, and ensuring that global systems – including climate finance and development cooperation – prioritise justice and equity.

Across Bangladesh, women's organisations, grassroots groups and youth activists are already advancing this agenda. They are advocating climate justice, supporting survivors of violence, strengthening community resilience and holding institutions accountable. Their work shows that change does not begin with declarations; it begins with people who organise, persist and demand a more just world.

International Women's Day should therefore be more than a symbolic occasion. It should serve as a call to action for governments, institutions and citizens.

We must commit to ending gender-based violence in all its forms. We must ensure that women have equal opportunities to participate in political and economic life. And we must recognise women's leadership as central to addressing the climate crisis and building sustainable development pathways.

The future we seek – a world that is fairer, safer and more resilient – cannot be achieved without women. If we are willing to give up inequality and exclusion, the gains will benefit us all.