This Saturday, the 8th March 2025, marks International Women’s Day. We join millions around the world in celebrating this important date in the global calendar.
International Women’s Day (IWD) has been around for over a hundred years, as have many of the issues still impacting women’s advancement. Since 1911, IWD belongs to all who care about women’s equality. Celebrate women’s achievement. Raise awareness about discrimination. Take action to forge gender parity.
Each year, International Women’s Day embraces a theme. This year, the theme is ‘Accelerate Action’.
18 St John Street are immensely proud of our equality, diversity and inclusivity. We became a female majority chambers in 2021, one of the few in the country, and we have a proud record of celebrating and highlighting the achievements of our women barristers and support staff.
We recognise that we have been afforded this privilege due to the hard work over the last 100 years of some incredible women in the legal profession, paired with the talent and hard work of our own women barristers and staff. Their contribution towards chambers life cannot be overstated and it has helped 18 St John Street go from strength to strength.
18 SJS at the Women in Criminal Law North West event last week
There have been huge changes at the Bar in the 103 years since the first woman, Ivy Williams, was called, but there is still work be done in both the legal profession and the world at large. According to the International Women’s Day website, at the current rate of progress, there are some estimates that it could take until the year 2158 to reach full parity.
The IWD site states: “Focusing on the need to Accelerate Action emphasizes the importance of taking swift and decisive steps to achieve gender equality. It calls for increased momentum and urgency in addressing the systemic barriers and biases that women face, both in personal and professional spheres.”
“Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge gender equality. Collectively for #IWD2025 we can all #AccelerateAction.“