As the world unites to amplify gender equality and advocate for accelerated action toward women's representation in all aspects of life with International Women’s Day, the anniversary of Sarah Everard’s death on March 3rd should weigh heavily on our collective conscience.
Sarah Everard, a 33-year-old marketing executive, was raped and murdered by Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens as she walked home in South London on March 3, 2021. Her tragic death brought global attention to violence against women and girls, embodying the fears of women worldwide. This violence is a stark reminder that no matter how much progress is made in gender equality, it means little if women remain unsafe not only outside but also in places like their homes and workplaces, unable to trust even those meant to protect them, including the police.
If there is one area in dire need of immediate, tangible change, it is in policing and the protection of women. When gender becomes a vulnerability, no revolutionary stride in gender equality can truly matter.
Sophie Francis-Cansfield, Head of Policy at Women’s Aid, emphasised the urgent need to reform policing. She noted that while numerous investigations and reports have provided potential solutions, real, measurable change is overdue. “Since Sarah’s murder, we’ve seen countless other cases of police-perpetrated violence against women and girls (VAWG), leaving women’s trust in the police at an all-time low. Urgent action needs to be taken to address the systemic failures within policing so that women can get the justice they deserve.”
Francis-Cansfield referenced several reports and investigations, including the Angiolini Inquiry and the Baroness Casey Review, which uncovered institutional misogyny, racism, and homophobia contributing to a failure to protect women and children, particularly those from Black, minoritised, and migrant communities. She called on police forces to accept Lady Angiolini’s recommendation to adopt anti-sexist, anti-misogynist, and anti-racist practices through mandatory training and the involvement of expert organisations in recruitment and vetting processes.
“Additionally, police forces need to hold officers and staff accused of misconduct accountable to safeguard women and families impacted by VAWG from further harm,” she added.
New data from the domestic abuse charity Refuge also highlights the underestimation of domestic abuse's prevalence and just how dire the situation is when it comes to crime against women. Only a quarter of UK adults (26%) are aware that 1 in 4 women will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime. While nearly 80% of people would report physical abuse, awareness of less apparent forms of abuse—such as coercive and controlling behavior, as well as technology-facilitated, economic, and psychological abuse—is far lower. Just 39% of people say they would report these less understood forms of abusive behavior.
Beyond safety concerns, women also face significant disparities in business leadership and financial representation. Women hold only 28% of senior management roles globally, and female entrepreneurs receive just 2% of venture capital funding. According to the Global Payroll Association (GPA), among the world's 100 richest billionaires, only 15 are women, whose combined wealth is $587 billion compared to the $4.4 trillion held by the 85 men.
Notably, the UK is absent from the rankings altogether, as none of the world’s top 100 wealthiest billionaires hail from the UK—meaning no British women are represented.
Melanie Pizzey, CEO and Founder of the Global Payroll Association, very rightly pointed out, "Look at how stark the gender gap is among the world’s richest people. Fifteen women and eighty-five men; and of those few women, you’re hard pressed to find even one who hasn’t amassed their fortune through inheritance or marriage.
"Compare this with the number of ‘self-made’ billionaire men on the list, and it becomes clear that gender equality, while significantly improved over recent years, has not yet infiltrated the ranks of the ultra-wealthy.. Why have no self-made women amassed fortunes large enough to appear on the list? We know it’s not because they don’t have the skills, ideas, or work ethic to compare to men, so there must be some other forces at play.”
These inequalities are driven by gender pay gaps, career breaks for caregiving, and limited access to financial resources. Women earn about 82 cents for every dollar men make, affecting savings, retirement, and financial stability. Bridging this gap requires a focus on pay equity, improved access to funding, leadership support, and financial literacy initiatives. Empowering women in business is not only a matter of equality—it is critical for economic growth and societal progress.
Minister for Equalities, Seema Malhotra MP, said, "This International Women’s Day 2025, the Government is accelerating action to transform the lives of all women by breaking down barriers to opportunity.
"From growing the economy, to keeping our streets safe, women are central to all our missions. This Government will work tirelessly to put more money in the pockets of working women, which includes going further and faster to close the gender pay gap.
"We have also committed to the ambition to halve violence against women and girls in a decade, and we will do everything in our power to achieve this. This will involve focusing on prevention, as well as providing better support for victims throughout the justice system."
