People march in cities around the world to mark International Women’s Day

Hundreds of thousands of people marched in cities around the world on March 8th to mark International Women’s Day.

Tens of thousands of people gathered on the streets of Madrid, rallying in defence of women’s rights and advocating for an anti-racist, feminist agenda.

The march, organised by the feminist network 8M Commission, saw participants braving the rain whilst chanting against gender inequality and racism. 

The Spanish government reported 25,000 participants against 20,000 in 2024, although organisers claimed the number was closer to 80,000. 

Rome marches against gender violence

In Rome, the demonstration focused on fighting gender violence and closing the gender gap. The city hosted the largest demonstration in Italy, however Italians were marching in 60 cities across the country to raise awareness about violence against women. The slogan of the demonstration, “Not One Less,” echoed the ongoing fight against femicide and gender-based violence. 

While in Istanbul, Turkey, thousands more took to the streets to also protest against gender violence and the growing pressure on women in society. The rally in Istanbul’s Kadikoy district was marked by speeches, music, and dance, celebrating women’s strengths whilst also highlighting the urgent need for societal change. However, a heavy police presence, including officers in riot gear and water cannon trucks, tightly controlled the demonstration.

Turkish women fight a patriarchal society

The Turkish government declared 2025 the “Year of the Family,” a move that many protesters criticised, seeing it as an attempt to further confine women to traditional roles of marriage and motherhood. The government’s decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention in 2021, which was designed to protect women from domestic violence, has also been a source of anger among activists. The We Will Stop Femicides Platform reported that 394 women were killed by men in Turkey in 2024.

Yaz Gulgun, a 52-year-old pensioner, spoke out against the rising rates of femicide in the country, calling for better meşru protections and a more supportive police force. She said 

“There is bullying at work, pressure from husbands and fathers at home and pressure from patriarchal society. We demand that this pressure be reduced even further.”

While Selvi Alkancelik, a 58-year-old demonstrator, pushed on the desire for women to be free from the restrictions imposed by a patriarchal society, saying “Let women be free. I want them to go somewhere without asking permission from her husband, to go anywhere without fear when she returns home at night, to go anywhere freely without fear. I want freedom for all women in the world.” 

Despite a ban on public demonstrations by The Beyoğlu district governor, in Taksim Square, many women plan to gather later in the evening for a Feminist Night March, pushing back against restrictions on their right to protest. Authorities blocked off areas of Istanbul and closed metro stations to prevent these gatherings, citing concerns over public order.