By Maryam Mohammed Samaila
At the Avoidable Deaths Network (ADN), we believe that accelerating action means moving beyond words to transformative change. This International Women’s Day (IWD), we stand in solidarity with global efforts to break barriers, drive inclusion, and create a world where women’s contributions are recognized, valued, and supported.
The theme of IWD 2025, ‘Accelerate Action,’ calls for urgent steps toward gender equality—not just in leadership and decision-making but also in health, education, crisis response, and public safety. At ADN, we emphasize the role of women’s inclusion in shaping policies and interventions that prevent avoidable deaths and injuries across all sectors.
Why Inclusion Matters for Avoidable Deaths
Women are often at the forefront of healthcare, community resilience, and humanitarian response yet their voices remain underrepresented in decision-making spaces. Ensuring their inclusion leads to stronger, more equitable systems that prevent avoidable deaths in crises, healthcare, and everyday life.
At ADN, accelerating action means:
🔹 Promoting gender-responsive practices in disaster risk reduction and public health.
🔹 Empowering women as leaders in avoidable deaths prevention and crisis response. For this, see our Ambassador Programme for Avoidable Snakebite Deaths
🔹 Challenging harmful norms that increase women’s vulnerabilities in health, education, and safety.
🔹 Driving research and awareness on gender-specific risks and solutions. For this, see our low-budget life saving Facility and Mobile Reproductive Kits for Disasters and Crises
The ADN’s International Awareness Day for Avoidable Deaths (IAD4AD), celebrated throughout March, aligns with IWD’s call to action. By recognizing and addressing gender disparities in mortality and injury prevention, especially during disasters and crises, we create sustainable solutions that save the lives of vulnerable populations.
This IWD, ADN reaffirms its commitment to accelerating action, fostering inclusion, and ensuring that women’s leadership and resilience are central to global efforts in reducing avoidable deaths.
Let’s work together to build a safer, more inclusive future.
References
International Women’s Day (2025). IWD 2025 Campaign Theme: ‘Accelerate Action’. Available at: [https://www.internationalwomensday.com/2025theme](https://www.internationalwomensday.com/2025theme)
Avoidable Deaths Network (2024). International Awareness Day for Avoidable Deaths (IAD4AD). Available at: [https://iad4ad.avoidable-deaths.net/](https://iad4ad.avoidable-deaths.net/)
UNDP (2023). Women Are Hit Hardest by Disasters – So Why Are Responses Too Often Gender-Blind? Available at: [https://www.undp.org/blog/women-are-hit-hardest-disasters-so-why-are-responses-too-often-gender-blind](https://www.undp.org/blog/women-are-hit-hardest-disasters-so-why-are-responses-too-often-gender-blind)