Today, on International Women's Day, we gather to honour the remarkable progress made by women worldwide and to acknowledge the trailblazers whose courage and determination have paved the way for our rights and freedoms.

Without Aletta Jacobs, the first woman to officially attend a Dutch university and a pioneering physician, I might not have had the opportunity to pursue higher education. Her relentless advocacy for women's access to education and healthcare laid the foundation for the choices we often take for granted today.

Without Wilhelmina Drucker, a formidable feminist and co-founder of the Free Women's Association, I might never have had the right to vote or to be elected. Her tireless campaigning for women's suffrage ensured that our voices are heard in the democratic process.

Without the collective efforts of countless Dutch feminists, such as Joke Smit and Hedy D'Ancona and those active in the Dolle Mina movement, I might not have had the autonomy to make decisions about my own body and reproductive rights. I wouldn't have been able to undergo a legal and safe abortion 10 years ago, which would have made me a mother of an unwanted child. Their bold actions challenged societal norms and fought for women's control over their own lives.

Without the efforts of Betsy Bakker-Nort, Clarita da Costa Gomez, and Mena vanWest-Davelaar, our sisters from Curaçao and Suriname wouldn't have gained universal suffrage for both women and men in the late 1940's.

Without the migrant feminist movement, such as the Hollanda Türkiye Kadınlar Birliği (HTKB), founded in 1975 by women like Maviye Karaman, many migrant women in the Netherlands would not have had the support to find their own voice in a new country. Their fight for equal rights was—and remains—essential to the feminist movement here.

These women fought tirelessly for the rights we enjoy today.

Yet, despite their monumental achievements, our struggle is far from over.

Across the globe, women's rights are under threat. We witness attempts to roll back reproductive rights, gender-based violence continues to plague our societies, and misogynistic ideologies gain traction, undermining the progress we've made.

This is not a distant issue; it's a reality we face daily.

In our workplaces, where women still fight for equal pay and representation.

In our healthcare system, where to this day, women-specific conditions receive less attention and funding, causing women to needlessly live in poor health for far too long.

In our political systems, where female leaders confront disproportionate scrutiny and harassment.

And in our communities, where outdated gender norms limit opportunities and perpetuate inequality. Where gender-based violence is on the rise and our lives are at risk.

So, what can we do? How do we honour the legacy of those who came before us and ensure a just and equitable world for future generations?

Sustain the Movement: Keep the momentum alive. Attend rallies, participate in discussions, and support feminist initiatives. Our collective voice is powerful, and only together, we can drive change. We have to mobilise. We must organize.

Engage Politically: Join a political party or support organizations that align with feminist values. By actively participating, we can influence policies and ensure that women's rights remain a priority on the political agenda. And we also have to collaborate beyond political affiliations. Intersectional Feminism transcends party lines, and in today's polarized society, unity among feminists is crucial. By working together, we can confront challenges more effectively and promote a more inclusive movement.

Take care of yourself and the community: I know these times are challenging. One might feel powerless. I do sometimes. But we cannot give up. So do what is needed to keep your hope alive. Do what is needed to take of yourself, of each other and of the movement. Because, unfortunately, we aren't preparing for a sprint. We have to prepare for a marathon.

Let us remember that the rights we enjoy today were hard-won by those who refused to accept the status quo. It's our responsibility to continue their work, to challenge injustices, and to strive for a world where equality is not just an aspiration but a reality.

The future is feminist!