International Women’s Day

Rights. Justice. Action. – For All Women and Girls

International Women’s Day invites us both to recognise the harsh realities confronting many women and girls as well as remember their resilience, their struggles and their strength as they face these realities. The theme of International Women’s Day “Rights. Justice. Action. – For All Women and Girls” resonates deeply with our Christian faith because it mirrors the heart of God— who is moved by human struggles, hears the cries of the suffering ones and empowers people to move towards transformation.

From the very beginning, Scripture proclaims that all humanity—female and male—is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). This is not a poetic idea; it is a theological foundation. To seek justice is to participate in the Triune God’s own work of creation, redemption and sustenance. Every woman and girl bears God’s image and therefore possesses inherent dignity that no injustice can erase. To affirm this is therefore to affirm God’s creative intention.

Biblical justice is never abstract. It is relational and life-giving. It seeks to set things right so that all may flourish. Today, this call feels urgent. There are more than 130 conflicts across the globe, in which women and children continue to bear the heaviest burdens. Mothers flee their homes seeking safety. Girls lose access to education and security. When women and girls are denied safety, opportunity, voice, or leadership, the whole human family suffers. But when their gifts are honoured and their rights upheld, communities are strengthened and hope is renewed.

This understanding resonates with the Kenyan concept of Isirika — a vision of mutual belonging and shared responsibility. Isirika reminds us that we do not live in isolation; we belong to one another. What affects one affects all. When the dignity of women and girls is wounded, the whole community is diminished. When their rights are protected and their contributions valued, the entire community flourishes. This mutuality reflects the biblical vision of the Body of Christ, where each member’s wellbeing is bound to the wellbeing of the whole.

This spirit continues in movements such as the World Day of Prayer, where women across cultures gather in prayer that leads to action. Prayer, in this context, is not passive. It opens hearts, raises awareness, and inspires commitment. It connects local realities with global solidarity and reminds us that faith without action remains incomplete.

“Rights. Justice. Action.” challenges the Church to move beyond words. It calls for honest reflection and humble action. How can we transform our structures to reflect the equality we proclaim? How can women’s leadership and ministries be fully recognised and supported? How can girls be encouraged to discover their voice and vocation? Justice begins not only in public advocacy, but in daily attitudes, decisions, and relationships.

On this International Women’s Day, we give thanks for women whose resilience sustains families, churches, and communities. We honour their leadership, their unseen labour, their faithfulness in adversity, and their courage in hope. We acknowledge both their immense contributions and the challenges they continue to face.

As we pray with and for women and girls across the world may our prayer deepen our resolve. May our faith move us beyond comfort into commitment. And may we commit ourselves— together in mutual responsibility and solidarity — to upholding the rights, dignity, and flourishing of all women and girls, so that God’s justice becomes visible in our shared life.

Rev. Rebecca Daniel