Rhondda Cynon Taf Council are once again proud to join the global celebration of International Women’s Day 2025, which takes place on Saturday, March 8. International Women’s Day is a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. This year’s theme is Accelerate Action, marking a call for action to accelerate strides towards gender equality.
International Women’s Day provides us with an opportunity to celebrate our female employees. Here at Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, over 75% of our staff our female, while 35 of our 75 Elected Members are female. We also currently have three female Cabinet Members, including the Deputy Leader, as well as a female Mayor and Deputy Mayor.
Throughout the week leading up to International Women’s Day, we will be sharing inspiring quotes from some of the strong women who work in the Council, highlighting their achievements and perspectives on gender equality. Keep an eye out on our social channels to see the featured stories.
Gaynor Davies, Director of Education and the Council’s Gender Champion, said: “International Women’s Day is an important occasion which provides us with the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of all women, while also raising awareness about gender equality.
“It is a time to reflect on the progress made and to recognise the work that still needs to be done to achieve true equality in society. As the Council’s Champion for gender, it is part of my role to ensure that we uphold our dedication to achieving a fair and equal workplace for all and that we encourage all women to have a high aspirations and to actively pursue their dreams and ambitions.”
The ONS Gender Pay Gap in the UK 2024 report reveals that in the UK, the current wage gap stands at 13.1%, meaning that men and women are not paid the same for the same work. On average, men earn £19.24 per hour, while women earn just £17.88 per hour.
Additionally, in Wales, although significant strides have been made towards gender equality, women are still underrepresented in certain industries, such as STEM, finance, and leadership roles. According to the Welsh Government, there is still a current wage gap of 8.9%. While this figure is lower than the UK average, it underscores the need for ongoing work towards true gender equality as women continue to face barriers to their carer progression and earning potential.
Councillor Maureen Webber, Equality Champion and Deputy Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, said: “Here at Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, we believe that every individual should have the opportunity to work in a capacity that suits their skills and aspirations, without being limited by their gender. This International Women’s Day, we are highlighting our strong female employees to show that, regardless of gender, everyone here has the opportunity to succeed.
“As someone who is deeply committed to supporting women in politics, I am proud to see so many women in political roles within our Council, with 35 of our 75 elected Members being women.
“This progress is a testament to the long struggle for women’s right to vote and the ongoing efforts to ensure women’s voices are heard and represented in all areas of society. It’s important that we continue to challenge gendered stereotypes, empower women to thrive, and accelerate action towards gender equality.”
Celebrated annually on March 8, IWD has a rich history dating back to 1911, when over a million people supported the first International Women’s Day gathering.
World-renowned feminist, journalist, and activist, Gloria Steinem, once explained: “The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist, nor to any one organization, but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.”
This year’s theme, Accelerate Action, is a powerful reminder that at the current rate of progress, it will take 133 years to achieve full gender parity. Yet, collectively, we can all work to accelerate action for women worldwide. By understanding what works and doing more of it, faster, we can make significant strides toward gender equality.
If you are interested in finding out more about International Women’s Day and this year’s theme, please visit: https://www.internationalwomensday.com/
#InternationalWomensDay #IWD2025 #AccelerateAction
Posted on 04/03/2025