As we mark International Women’s Day, we are invited not only to celebrate the achievements of women and girls around the world, but also to reflect on the extraordinary resilience they show in the face of crisis. From conflict zones to communities grappling with disaster, women continue to carry their families and neighbours through the toughest moments, often quietly, courageously, and without recognition.

This year’s reflections come at a time when humanitarian emergencies are growing in both frequency and severity. For millions of women and girls, this means heightened risks: greater food insecurity, increased exposure to violence, dwindling access to healthcare, and the loss of livelihoods and education. Yet even as these pressures intensify, women remain among the first to lead, protect, and rebuild.

What crisis really looks like for women and girls

Emergencies do not affect everyone equally. Crises magnify existing gender inequalities, often placing women and girls at the sharpest edge of danger. Global data shows that 47.8 million more women than men are experiencing hunger, a gap that widens in times of conflict or displacement. Sexual violence also increases sharply during crises, with women and girls making up the vast majority of survivors.

At the same time, women often bear disproportionate responsibility for caring for children, the elderly, and others within their community, all while being the last to access life‑saving services themselves. Maternal healthcare becomes harder to reach, livelihoods disappear, and education is often cut short with girls in conflict‑affected settings 2.5 times more likely to be out of school than their peers elsewhere.

Behind each of these statistics is a real woman, a mother keeping her family fed, a daughter navigating danger to continue her education, a grandmother holding a community together. Their stories remind us that, even in hardship, women are not passive victims of circumstance.

They are agents of change.

Women leading the way

When women are included in humanitarian action, outcomes improve for everyone. Caritas Australia’s research shows that over 85 percent of humanitarian workers believe gender‑diverse teams lead to more effective, inclusive responses.

Yet in many contexts, women’s voices remain under‑represented in decision‑making spaces, from local emergency committees to national peace processes. This gap represents not just an injustice but a missed opportunity.

Across Caritas Australia’s programs, we are thankful to see women stepping into leadership roles with remarkable impact as part of our programs. In 2024–25 alone, 11,018 women were supported to become leaders within their communities, women who now guide disaster responses, run local savings groups, support survivors of violence, and influence community planning.

 Hope made possible with your support

Thanks to generous supporters, Caritas Australia reached 2.34 million people across 30 countries last year, including nearly 800,000 direct participants. Gender equity is woven through this work, with 85 projects specifically advancing women’s rights and opportunities.

The results speak to the power of community and accompaniment. Women launched 7,801 small businesses, strengthening household income and independence. 42,619 people participated in gender equality and women's rights workshops, shifting attitudes and building safer communities. And 1,120 women and girls received counselling or support after experiencing violence, moments of healing made possible because someone, somewhere, chose to stand with them.

At Caritas Australia, we believe that when women thrive, their families and communities flourish alongside them. That is why gender equity is not a project on the side, it is embedded in more than 80 percent of our programming and central to our humanitarian response. Our approach is grounded in partnership, dignity, and the conviction that women must have the tools and the freedom to make decisions about their own lives.

Putting women at the centre

This International Women’s Day, we honour the courage and leadership of women facing the world’s greatest challenges. And we honour the supporters who walk with them, through giving, advocating, listening, and sharing their stories.

Every action, no matter how small, helps turn hardship into hope.

Thank you for believing in the strength of women and girls. Together, we can continue building a safer, fairer world for all.

Carolyn is a Non-executive Director and Chair of Finance, Audit, Risk and Investment Committees with extensive experience in finance, investments, Mergers & Acquisitions, and treasury. She currently serves on the boards of Caritas Australia, Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools, Defence Health Ltd, the Xavier College Foundation.