Every year on March 8, International Women’s Day (IWD) reminds us of the power of collective action in advancing gender justice, equity, and human rights. This year’s theme, #AccelerateAction, urges us to go beyond raising awareness and commit to transformative change. It is a call to urgency, accountability, and solidarity—a recognition that justice cannot wait.
While we celebrate the progress made through feminist activism, we must also acknowledge the systemic violence and oppression that persist in Canada and globally. The ongoing crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit people (MMIWG2S), the realities of anti-Black racism, Islamophobia, colonialism, White supremacy, gender-based violence, anti-trans and anti-immigrant policies, and the intensification of genocidal violence and occupation all underscore the need for immediate and sustained action.
At the Feminist Institute of Social Transformation (FIST), we recognize that action must be intersectional, inclusive, and rooted in justice. The work of our faculty, students, and colleagues across disciplines is vital to creating spaces of learning, resistance, and transformation. We remain committed to teaching, research, and activism that center gender, sexuality, race, disability, and intersectional violence while actively working to dismantle oppressive systems in our classrooms, communities, and institutions.
Accelerating action means moving beyond conversation—it means funding feminist initiatives, demanding policy changes, protecting reproductive rights, supporting survivors, and challenging institutions to do better. It requires us to listen to those most affected, amplify their leadership, and create tangible pathways for justice. FIST is dedicated to fostering a world where women, girls, Two-Spirit, trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse people are not just included, but supported, protected, and empowered to thrive.