“The future of democracy is written not only in ballots, but in the courage of women who refuse silence.”
As the world marks the International Day of Democracy 2025 under the theme “From Voice to Action,” one truth rings clear: the story of democracy is incomplete without women. For generations, women across continents have pushed against barriers of exclusion, prejudice, and systemic silencing. Today, their presence as presidents, prime ministers, ministers, and grassroots organizers is not just symbolic, it is the oxygen that sustains inclusive governance.
From Struggles to Seats of Power
The journey has not been easy. Democracy has never been gender-neutral. For centuries, women were denied the most basic democratic right, the vote. When suffragists in the United States, United Kingdom, and beyond took to the streets in the early 20th century, they were dismissed, mocked, and jailed. In many countries, it took until the late 20th or even early 21st century for women to legally cast ballots.
Running for office was an even harder battle. Women who dared to enter politics were branded as unfeminine, ridiculed, or subjected to violence. Even today, women leaders face online abuse, harassment, and systemic challenges meant to silence them. Yet, women have refused to step back. Every milestone reached, from voting rights to presidencies, is a testimony to resilience.
Women at the Helm: Voices into Action
In 2025, the global stage is witnessing women not just as participants, but as drivers of democratic transformation.
- Claudia Sheinbaum: President of Mexico, made history as the country’s first woman president, a landmark moment in a nation where women’s rights have long been contested. Her leadership embodies the shift from token representation to real governance.
- Dina Boluarte: President of Peru, stepped into power amid political turmoil, showing resilience in navigating one of Latin America’s most fragile democracies. Her presence is a reminder of how women stabilize democracies in moments of crisis.
- Giorgia Meloni: Italy’s first female Prime Minister, broke through Europe’s deeply entrenched political traditions, demonstrating that women can redefine conservative politics while commanding global influence.
- Mette Frederiksen: Prime Minister of Denmark, represents one of Europe’s youngest female leaders, combining pragmatism with progressive governance, proof that youth and gender are not limitations but assets in democracy.
- Samia Suluhu Hassan: President of Tanzania, continues to break barriers as the first woman to hold the office in her country. Her tenure underscores how women bring inclusivity and reform to African democracies.
- Maia Sandu: President of Moldova, has become a symbol of integrity and resilience, steering her nation through geopolitical turbulence while standing firm for democratic values against authoritarian pressures.
- Halla Tómasdóttir: President of Iceland, embodies a democracy that values equality, representing a country consistently ranked as one of the most gender-equal in the world. Her leadership is proof of how inclusive governance deepens democratic culture.
- Victoire Tomégah-Dogbé: Prime Minister of Togo, is a trailblazer as the first woman in her nation to hold this role. She symbolizes progress in West Africa, where women are steadily breaking through political ceilings.
- Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah: Namibia’s Vice President-elect, is poised to become the country’s first female head of state. Her journey reflects decades of persistence and advocacy in a system where women once had no seat at the table.
- Evelyn Wever-Croes: Prime Minister of Aruba, has led with a steady hand, balancing governance with advocacy for small-island resilience and women’s empowerment.
- Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila: Prime Minister of Namibia, stands as one of Africa’s longest-serving female prime ministers, proving that women’s leadership is not an exception but a democratic necessity.
These women are not exceptions, they are trailblazers, carrying the legacy of generations who fought for space in democracy.
Challenges Still Standing
Despite these victories, challenges remain. Globally, women hold just 26.5% of parliamentary seats, and only 13 countries are led by women heads of state (Inter-Parliamentary Union, 2025). Violence against women in politics remains pervasive, often deterring young aspirants from running for office. Financial barriers, unequal access to media platforms, and deep-seated patriarchal norms continue to limit progress.
Yet, women have proven that each obstacle overcome becomes a stepping stone for the next generation. Where they were once silenced, they now legislate. Where they were excluded, they now lead.
From Voice to Action: The Women’s Imperative
The theme of this year’s International Day of Democracy, “From Voice to Action,” carries profound meaning for women. For decades, their voices were dismissed as background noise. Today, those voices shape constitutions, influence global policy, and bring nations back from the brink of collapse. But democracy will remain incomplete until women move from being “included” to being “indispensable.”
From Sheinbaum’s Mexico to Suluhu Hassan’s Tanzania, from Sandu’s Moldova to Wever-Croes’ Aruba, women are demonstrating that democracy is not just about electoral rituals, but about inclusive action that delivers justice, equity, and opportunity.
A Call to Action from Amazons Watch Magazine
At Amazons Watch Magazine, we believe that the International Day of Democracy is not only a moment of reflection but a rallying cry.
We call on the world to honor the women who turned whispers into thunder, those who stood at ballot boxes not just to cast votes, but to defend them. Those who sat at negotiation tables to demand peace. Those who, against all odds, proved that politics is not a man’s game but humanity’s calling.
Democracy cannot survive on voice alone; it must act. And across the globe, that action will never be complete until women not only speak but lead, legislate, and transform nations.
The story of democracy is incomplete without the women who dared to rewrite it. Their courage reminds us, and inspires us, that the future of democracy is not male, not female, but inclusive, equitable, and just.
At Amazons Watch, we stand with these women. We amplify their voices. And we affirm that democracy without women is no democracy at all.
Comments are closed.