March Forward: Safety and Support for All, through Education and Training
Published on 7th of March 2025
International Women’s Day is more than a celebration – it’s a call to action. This year’s theme, March Forward, urges us to step beyond recognition and move towards tangible change. For DV-alert, March Forward means equipping frontline workers with the skills to Recognise, Respond, and Refer in situations of Domestic and Family Violence.
It means creating safer futures through education, awareness, and action.
To honour this theme, we’re amplifying the voices of those in the DV-alert network who are working tirelessly to create change. One such voice is Ingrid Perez-Macartney, an experienced training partner and passionate advocate for gender equality.
For Ingrid, March Forward means taking concrete steps toward gender equality, as she believes that gender inequality is the foundation of all gendered violence.
“Marching forward must challenge rigid sex-based stereotypes,” Ingrid says. “Sticking to these stereotypes results in more than half of our population being made vulnerable to gendered violence.”
Her advocacy highlights that gender equality is not just about rights - it’s about creating a world where no one is subjected to violence, discrimination, or exploitation because of their gender. Ingrid emphasises that dismantling systemic barriers, challenging patriarchal practices, and transforming entrenched inequities are all essential to achieving true equality. She also underscores the importance of elevating the voices of marginalised women, girls, and young people to foster empowerment and inclusivity.
Ingrid is a firm believer in the power of education and training, particularly through initiatives like DV-alert. She highlights how DV-alert’s training programs bring awareness to the gendered drivers of violence against women and girls, as well as the broader impacts of domestic and family violence on individuals and communities.
“Safety and support for all through education and training is the underlying theme throughout all of the DV-alert programs,” Ingrid explains. By equipping professionals such as teachers, nurses, social workers, and other frontline workers with practical skills, DV-alert creates a network of informed responders who can step in before situations escalate.
This International Women’s Day, we are reminded that real change starts with knowledge but must be followed by action. Training frontline workers ensures that more people have the skills and confidence to intervene when it matters most.
By amplifying voices like Ingrid’s, we reaffirm our commitment to safer futures for ALL women and girls. Because March Forward is not just a theme - it’s an empowerment to act.
Be Empowered to Act this International Women’s Day by attending DV-alert workshops.