By Lenka Šťastná
Every year on 18 September, the United Nations marks International Equal Pay Day – a day that calls attention to the persistent global inequality in pay between women and men. It reminds us that despite progress, women everywhere still earn less than men for work of equal value.
For BPW International, this day has a very special meaning. More than a decade ago, BPW International became the founder of the Equal Pay Day movement, inspiring women around the globe to stand up for economic justice. Today, we are proud that many other organizations, governments, and partners have joined this effort, proving that a united movement can accelerate change.
BPW International: Leading the Global Movement
With affiliates in over 100 countries across five continents, BPW International is the most influential global organization advocating for pay equity. What began as a bold initiative has grown into the world’s largest and most impactful movement on equal pay, uniting thousands of women and allies in collective action.
BPW International’s strength lies in its diversity and scope of activities:
- Awareness and education through conferences, campaigns, and mentoring programs.
- Advocacy at the United Nations, European institutions, and national governments to make equal pay a legal and social reality.
- Building solidarity and leadership by connecting women across regions and empowering them to become changemakers in their communities.
We celebrate the fact that Equal Pay Day has spread far beyond BPW’s origins – yet BPW International remains its driving force, continuing to innovate, inspire, and amplify.
The Equal Pay Day Task Force
To coordinate this mission globally, BPW International established the Equal Pay Day Task Force, which works across all regions to strengthen our collective impact. The Task Force focuses on five key priorities:
- Sharing Best Practices – Mapping successful legislative and organizational models, creating a living knowledge base of tools like pay audits, benchmarking systems, and transparency mechanisms.
- Education & Capacity Building – Organizing webinars and workshops tailored to local realities, and developing a practical Equal Pay Campaign Toolkit.
- Advocacy & Public Policy Support – Issuing joint position statements, collaborating with global institutions to amplify our voice.
- Impact Measurement – Launching a Gender Pay Gap Scorecard with regional data, supporting members to adopt measurable indicators.
- Localization of Equal Pay Day – Expanding Equal Pay Day events to more countries, mentoring new organizers, coordinating a global Equal Pay Action Day.
By pursuing these priorities, the Task Force is creating a truly international movement that demonstrates the power of collective action.
A Call to Action: Your Voice Matters
Closing the gender pay gap is not only a matter of justice, dignity, and sustainable progress – it is also about respect. And it is not a challenge for institutions alone. Every individual has a role to play.
We invite you to:
- Speak up about pay inequality in your community.
- Share knowledge and experiences that inspire others to demand change.
- Support initiatives that advocate for transparency and fairness.
- Join BPW International’s Equal Pay Day movement to amplify our collective impact.
Together, our voices form a chorus too strong to be ignored.
Join Us
The journey to equal pay is far from over, but it is one we must walk together. On this International Equal Pay Day, let us commit not only to awareness, but to action. If you want to be part of this powerful global initiative, connect with us at:
Lenka Stastna
Chairperson Equal Pay Day Task Force, BPW International
