What to do in Lyon around International Women’s Rights Day?

This year, we're all mobilized for women's rights. And while the big event is March 8, International Women's Day and the famous march, a host of events are taking place between March 1 and April 16 to raise awareness!

Jeanne Ulhaq - Journalist • February 19, 2025

March 8 celebrates International Women’s Rights Day (not Women’s Day) around the world. Originating in the United States in the early 20th century, where women demonstrated for better working conditions and the right to vote, this tradition still applies today in the face of gender equality issues. In Lyon, a large-scale march is organized on D-Day, but many other events are also proposed throughout the month of March, and continue right through to April.

135 feminicides in 2024, according to the NousToutes collective

8 mars

While it’s not uncommon to hear doubts expressed about the usefulness of such a demonstration in France, where women and men have the same legal rights, feminist demands are nevertheless very useful. Here are a few key figures from France:

In 2025, 135 feminicides were committed.

The number of women who are victims of rape, attempted rape and/or sexual assault in the course of a year is estimated at almost 220,000.

In 2020, INSEE reported that men earn on average 28.5% more than women.

According to Oxfam, French women spend an average of 3 hours 26 minutes a day on domestic chores, compared with 2 hours for men.

In addition to these glaring disparities, March 8 is an opportunity to show solidarity with the struggle of women around the world.

Awareness-raising events for women’s rights starting on March 1

In addition to the traditional March 8 march, which generally starts in the afternoon at Place Bellecour, the city of Lyon has organized a number of activities.

To raise awareness of sexist and sexual violence in Lyon, various feminist events will be held throughout the city in March and April 2025. Meetings and discussions on gender issues, children’s workshops, urban walks, lectures by students from the Université Lumière Lyon 2, exhibitions and shows– all the players in Lyon working for equality will be offering activities open to all. Starting on March 1 at the Hôtel de Ville, a forum will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., as well as a training course on gender-based violence from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and a musical reading about Gisèle Halimi at 5:30 p.m. The full program is available here

Also on Lyon Secret: International Women’s Rights Day: 20 inspiring feminist quotes!