Since 1911, International Women's Day has been celebrated worldwide on 8 March to draw attention to the rights of women and girls. Despite numerous advances, gender-specific inequalities continue to exist - for example in wages, political participation, the distribution of care work or being affected by violence. Every year, International Women's Day reminds us that equal opportunities, equal opportunities and social participation cannot be taken for granted and that these achievements are also under constant pressure in the university context. This is precisely why this day is an occasion not only to honour achievements, but also to draw attention to current challenges.

Lisi Maier and Dr Arn Sauer (Directorate of the Federal Foundation for Equal Opportunities) formulate the significance of International Women's Day as follows:

Developing new visions for a gender-equal life for all is what 8 March stands for! Taking responsibility for the future and shaping structural change processes with a focus on gender equality is essential for a just and democratic society. ^[1]

At a time of increasing social polarisation, universities are confronted with new areas of tension. Researchers, students and staff are increasingly reporting attacks on academic freedom, personal hostility and attempts to delegitimise academic work or social engagement. Women in particular, whose lives are characterised by several structural disadvantages, are often affected by this - whether through digital attacks, public defamation or structural discrimination.

At the DFG's anniversary event on 1 July 2025, DFG President Professor Dr. Katja Becker pointed to international developments that are increasingly threatening academic freedom and the safety of researchers worldwide:

Institutions and projects are losing their funding, countless researchers are losing their employment and international researchers and students are losing their residence permits. The Orwellian eradication of key terms and the seemingly arbitrary cancellation of funding serve as an instrument for exercising power. The independence of science is systematically restricted, its integrity deliberately undermined and its principles instrumentalised for political purposes [...] Independent research is massively restricted; one might almost say: expelled and persecuted. ^[2]

[Unfortunately, we are also seeing increasing hostility towards science in this country. Colleagues from all disciplines and members of the DFG tell us about this. Climate and biodiversity research are just as affected as many humanities, social and cultural sciences and even medicine. The attacks are by no means limited to social media; they affect us here and now. ^[3]

These developments therefore not only affect individuals, but also the university as a place of critical thinking and open debate as a whole. If personal rights are violated or academic positions are put under pressure, this represents a challenge for the entire academic community.

International Women's Day is therefore also a call for solidarity and shared responsibility. We need spaces where experiences can be heard and structures that provide protection, support and visibility. At the same time, there needs to be strong networking between the different status groups at the university: students, academic staff, professors and employees in technology and administration.

"[T]he organisations and institutions of the academic system [must] stand even closer together, as is the case with the Alliance. Together and at an early stage, they must take preventative measures at an institutional level against anti-democratic and anti-constitutional interference in academic freedom and the instrumentalisation of academic self-administration. This applies to ideologically motivated influence on the choice of research topics and methods as well as on funding decisions. To this end, it is not only necessary to ensure the standards of good academic practice. Rather, the mechanisms of scientific self-administration, in particular the electoral, business and procedural rules of its committees, must also be scrutinised for crisis resistance and, if necessary, better protected. In order not to thwart this approach, it is important that the committees develop and implement these protection concepts and preventive measures independently." ^[4]

The demand for an open, democratic and non-discriminatory academic landscape is not only clearly advocated by individual institutions, but also by central organisations of the German academic system. The management of GESIS emphasises this:

'The institute management of GESIS is committed to democracy, diversity and an open society and opposes anti-democratic endeavours as well as discrimination, particularly on the basis of ethnic origin or racial grounds, gender or sexual identity, religion or ideology, disability or age.' ^[5]

The German Rectors' Conference also underlines the fundamental importance of democratic framework conditions for research and teaching in a press release dated 23 January 2024 "Science needs liberal democracy and the rule of law" ^[6]

Against the backdrop of increasingly blatant anti-democratic endeavours and the associated contempt for humanity, we clearly and unambiguously emphasise that liberal democracy and the rule of law are the immovable pillars of our country and its institutions. They are also essential prerequisites for the existence of a competitive and internationally compatible German higher education system. ^[7]

[We] should [...] also strengthen our individual resilience as scientists. After all, hostility towards science can also affect us personally, in the form of destructive criticism and belittling of research results, insults and threats or even physical violence. That is why we need to develop concrete protection concepts and anchor them structurally with clear responsibilities - be it in acute assistance for affected individuals and institutions, be it for support in lengthy legal proceedings or be it in the very personal strengthening of inner resilience. ^[8]

The Alliance of Scientific Organisations in Germany emphasises:

'For the future viability of our country, we must build on an open society and a strong democracy. ^[9]

Joint dialogue is crucial in order to identify challenges and develop sustainable solutions. Change cannot be imposed "from above" alone. Rather, an open bottom-up process is needed that includes perspectives from all areas and all status groups at the university. This is the only way to develop measures that reflect the actual experiences and needs of university members.

Solidarity is now the order of the day. The German Research Foundation stands firmly by the side of threatened and persecuted researchers - and we are committed to academic freedom, openness to the world and, of course, equal opportunities worldwide. ^[10]

The fundamental values emphasised in the above statements - democracy, diversity, openness and a resolute stance against discrimination - form the basis for the advancement of women in science, academia and society. When academic institutions take a clear stance in favour of an open and pluralistic society, they also create the structural and cultural conditions for genuine equal opportunities.

The advancement of women in the university context is therefore much more than a question of individual career development. It is a central component of an efficient, innovative and internationally compatible academic landscape. Different perspectives and experiences enrich research processes, strengthen the quality of scientific knowledge and contribute to an open academic discourse.

International Women's Day is therefore an opportunity both to highlight the progress that has been made and to emphasise the ongoing task of actively shaping equal opportunities. The empowerment of women in science and academic institutions is closely linked to the commitment to democratic values, diversity and an open society - principles to which the German scientific landscape is expressly committed.