Helen Pankhurst Calls for Urgent Action on Women’s Rights at King’s College London. She was delivering the keynote speech at London Daily’s International Women’s Day celebrations.
Helen Pankhurst, the renowned women’s rights activist and the great-granddaughter of suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst, delivered a powerful keynote speech at King’s College London, organised by London Daily in celebration of International Women’s Day. Speaking on this year’s theme, “Accelerate Action and Rising Women,” she addressed the challenges facing women today and the urgent need for continued activism.
Pankhurst began her speech with a stark warning: “We cannot ignore that right now, there is a pushback against women’s rights.” She highlighted the global rollback on reproductive rights, gender-based violence, and economic disparities, emphasizing that progress made over decades is now under threat. She urged society not to be complacent and called for immediate, collective action to counter these setbacks.
Wearing the colours purple, white, and green—historically associated with the suffragette movement—Pankhurst paid homage to her family’s legacy. Her great-grandmother, Emmeline Pankhurst, was a pioneering force in the UK’s fight for women’s voting rights, leading the Suffragette movement in the early 20th century.
The Reality: ‘Nothing Has Changed’
Pankhurst also highlighted her work with GM4Women, an organisation collecting data on women’s experiences in Greater Manchester over a ten-year period (2018–2028). Despite efforts to track progress, the findings are troubling. “As we analyse the data, which is largely qualitative, one thing stands out: Nothing has changed,” she revealed. Women continue to face barriers in employment, safety, and political representation, reinforcing the urgency of sustained advocacy.
Closing her speech, Pankhurst urged attendees to not only celebrate women’s achievements but to actively challenge the forces undermining gender equality. “It’s not enough to rise—we must accelerate action,” she declared, encouraging individuals, policymakers, and organisations to commit to meaningful change.
Following Pankhurst’s address, a panel discussion featured leading voices such as Parin Somani, Audrey Hingle, Kanwal Toor, Maithreyi Seetharaman, Jaya Pathak, and Prapti Dutt. The panel explored two themes: “Accelerate Action and Rising Women” and “City Women and the Challenges They Face.” It was moderated by Rajan Singh Nazran.
Maithreyi Seetharaman warned of an alarming trend, stating, “If the trend of pushing back on women’s growth continues, then we are going to see a re-masculinisation of the industry. The only generation that truly believes in female leadership are the boomers, and if this belief is not passed on, we will see a decline in the number of women in leadership roles.”
Parin Somani emphasized the power of self-belief, saying, “The reason we are going backward is because we do not believe in ourselves.” She shared her inspiring journey of resilience, overcoming severe health crises to author 23 books.
Jaya Pathak reflected on the challenges she faced in her career, noting, “When I grew up dreaming to work on human rights, I did not find a lot of women leaders as my role models, and the conversations around the subject were difficult.”
Kanwal Toor urged change at a foundational level, stating, “Charity begins at home; tell your sons to be better persons first.” Audrey Hingle called for more inclusivity in technical fields, saying, “There should be more women trained in the technical industry.”
Prapti Dutt highlighted the struggles of decision-making as a woman, asserting, “For women, choices do not come easy, but I did myself a favor and chose myself.” The discussion underscored the pressing need for continued advocacy, mentorship, and systemic change to ensure women’s progress is not stalled. As Pankhurst and the panelists emphasized, the path to true equality requires both action and unwavering commitment to change.
