This is why they march

Before the international community came together at the Nairobi Summit on ICPD25, we learned a lot from the women and men, girls and boys who work every day to make rights and choices a reality in their communities – sometimes risking their lives, and always giving of themselves.

They were the ones braving explosions to deliver babies in humanitarian crises ... climbing mountains to bring contraceptives to remote places ... walking miles barefoot to persuade leaders to abandon female genital mutilation. The ones who make sure the people they care about have what they need to claim their rights. The ones with the courage to challenge inequality and violence, and to talk about the things no one else wants to talk about. 

They kept going – because there’s too much at stake for them to stop. This is why they marched to Nairobi.

Scores of people around the world used the hashtag #IMarchFor to join the conversation on social media – and shared their stories of action to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender equality and women’s empowerment in their communities.