Category Archives: WOMEN’S EQUALITY

Women, Peace and Security Index 2025-2026

. WOMEN’S EQUALITY . .

Sections on individual indicators from the Women, Peace and Security Index 2025-2026

Indicator performance has improved little since the 2023/24 WPS Index

Inclusion indicators

With the exception of some high performers, women’s average years of schooling
remain alarmingly low. The global average for the education indicator (average
number of years of schooling for women ages 25 and older) stands at 8.4
years, four years short of completing secondary education in most countries. The top performers, where women receive over 12 years of schooling on average, are countries classified as high income and with very high Human Development Index rankings. Low-income and low Human Development Index countries rank at the bottom on this indicator, with just over three years of schooling. The Sub-Saharan Africa region and the Fragile
States group score at the bottom, with an average of 5.3 years of schooling.
On average, girls in 33 countries receive less than five years of schooling.


The United States and Germany are tied for the highest average years
of schooling, at 14, while Somalia, classified as a Fragile State, has the
lowest average, at 0.9 year. The Middle East and North Africa region has
the widest range of performance on this indicator, from 13.4 years in the
United Arab Emirates to 0.9 year in Somalia. Lebanon is the best performing among the Fragile States group, with roughly 13.1 years of schooling, the only country in that group to place in the top quintile for this indicator.

Sub-Saharan Africa performs exceedingly well on women’s employment, while
the Middle East and North Africa and South Asia perform poorly. The global
average for the employment indicator (the percentage of women ages 25–64
who are employed) is 56 percent, ranging from 24 percent of women
employed in the Middle East and North Africa region to 73 percent in
the Developed Countries group. A close second is Sub-Saharan Africa,
at 71 percent. Iceland is the only country in the Developed Countries
group that ranks in the top 10 on women’s employment. However, the
range across countries in the group is narrow, with most countries ranking
high on employment even if they are not in the top 10. Burundi, classified
as a Fragile State, is tied as the highest-ranking country in the world on this
indicator, with roughly 90 percent of women employed. Half of the 10 top-ranked countries on this indicator are in Sub-Saharan Africa (Burundi, Tanzania, Nigeria, Benin, and Togo), including two classified as Fragile States (Burundi and Nigeria). São Tomé and Principe is the only country in that region with fewer than a third of women employed.

While high rates of employment are an important indicator of women’s status, the global datasets we use do not capture working conditions and unpaid care burdens that women manage (see appendix 1 for details on the data sources we use). For example, highest-ranking Burundi has the largest share of women (roughly 95 percent) employed in the informal economy, especially in agriculture. Employment may also not translate
into higher standards of living; almost two-thirds of Burundi’s population
lives below the 2017 poverty line of $2.15 a day, nearly the same share as
eight years ago when the inaugural WPS Index was produced. While most
Burundian women work in small-scale farming jobs, men are more likely
to work in higher revenue-generating industrial agricultural enterprises.
Thus, the concentration of women’s employment in the informal sector is
evidence of the continuing need to improve women’s inclusion, even as
women’s high employment rates represent gains in their status and social
acceptance of women’s employment.

The Middle East and North Africa is the worst-performing region, with more than three in four women unemployed. Low labor force participation by women reflects a combination of structural and legal barriers— such as slow industrialization, male-dominated oil economies, discriminatory family laws, and lack of childcare or maternity support—that restrict both the supply of and demand for women’s labor. These barriers are reinforced by high unemployment among educated women, weak private sector job creation, and persistent patriarchal norms that discourage women’s employment. South Asia is the second-worst performing region and, along with the Middle East and North Africa, the only region where fewer than half of women are employed (39 percent). Despite some favorable laws, women’s low employment in South Asia reflects a lack of supportive infrastructure, such as childcare, eldercare, safe transport, inclusive workplaces, and re-entry opportunities, combined with education gaps, limited access to finance, and restrictive social norms.

Minor changes in other indicators of inclusion. The global average for cellphone
use (percentage of women and girls ages 15 or older who report having a
cellphone) increased from 80 percent in the 2023/24 WPS Index to 84 percent. The Developed Countries group is the best performing, at 96 percent, and South Asia is the worst performing, at roughly 65 percent, up from 55 percent in the 2023/24 WPS Index. In seven countries, less than half of women report having their own cellphone (Chad, Ethiopia, Niger, Afghanistan, Madagascar, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and
Pakistan). As mentioned, Pakistan is the only country in which fewer
than a third of women have their own cellphone.

Globally, average parliamentary representation (percentage of parliamentary seats held by women) declined slightly, from 26 percent in 2023/24 to 24 percent. The Latin America and the Caribbean region performs best, with women filling roughly 33 percent of parliamentary seats on average. South Asia is the worst-performing region, at roughly 16 percent, displacing the Middle East and North Africa, whose score improved from 15 percent in the 2023/24 WPS Index to 18 percent.

There are limited updates to the financial inclusion indicator (percentage of women and girls ages 15 years or older with an account at a financial institution). The Middle East and North Africa region performs worst on this
indicator, at 28 percent. The average rate for the Fragile States group, which
was the worst-performing region in the 2023 Index, has remained the same
(34 percent). In six countries worldwide, less than 10 percent of women have
access to their own bank account: South Sudan, Afghanistan, Yemen,
Burundi, Djibouti, and Central African Republic. South Sudan is the
lowest-ranking country globally on this indicator, with only 4 percent of
women having access to their own bank account. Eight of the ten bottomranking countries on this indicator are classified as Fragile States. The exceptions are Pakistan, at 14 percent, and Djibouti, at 9 percent.

Justice indicators

Mixed performances on barriers to justice. The global score on absence of legal
discrimination (a measure of the differences between men’s and women’s legal access to economic opportunities, from 0, worst, to 100, best)
improved slightly, from 75.7 on the 2023/24 WPS Index to 76.1. Fourteen
countries have a perfect score of 100, all except one (Latvia) in the Developed Countries group. Seven of the bottom dozen countries on this indicator are classified as Fragile States, and all except one of these Fragile States (Afghanistan) are in the Middle East and North Africa region, which is the worst-performing region on this indicator on the current WPS Index (as it was on the 2023/24 WPS Index).

Performance ranges widely on the related access to justice indicator (an ordinal measure of women’s ability to enjoy equal, secure, and effective access
to justice, from 0, worst, to 4, best). Denmark once again ranks highest on
the indicator, with a score of 3.958, more than 40 times higher than bottomranking Nicaragua, with a score of .097. Nicaragua displaced Afghanistan,
which was the lowest performer on this indicator in the 2023/24 WPS Index.
Nicaragua’s score plunged 85 percent from its score of .659 on the 2023/24
WPS Index, a large drop that may reflect the deterioration of judicial independence following the February 2025 constitutional reforms driven by President Daniel Ortega. These included eliminating the separation of powers and positioning the judiciary branch under direct executive influence of the new co-presidency of President Ortega and his wife. Key legal protections have been removed, including references to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the prohibition against gender-based wage discrimination. Women face heightened risks, and dissenters are threatened with loss
of citizenship. Afghanistan also deteriorated on the access to justice indicator, with its score falling from .372 on the 2023/24 WPS Index to .160.

Eight of the ten highest-ranking countries on the access to justice indicator are in the Developed Countries group, whose average score on this
indicator is 3.5. No other region has an average above 2.2. The second-best
performing regions are Latin America and the Caribbean and SubSaharan Africa, tied with an average score of 2.2. Latin America and the Caribbean’s improved standing may be explained by the almost 5 percent rise in its average score for this indicator from the 2023/24 WPS Index, together with declines in scores for Central and Eastern Europe and
Central Asia, East Asia and the Pacific, and South Asia. Countries in
the Latin America and the Caribbean region also have the widest range of
scores on this indicator, with best performing Costa Rica (3.540) scoring 36
times higher than worst-performing Nicaragua (.097).

The Fragile States group performs worst overall on the access to justice
indicator, with a score of 1.8, followed closely by the Middle East and
North Africa. The average score for the Middle East and North Africa,
the lowest ranked region on this indicator in the 2023/24 WPS Index,
rose from 1.7 to 1.9. The increase reflects improvements in several countries’ scores, including Egypt (up 37 percent), Algeria (17 percent), Qatar
(12 percent), Palestine (11 percent), Yemen (4 percent, and no longer in
the bottom 10 countries for this indicator), and Iraq (2 percent, and no
longer in the bottom 20).

It makes intuitive sense that the absence of legal discrimination and
access to justice indicators are strongly connected, since few formal legal
protections for women would typically mean that women also have a limited ability to safely pursue justice (and vice versa). Figure 6.3 visualizes
the normalized scores of these two justice indicators, with the overlapping
patterns reaffirming the positive relation between them. Nonetheless, there
are some outlier countries that score high on one indicator and low on
the other. As on the 2023/24 WPS Index, Nicaragua and El Salvador
have high scores on the absence of legal discrimination (86.3 and 88.8,
respectively) indicator but low scores on access to justice (.097 and .792,
respectively).

Worsening conflict and aid cuts threaten to undo gains in the maternal mortality ratio. The global average maternal mortality ratio (an indicator of mothers’ risk of death from a single pregnancy) improved from 212 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023/24 to approximately 188. Nigeria has the highest maternal mortality ratio in the world, with 993 deaths per 100,000 live births.

Belarus and Norway continue to have the lowest maternal mortality ratio, improving to 1 death per 100,000 live births. The Developed Countries group performs the best on this indicator, with an average of 10 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. The United States has the worst maternal mortality ratio among countries in the Developed Countries group (box 6.1).

The Fragile States group has the highest maternal mortality ratio among regions, with an average of 457 deaths per 100,000 live births. Seven of the ten lowest-ranking countries on this indicator are classified as Fragile States, and five of these are in Sub-Saharan Africa. Recent research also reaffirms that armed conflict is associated with increases in maternal and child deaths globally. For instance, research focusing on the Tigray region of Ethiopia found that maternal outcomes deteriorate severely in rural areas during wartime, likely due to disruptions in healthcare infrastructure.

(continued in right column)

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Prospects for progress in women’s equality, what are the short and long term prospects?

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However, since the 2023/24 WPS Index, maternal mortality ratios have
improved for both the Sub-Saharan Africa region (down from 507 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births to 437) and the Fragile States group
(down from 540 to 457). South Sudan, which was the worst-performing
country on this indicator in the 2023/24 WPS Index, with 1,223 maternal
deaths per 100,000 live births, has nearly halved that number to 692. South
Sudan’s improvement may be attributed to the gradual increase in midwife
training throughout the country, supported by organizational efforts such
as the establishment of the Catholic Health Training Institute in 2010
and UNFPA support of mobile health clinics and community outreach programs that provide perinatal care. Additional efforts are ongoing, with
the World Health Organization (WHO) and South Sudan’s Ministry of
Health collaborating in 2024 to develop guidelines and training resources
on maternal health for healthcare workers.

Despite substantial progress over the past two decades, the WHO reported
that Sub-Saharan Africa, grappling with high rates of poverty and multiple
armed conflicts, still accounted for about 70 percent of maternal deaths
worldwide in 2023. Recent maternal mortality data also reveal the detrimental impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, with an estimated 40,000 more
deaths in 2021 than in 2020, driven by health complications from Covid-19
and widespread disruptions to maternity services, underscoring the need
to maintain essential care during crises such as pandemics. Global maternal mortality ratios began to improve in the two years after the pandemic,
returning to the falling trend of earlier years.

Globally, maternal deaths dropped 40 percent between 2000 and 2023,
but progress has slowed notably since 2016, with almost one woman dying
every two minutes in 2023 from pregnancy- or childbirth-related complications. And now there is a risk of reversals, as deep cuts in humanitarian funding in 2025 are severely undermining maternal and child health
services. In many areas, maternal and child health facilities have closed,
the number of health workers has declined, and supply chains for lifesaving medicines have been disrupted.

Especially at risk are women in countries that are heavily dependent on
humanitarian assistance, such as those classified as Fragile States, where
maternal mortality ratios are already high. For instance, a 2025 UN report
estimated that the likelihood of maternal death is 400 times greater in
Sub-Saharan Africa than in Australia and New Zealand. The highest risks are in countries ranked the worst on the maternal mortality ratio
indicator: Nigeria (181st), Chad (180th), Central African Republic
(178th tie), South Sudan (178th tie), Liberia (177th), Somalia (176th),
and Afghanistan (175th). Researchers at Stanford University have estimated that reductions in development assistance to low-resource countries that last five years or longer can reverse 64 percent of the progress in
maternal mortality. Health and dignity are not only basic human rights,
but they are also central to women’s participation and protection under the
WPS Agenda. Urgent and sustained action is needed from all countries to
preserve and increase the gains in maternal mortality.

Security indicators

Despite some improvements, less than two-thirds of women worldwide report
feeling safe walking at night in their communities. Community safety (the percentage of women who report feeling safe walking alone at night in their
community) has improved slightly, rising from 64 percent globally on the
2023/24 WPS Index to 66 percent. But that means more than one-third of
women feel unsafe walking alone at night in their communities. Singapore is the highest-ranking country on this indicator, with 97 percent of
women feeling safe walking alone at night, while Syrian Arab Republic
is the lowest-ranking country at 17 percent—and the only country where
fewer than one in four women feels safe walking alone at night.

Among regions, East Asia and the Pacific again performs best, with
84 percent of women reporting feeling safe walking in their community at
night (compared with 83 percent in the 2023/24 WPS Index), while Latin
America and the Caribbean again performs worst, at 42 percent (40 percent in 2023/24). El Salvador is the only country in the Latin America and
the Caribbean region to score above the global average, with 85 percent
of women reporting that they feel safe walking alone at night. In 16 of 27
countries in the region, more than half the women report feeling unsafe
walking alone at night.

In 31 of the 37 countries classified as Fragile States, fewer than two-thirds of women feel safe walking alone at night. In a majority of countries
(23) in the Sub-Saharan Africa region, that share shrinks to fewer than
half. Syrian Arab Republic has the worst performance globally on this
indicator, with less than a quarter of women feeling safe walking alone at
night. The second-worst performers on the community safety indicator are
South Africa and Afghanistan, at 25 percent each. In Afghanistan, the
Taliban continues to restrict women’s mobility, including prohibitions on
visiting parks and even health centers.

Community safety is one of the few indicators on which the Developed Countries group does not perform best. Its score of 65 percent puts it behind the East Asia and the Pacific region, at 84. Nine countries in the Developed Countries group are below the global average of 66 percent: Israel (63 percent), Canada (63 percent), Belgium (63 percent), the United States (58 percent), Malta (56 percent), Australia (52 percent), Greece (51 percent), New Zealand (47 percent), and Italy (44 percent). Just behind the Developed Countries group are the Middle East and North Africa and South Asia regions, both at just under 65 percent. Eleven countries in the Middle East and North Africa score above the global average on community safety, with more than two-thirds of women
feeling safe walking alone at night.

Perceptions of community safety also vary within countries, with vulnerable groups often feeling more unsafe. For instance, a 2024 study for
Brazil found that perceptions of safety among women have deteriorated
more in rural areas than in urban areas, especially for non-White populations, a finding the study links to an erosion of trust in police services.
In the United States, there is a notable racial difference in perceptions of
safety, with fewer than half of Black women (46 percent) feeling safe walking alone at night, compared with 58 percent of women overall. Only
two-thirds of Black women in the United States believe they would be
treated fairly or with respect by local police, and one-fourth report having
experienced discriminatory treatment in the past year, higher than that of
Black men (one-fifth).

Political violence targeting women shows little improvement. Globally, political violence targeting women (violent and politically motivated events targeting women) improved from 0.080 event per 100,000 women in the 2023/24 WPS Index to 0.070 event in the current one. While this indicator captures “the use of force by a group with a political purpose or motivation” in targeting women (physical violence or attempt at physical violence), it does not capture the full scope of political violence targeting women. For instance, it does not include intimidation, threats, or online or technologyfacilitated gender-based violence, all of which can have serious implications for women’s safety and their ability to participate in politics and in peace and security efforts.

The Latin America and the Caribbean region continues to have
the highest rate of political violence targeting women, despite a reduction from 0.381 event per 100,000 women on the 2023/24 WPS Index to
0.338 on the current one. The region also has the second-highest share of
women living in proximity to conflict (up from 44 percent to 47 percent).
When considered along with the region’s performance at the bottom of
the regional rankings on community safety, these results reinforce the
relationship between feelings of safety at the local level and instability
at the societal level. The second-worst performing region on this indicator is the Fragile States group, at 0.212 event per 100,000 women. The
Middle East and North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa regions performed slightly better, at roughly 0.130 event per 100,000 women. The
other country groups have an average rate ranging from 0.006 event
per 100,000 women (Developed Countries) to roughly 0.020 for three
regions (Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia, East Asia
and the Pacific, and South Asia).

Seven of the ten bottom-ranking countries on the political violence targeting women indicator are in the Latin America and the Caribbean region,
and only one of those (Haiti) is classified as a Fragile State. Trinidad and
Tobago is the worst-performing country globally on this indicator, with
3.017 events per 100,000 women. The next lowest ranked country is Belize,
with 1.452 events, which makes Trinidad and Tobago an outlier on this
indicator. Trinidad and Tobago has a history of high rates of political violence targeting women, with 8 events per 100,000 women in the 2019/20
WPS Index, rising nearly fourfold to 23 events in the 2023/24 WPS Index.
That large increase may be related to the island country’s very small population, intensifying gang violence that led the government to declare a state
of emergency in December 2024, and the second-highest score worldwide
on a measure of the geographic diffusion of conflict.

Eleven countries in the Fragile States group have 0.000 reported events
of political violence targeting women, a hopeful sign that such violence
can be controlled even in contexts of fragility and conflict. Kosovo’s rate
of 0.000 events may reflect targeted interventions and women’s leadership. For instance, discussions on political violence targeting women and
its consequences for women’s representation were spurred in Kosovo by
initiatives such as the EmPOWER Local Women Politicians Program, a
capacity-building program sponsored by the Organization for Security and
Co-operation in Europe that offers leadership workshops, civic engagement
opportunities, and cross-party collaboration for women in politics. As a
result of such efforts, women parliamentarians led their fellow lawmakers
in developing and endorsing an official declaration in 2024 that calls for
accountability and the safeguarding of women’s full participation in electoral spheres.35
Despite these positive signs, women in 94 countries are still subjected
to political violence. They range from the United Kingdom, with 0.003
event per 100,000 women, to five countries (Palestine, Cameroon,
Jamaica, Belize, and Trinidad and Tobago) where events exceed 1 per
100,000 women.

Finally, political violence targeting women does not affect all women in
the same way or to the same degree, and a lack of reporting does not necessarily mean a lack of occurrence. The United States is an example of how
these limitations can affect our understanding of this indicator. The country’s score on this indicator fell from 0.025 event per 100,000 women in the
2023/24 WPS Index to 0.006 in the current one. However, a recent study
found high levels of political violence targeting women during the 2024
US election cycle, with Black women 7 times more likely to be targeted by
hate speech than Black men, 3 times more likely than White women, and
18 times more likely than White men.

(Editor’s note: Cuba was one of 18 countries that were not included in their report because data was lacking on several indicators. Elsewhere in the report, it is noted that Cuba, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Rwanda are the only countries with more than 50% women in parliament. Other countries not listed come from the Caribbean (6), Pacific Islands (2), tiny European states (4), tiny Asian states (2). Also North Korea, Eritrea and Equatorial Guinea.)

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global, WOMEN'S EQUALITY

Lifetime premieres Peace Peace Now Now, a documentary series about women’s resistance in Latin America

. . WOMEN’S EQUALITY . .

An article from Prensario (translated by CPNN)

The production, which consists of four episodes filmed in Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, and Mexico with Daniela Vega, Yalitza Aparicio, Shirley Manson, and Ester Expósito. The premiere is scheduled for Sunday, March 8, coinciding with International Women’s Day.


Interview with protagonists of Peace Peace Now Now

The pay television channel Lifetime presented the documentary miniseries Peace Peace Now Now, a work that compiles testimonies from women who survived armed conflicts and situations of structural violence in Latin America. The production uses a narrative format where figures from film and music introduce stories of resistance and processes of seeking justice in the region.

The series is divided into four episodes, each focused on a country and a specific social issue:

Chile: Hosted by singer Shirley Manson, the episode addresses the story of La Cueca Sola. The story describes the organization of women who, after the disappearance of their relatives during the military dictatorship, transformed the national dance into a tool for public denunciation and remembrance.

(Click here for the original article in Spanish)

Questions related to this article:
 
Do women have a special role to play in the peace movement?

(article continued from left column)

Colombia: Actress Daniela Vega, who also serves as executive producer, presents the story of La Ciudad de las Mujeres (The City of Women) in Turbaco. This segment details the founding of a community built by women displaced by the conflict between guerrillas and paramilitary groups.

Guatemala: Guided by Yalitza Aparicio, the episode focuses on the Grandmothers of Sepur Zarco. The content documents the journey of Indigenous women survivors of slavery and sexual violence during the civil war, who initiated legal processes to obtain historical reparations.

Mexico: Actress Ester Expósito accompanies journalist Lydia Cacho. The episode explores the consequences of her investigations into child trafficking networks and the persecution that led to her exile.

The episodes were directed by an all-female team comprised of Javiera García Huidobro (Chile), Ignacia Matus (Colombia), Pepa San Martín (Guatemala), and Isabel Coixet (Mexico). The production was a global success, handled by BlackStar and Alto Andes Films. Regarding distribution on content platforms, the network confirmed the following schedule:

Episodes 1 and 2 are available on VOD systems starting March 1.

Episodes 3 and 4 will be available on the same platform starting March 8.

The series will remain in On Demand catalogs until April 30.

Following its linear broadcast, the production will be added to History’s official YouTube channel.

This technical and editorial initiative by Lifetime seeks to document collective responses to contexts of oppression and inequality, using television as a record of human rights in the Americas.

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Latin America, WOMEN'S EQUALITY

International Women’s Day: East Europe

. WOMEN’S EQUALITY . .

A press survey by CPNN

Here are the results from East Europe:

BELARUS


Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s address to Belarusian women on International Women’s Day: March 8 is not a gentle spring holiday. It is a struggle for the right to be safe. For the right to true equality in society, the right to hold leadership positions, to receive equal pay with men, and the freedom not to conform to anyone else’s standards. For the right to have a voice that cannot be silenced. Belarusian women have repeatedly shown that they will not stay silent. You have taken to the streets, defended each other, and refused to be broken. (According to Wikipedia, Sviatlana Hieorhiyeuna Tsikhanouskaya is a Belarusian opposition leader and political activist. Since running in the 2020 presidential election against President Alexander Lukashenko, she has led dissidence to his authoritarian rule through an alternate government operating from Lithuania and Poland.

GEORGIA


A week dedicated to International Women’s Day was held at European University. The main goal of the initiative was to raise awareness about issues related to women’s rights, health, and well-being.

HUNGARY


International women’s day in Budapest, Hungary: video of demonstration. The placade “LE A PATRIARCHATJSSAL” means “DOWN WITH PATRIARCHY3.

LATVIA


Video: “We don’t want flowers, we want safety” – these and other slogans were agreed upon by both women and many men participating at the women’s solidarity march organized by the association “Centrs Marta” on March 8th in Rīga. They emphasized that women’s rights to be fully equal to men’s and that protection from violence remains a pressing issue. See video here.

RUSSIAN FEDERATION


A festive concert dedicated to International Women’s Day was held at the Majalis Village Cultural Center in the Kaytag District of Dagestan. The concert opened with a dance performance by students from the Rodnichok kindergarten. A choreography group from the children’s art school then performed an Ossetian dance.

Question related to this article:
 
International Women’s Day

RUSSIAN PRESIDENT PUTIN


In the edited address for International Women’s Day., Putin praised women for their ability to “captivate with beauty and charm while also showing diligence, determination and resilience.” “A generous, compassionate and truly wise feminine soul makes the world a better and kinder place, and a mother’s love remains in every person’s heart for life,” he said.

SERBIA


Minister of Defence Bratislav Gašić presented personal gifts to 150 female members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces at a ceremony marking International Women’s Day – March 8, held at the Guard Club in Topčider.

SLOVENIA


Lukadakskobler: International Women’s Day protest in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on March 8, 2026. The banner “NE BOMO DELALE ZA VASE VOJNE” means “WE WILL NOT WORK FOR YOUR WARS;”

UKRAINE


Ukrainian stars such as Masha Efrosinina, Jamala, alyona alyona and others addressed women with a message of courage and equality on International Women’s Day. (The poster says “Equality is the best gift” in Ukrainian.)

UKRAINE PRESIDENT ZELENSKY


Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praises Ukrainian women on International Women’s Day for taking a central role in defending their country against Russia’s invasion.”I think it’s important to say thank you today. To thank all the women who work, teach, study, save, treat and fight for Ukraine,” Volodymyr Zelensky says in a video uploaded by the presidency.

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Europe, Uncategorized, WOMEN'S EQUALITY

International Women’s Day: Latin America

. WOMEN’S EQUALITY . .

A press survey by CPNN

Here are the results from Latin America.

ARGENTINA


In Buenos Aires, thousands marched from Congress to Plaza de Mayo. The demonstrators, mostly women, carried green and purple scarves symbolizing feminist struggles, as well as gay pride flags, drums, and signs demanding justice for femicide victims or bearing slogans such as “Not one less” or “Why do they hate feminists more than a rapist?” “It’s a strike and mobilization against the austerity policies of Javier Milei’s government, just days after the labor reform was passed that will impact women and dissidents,” feminist activist Luci Cavallero told AFP.

BOLIVIA


Women hold photos of people who they accuse of being victimizers of women during a march marking the upcoming International Women’s Day, in La Paz, Bolivia, Friday, March 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

BRAZIL


Women march marking International Women’s Day on Copacabana beach, in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

CHILE


Chanting “Not one step back,” thousands of Chilean women took to the streets of Santiago this Sunday to commemorate International Women’s Day, three days before the far right is set to assume power in Chile for the first time. They warned of the risks that the ultraconservative Catholic convictions of the future president, José Antonio Kast, pose to women’s rights. Photo: EFE/ Adriana Thomasa

COLOMBIA


In front of the mural “The Mothers Are Right,” a symbol of the struggle of mothers of victims of forced disappearance, hundreds of women gathered this Saturday in the streets of Bogotá to raise their voices collectively, demand their rights, speak of resistance, and paint the city purple and green during the March 8th feminist demonstration. Among the banners with phrases like “cleaning paint bothers them more than our blood,” “our cry comes from a heart tired of living with pain and fear,” and “they sowed fear in us, we grew wings,” a space was reserved for the victims of femicides in 2025, who “number more than 50 and we’re not even halfway through the year.” Photo: EFE/Vannessa Jiménez.

ECUADOR


In the Ecuadorian capital, hundreds of women marched through the streets of Quito’s Historic Center on the morning of March 8th to commemorate International Women’s Day. The participants marched with signs and banners denouncing gender-based violence and aggression, as well as messages demanding respect for women’s rights and greater freedom. During the march, slogans related to equal pay, access to rights, and the rejection of gender-based violence were observed. PHOTO: API

(Click here for a Spanish version of this article)

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International Women’s Day

GUATEMALA

People rally for International Women’s Day in Guatemala City, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

MEXICO


Protesters take part in a rally marking International Women’s Day, at the Zocalo in Mexico City, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)

Indigenous women organized to lead the march, followed by groups with children, women with disabilities, and young students, all calling for an end to the femicidal violence that claims the lives of eight women every day in Mexico. (YouTube video)

PARAGUAY


People hold a banner that reads in Spanish, “If the world were feminist, these wars would not exist” during a march marking International Women’s Day in Asuncion, Paraguay, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Jorge Saenz)

PERU


Demonstrators chant slogans as they march marking International Women’s Day in Lima, Peru, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

Women’s Day in Peru unfolded amidst tributes, flowers, and speeches in favor of women’s rights, on the one hand, and demands for greater respect and an end to violence against the still-called weaker sex, on the other.(Prensa Latina)

URUGUAY


The need for funding to ensure the country’s progressive legislation “transcends paper” and translates into effective policies to combat violence and gender inequality was the central theme of the massive march held on this International Women’s Day in Uruguay’s capital. Under the slogan “Faced with the fascist advance, feminist struggle!” and led by the Uruguayan Feminist Coordinating Committee, the massive march, in which tens of thousands of women make their demands for a society free of sexism heard every March 8th, once again turned Montevideo’s main avenue purple.

VENEZUELA


Dozens of Venezuelan women marched in Caracas to demand better wages, shelters for victims of gender-based violence, and the legalization of safe and free abortion. The women, members of various feminist movements and unions, marched from the central Plaza Venezuela to Plaza Brión in Chacaíto (east) carrying banners that called for better wages and the elimination of “governmental and patriarchal violence.”

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Latin America, WOMEN'S EQUALITY

International Women’s Day: North America

. WOMEN’S EQUALITY . .

A press survey by CPNN

Here are the results from North America

° ° ° ° CANADA ° ° °

HAMILTON, ONTARIO


Hundreds attend the International Women’s Day panel discussion at Pier Six (Photograph by Akil Simmons) An all-women panel discussed the importance of building and supporting a strong network in recognition of International Women’s Day.

MONTREAL, QUEBEC


A large crowd of demonstrators marched in downtown Montreal Sunday to mark International Women’s Day. The event was organized by Femmes de diverses origines, which describes itself as a “grassroots, anti-imperialist network.” Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette

OTTAWA, ONTARIO


At the National Arts Center, a room full of powerful women marked International Women’s Day with connection, collaboration and a shared commitment to lift each other higher. Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA


Upwards of 100 people gathered in downtown Vancouver to mark International Women’s Day. Across the globe, women and girls continue to face discrimination, violence and systemic barriers. Those gathered for Sunday’s demonstration pushed for further change and gender equality.

° ° ° ° UNITED STATES ° ° °

BOSTON


Demonstrators march during Sunday’s International Women’s day rally on Boston Common. (Libby O’Neill/Boston Herald). The march focused on anti-war messages.

CHICAGO


Protesters march north on Dearborn Street during the International Women’s Day March in Chicago on Sunday, March 8, 2026. Protesters denounced President Trump for his party’s limits on abortion access, sweeping immigration raids that have separated families and his inclusion in the Epstein files. Credit: Talia Sprague for Block Club Chicago

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International Women’s Day

LOS ANGELES


The Alliance of Women Directors marked International Women’s Day with an inspiring and thought-provoking salon in Los Angeles, bringing together filmmakers, actors, storytellers, and industry professionals for an afternoon dedicated to conversation, community, and creative leadership.

MINNEAPOLIS


Crowds gathered in Minneapolis today for the International Women’s Day march, coming together to celebrate women’s achievements.

NEW YORK CITY


Photograph of the International Women’s Day march in Washington Square Park, New York City (USA). The march culminated in a political rally denouncing the Trump administration, which they described as “fascist.” Photo: EFE/Ángel Colmenares

PHILADELPHIA


People from a coalition of groups rally at city hall for International Working Women’s Day, aiming to honor the historical contribution of working women and highlight ongoing struggles.

SAN FRANCISCO


People came out to speak out and speak up in San Francisco on International Women’s Day. Demonstrators rallied and marched through Union Square, calling for not only the protection of women’s rights, but opposition to federal actions. “I’m out here today for women’s rights, for all human rights,” Lacey, from the East Bay, said.

UNITED NATIONS


UN Secretary-General’s message on International Women’s Day: statement on rights, justice and action for all women and girls.

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North America, WOMEN'S EQUALITY

International Women’s Day: Africa

. WOMEN’S EQUALITY . .

A press survey by CPNN

Here are the results from Africa

AFRICAN UNION


The African Union Commission (AUC), through its Women, Gender and Youth Directorate (WGYD), commemorated the International Women’s Day 2026, under the theme “Honouring Women of the African Union: Voices, Work and Community,” recognising the diverse contributions of women across all levels of the institution. The celebration, held at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, highlighted the vital roles women play in sustaining the Union’s work.

BENIN


Benin authorities officially launched the activities of the 31st edition of International Women’s Day in Cotonou, in the presence of the Vice-President of the Republic, Mariam Chabi Talata.

BURKINA FASO


On the occasion of International Women’s Day, celebrated on Sunday, March 8, 2026, the President of Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, addressed Burkinabe women via national television, outlining a concrete roadmap for their total emancipation.

ETHIOPIA


Ethiopian Airlines Group, the largest airline group in Africa, marked International Women’s Day with all women functioned flights to eight destinations, highlighting the airline’s 8 decades in service. Ethiopian celebrated the occasion and announced the launch of the flights at a grand event held on the evening of 07 March 2026 at Ethiopian Skylight Hotel, attended by government officials, the airline’s executives, women leaders, and women employees representing Ethiopian Airlines’ workforce and partner organizations. The all women functioned flights are operated to Cairo, Djibouti, Nairobi, Frankfurt, Accra, Mumbai, Windhoek, and Dire Dawa.

KENYA


International Women’s Day 2026 saw Kenya’s digital space transformed into a gallery of appreciation. From high-profile socialites to gospel icons and content creators, the nation’s celebrities took a break from their usual programming to honour the women who anchor their worlds. While the global theme focused on “Rights and Justice,” the Kenyan scene was deeply personal, highlighting the roles of mothers, daughters, and partners in the lives of the famous.

MALI


Celebration of International Women’s Day in Bandiagara, Mali. It was presided by the Prime Minister, Abdoulaye Maïga.

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International Women’s Day

MOAZAMBIQUE


Former Mozambique first lady and Graca Machel Trust founder Graca Machel speaking during the International Women’s Day celebrations in Maputo Mozambique on March 9th 2026. (Editor’s note: she organized the women’s movement of that country before going to South Africa to marry Nelson Mandela.)

NIGER


The Minister of Population, Social Action and National Solidarity, Ms. Sidikou Ramatou Djermakoye Seyni, presided over the launch ceremony of the 2026 International Women’s Day on Sunday, March 8, 2026, under the national theme: protection of the rights of women and girls in a context of refounding as a guarantee of lasting peace.

NIGERIA


Hundreds of women across Kosofe Federal Constituency in Lagos State on Sunday marked the 2026 International Women’s Day (IWD) with a solidarity walk from Maryland to Kosofe, celebrating women’s strength, unity, and achievements.

RWANDA


Rwanda celebrates International Women’s Day with walk and run in Kigali Rwanda, home to the world’s highest share of women in parliament.

SENEGAL


International Women’s Day celebrated by the APR women’s movement, linked to the political party of the President.

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International Women’s Day: Asia and Pacific

. WOMEN’S EQUALITY . .

A press survey by CPNN

Here are the results from Asia and the Pacific

AUSTRALIA


Children participate in an International Women’s Day demonstration, in Melbourne, Australia, March 8, 2023. REUTERS/Sandra Sanders

BANGLADESH


International Women’s Day was celebrated on Saturday with enthusiasm and diverse programmes across the districts including Gopalganj, Laxmipur, Joypurhat, Khulna, Pirojpur, and Rajbari. The events highlighted women’s empowerment, rights, and social contributions, bringing together government officials, civil society leaders, and local communities.

BANGLADESH, SARIAKANDI


Various programmes were organized in Sariakandi of Bogura to celebrate International Women’s Day. On Sunday afternoon (March 8), a colorful rally started from the Upazila Parishad premises and marched through key roads of the town. A discussion meeting was later held at the auditorium of the Sariakandi Upazila Parishad.

CAMBODIA


Phnom Penh, Cambodia, March 9, 2026: The National Olympic Committee of Cambodia reports that around 4,000 people took part in a Women’s Day Run to celebrate International Women’s Day on Sunday, March 8.

CHINA


In celebration of International Women’s Day, falling on Sunday this year, the All-China Women’s Federation hosted a reception in Beijing on Friday, highlighting China’s commitment to advancing global women’s causes. The reception was attended by about 1,000 women from various sectors in China, as well as female representatives from international organizations and foreign embassies.

INDIA


Women practice yoga in a local train on the occasion of International Women’s Day in Mumbai, India, March 8, 2023. REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas

INDONESIA


Protesters from the Puan Knot Alliance marched during a demonstration commemorating International Women’s Day on Jalan Asia Afrika, Bandung, West Java, Sunday (March 8, 2026). They demanded the government end the militarization of the public sphere and military interference in civilian policies, including food and social programs, and revoke policies and practices that criminalize the people, activists, workers, and women through the Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure Code. (Photo Antara Photo/Raisan Al Farisi)

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JAPAN


“Women’s March Tokyo,” a protest march against sexual violence and discrimination toward women, was held in Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward on International Women’s Day on Sunday.

KAZAKHSTAN


Activists hold a rally to support women’s rights on International Women’s Day in Almaty, Kazakhstan, March 8, 2023. REUTERS/Pavel Mikheyev

NORTH KOREA


North Korean women dance on the occasion of the International Women’s Day in Moranbong District, Pyongyang, North Korea Sunday, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Chol Jin)

PHILIPPINES


Filipino women and activists raise their fist during a protest on Women’s Day, in Manila, Philippines, March 8, 2023. REUTERS/Lisa Marie David

SOUTH KOREA


South Korean activists gather a day ahead of International Women’s Day in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 7, 2026. The banners read “Complete the revolution of light.” (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

SRI LANKA


President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Sunday said Sri Lanka will be branded before the world as a nation that has taken up the banner of humanity in any conflict that arises in the world. The President was speaking at the International Women’s Day celebration held at the P. D. Sirisena Stadium in Colombo on Sunday. The event was organised by the National People’s Power under the theme “When She Rises – the Nation Rises” .

VIETNAM


In response to the “Ao Dai Week” 2026, celebrating the 116th anniversary of International Women’s Day (March 8, 1910 – March 8, 2026), on the morning of March 8, Women’s Union branches in many communes and wards throughout the province simultaneously organized Ao Dai fashion shows, with the participation of thousands of members.

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International Women’s Day: West Europe and Scandinavia

. WOMEN’S EQUALITY . .

A press survey by CPNN

Here are the results from Western Europe and Scandinavia.

BELGIUM


People protest outside the Iranian embassy as part of International Women’s day in Brussels, Belgium March 8, 2023. REUTERS/Johanna Geron

FINLAND


Thousands of people marched through central Helsinki on Sunday to mark International Women’s Day and call for stronger protection of women’s rights. Police estimated that up to 15,000 participants joined the demonstration. Photo: Seppo Samuli / Str / Lehtikva.

FRANCE, BORDEAUX


A protestor holds a sign reading “Male executioner” (with a play on word with the cigarettes brand Malboro) in Bordeaux. (Photo by ROMAIN PERROCHEAU / AFP)

FRANCE, LILLE


Lille: stilt walkers also joined the march on March 8, 2026. • © Morvan Antoine / France Télévisions

FRANCE, PARIS

The International Women’s Day in Paris attracted around 32,000 people, according to police. Photo by Kenzo TRIBOUILLARD / AFP

GERMANY, BERLIN


On International Women’s Day yesterday, tens of thousands of Berliners demonstrated in Germany’s capital for equal rights for women. The sign “FEMINISMUS STATT FASCHISMUS” means “FEMINISM INSTEAD OF FASCISM”. Other hand-held signs included the phrases “Every death is one too many”, “Equality is not rocket science” and “Man does not kill for love”.

GERMANY, ERFURT



Erfurt, Germany had it’s first Take Back the Night demo, supporting anti-fascist solidarity and bodily autonomy.

GREECE


Women participate in a rally marking International Women’s Day in Athens. In his message, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said: “International Women’s Day becomes, every year, a meeting point between our achievements and the goal of turning equality into a daily reality, by overturning the many visible and invisible obstacles that still remain.” [Reuters]

IRELAND

People march to mark International Women’s Day in Dublin, Ireland, March 8, 2023. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne

ITALY, MILAN


In Milan, over 40 thousand people joined the march called by Non Una Di Meno, with the lead banner reading “disarm war and patriarchy”.

ITALY, ROME


Demonstrators carry a banner that reads: “Against wars, violence and poverty. Eco transfeminist strike” during an International Women’s Day rally, as women strike to demand the end to domestic and racist violence, wars and the country’s prevailing “macho” culture, in Rome, Italy, March 8, 2023. REUTERS/Yara Nardi

MALTA


A woman holds a poster as people take part in a Women’s Day protest with the theme “Women united against injustice” in Valletta, Malta March 8, 2023. REUTERS/Darrin Zammit Lupi

NETHERLANDS


Participants march through the streets of Amsterdam, Netherlands, on March 8, 2026, holding signs advocating for gender equality during an International Women’s Day demonstration.

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SPAIN, BARCELONA


People attend a demonstration on the occasion of International Women’s Day in Barcelona, Spain, March 8, 2026. The main theme was opposition to the American and Israeli attack on Iran (EPA Photo)

SPAIN, BILBAO


People take part in a march to mark International Women’s Day, in Bilbao, Spain, March 8, 2023. REUTERS/Vincent West

SPAIN, LONGROÑO


Around 2,000 people participated this Sunday in the International Women’s Day demonstration, which turned the streets of downtown Logroño purple with demands commemorating the rights won by feminism, fighting to prevent any backsliding on equality, and rejecting all forms of violence against women.. Phoro: EFE/Raquel Manzanares

SPAIN, MADRID


Thousands of marchers gathered in the center of Madrid, where two demonstrations were held. The larger march, organized by the 8M Commission, marched from Atocha to Seville, carrying a banner with the slogan “Antifascist Feminists. We are more. Everywhere.” “We are facing a bunch of pathetic bastards who are going to burn the planet to gain even more money and power, who treat life like a video game,” reads the manifesto of the organizers, who claim 160,000 participants. Photo: EFE/Rodrigo Jiménez

SPAIN, MÉRIDA


In Mérida, among banners and chanted slogans such as “Long live the women’s struggle,” “Less fascism and more feminism,” “The struggle continues, whatever the cost,” and “Against denialism, we are feminism,” the “No to war” slogan was also present at the march with approximately 200 people, according to the police, and 1,500 according to the organizers. The representative of the Mérida-based platform, María Tena, told the media that they are demanding “no to war and the fight against all global fascism, which is trying to use women’s rights as a commodity, as an instrument of political change, and as a weapon to throw us into situations of armed conflict.” Photo: EFE/ Vicente M. Roso

SPAIN, PAMPLONA


Massive march in Pamplona EFE/ Jesús Diges

SPAIN, SANTANDER


The streets of Santander were filled with thousands of people this Sunday to celebrate International Women’s Day. Throughout the route, various feminist organizations and associations raised their banners and chanted slogans, including messages for transgender women, interracial women, and the precarious working conditions women face. They also denounced sexist violence, with messages such as “rapists existed before the miniskirt” or “sexism kills, feminism saves lives.” Photo: EFE/Eva García

SPAIN, TOLEDO


In Toledo, the demonstration began in Parque de la Vega with a “No to war” slogan, asserting that “feminism is internationalist.” The march, which brought together hundreds of people, proceeded from the park to Plaza de Zocodover, where the message was proclaimed that feminists “won’t be silenced.” Photo: EFE/Ángeles Visdómine

SPAIN, VALÉNCIA


The Women’s Day demonstration organized by the Valencia Feminist Movement marched through the city center this Sunday to express its “outright rejection” of the violence and denial of rights perpetrated against girls and women “simply for being women” and to demand “real equality.” The protest, which turned the streets of Valencia purple under the slogan “Democracy without feminism = Barbarism,” also said “no to wars, the ultimate expression of patriarchy and the system of domination,” because a world at war, it asserted, “can never be a world of equality.” Photo: EFE/ Ana Escobar

SPAIN, VALLADOLID


The Minister of Equality, Ana Redondo, holds a banner with the slogan ‘We will not let the past advance’ during a demonstration organized by the Valladolid Women’s Coordinator for International Women’s Day. Photogenic/Claudia Alba Photogenic/Claudia Alba / Europa Press

TURKEY


Thousands of women marched through Istanbul to mark International Women’s Day late Sunday defying a ban on demonstrations, with the rally passing without incident despite a heavy police presence. The demonstrators packed the streets of Cihangir district, some carrying parasols garlanded in fairy lights, others waving a sea of colorful banners with slogans such as: “Kurdish for Women, life, freedom,” “Femicides are political!” or even “My favorite season is the fall of the patriarchy.” Photo AFP.

UNITED KINGDOM


Thousands of women took to the streets of central London on Saturday for the 19th annual Million Women Rise march, against male violence against women and girls ( Photo by Ellie Macieria-Fielding for The New Feminist)

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United Nations: International Women’s Day and Commission on Status of Women

. . WOMEN’S EQUALITY . .

A media advisory from UN Women

International Women’s Day 2026 comes at a defining moment: Women and girls have never been closer to equality, and never closer to losing it. Legal protection against domestic violence has expanded in many countries. Yet, the rights of women and girls are being rolled back in plain sight, and across the world, women still do not enjoy the same legal rights as men.

On 4 March, ahead of the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), UN Women will launch a report warning that the systems meant to protect women and girls are failing, leaving millions exposed to discrimination, violence and impunity as backlash against gender equality intensifies and violations of fundamental rights rise worldwide.

From 9–19 March, the world will gather at United Nations Headquarters in New York for CSW70 – the United Nations’ largest annual forum dedicated to gender equality and women’s rights. What happens at CSW influences laws, policies, funding and accountability across countries and generations.

This year’s focus is clear: rights, justice and action for all women and girls.

CSW70 is a defining test: whether the world choses to act together and deliver equality before the law for all women and girls or allow injustice to persist with impunity. UN Women calls on governments, partners, institutions and communities everywhere to stand up, show up and speak up for rights, justice and action – so all women and girls can live safely, speak freely and exist equally.

Follow the global conversation: #ForAllWomenAndGirls #IWD2026.

(Editor’s note: Details about the following events have been removed here but they may be accessed via the link above. The events may be followed via UN Web TV except in one case as indicated).

Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls. United Nations Observance of International Women’s Day

The United Nations Observance of International Women’s Day 2026, under the theme “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls,” will be held on 9 March 2026 at the UN General Assembly Hall, immediately preceding the opening of CSW70. Aligned with CSW70, the observance is conceived as a single, continuous political moment that will elevate global attention to justice as the critical bridge between rights on paper and rights in practice, reaffirming collective resolve to confront persistent setbacks, violence and the denial of rights. Bringing together Member State delegations, global leaders, advocates, Goodwill Ambassadors and global voices, the observance will serve as a high-visibility platform to galvanize leadership, media engagement and concrete action towards ensuring equal access to justice for all women and girls.

Opening of the Seventieth Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70)

The CSW70 Opening marks the start of the seventieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. The Commission will hear opening remarks by the CSW Chair, the Presidents of ECOSOC and the General Assembly and the Secretary-General, as well as a civil society representative and a young person. It will also hear introductory statements by the UN Women Executive Director, the Chairperson of the CEDAW Committee, the Chairperson of the Working Group on Discrimination against women and girls and the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences. The ceremonial opening will be followed immediately by the adoption of the agreed conclusions, and the start of the general discussion which will focus mainly on the priority theme: ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including promoting inclusive legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws and practices, and addressing structural barriers to equality.

G77 and Emerging Partners Ministerial Roundtable: Pathways for Accelerating Sustainable Financing for Gender Equality for All Women and Girls

Ministers, financial leaders, Ambassadors and development partners convene at CSW70 to advance practical pathways for scaling sustainable finance for gender equality. Co-hosted by Brazil, Kazakhstan, Maldives, Timor-Leste, Uruguay and UN Women, the Roundtable will focus on mobilizing public and private capital, strengthening financial systems and investing in priorities such as care infrastructure, digital inclusion and women’s economic empowerment. As the SDG deadline approaches and financing gaps widen, the event highlights concrete national actions and partnerships needed to accelerate investment in gender equality and drive inclusive, resilient economic growth.

Rights, Justice, Action for All Women and Girls: Celebrating 45 years of CEDAW

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), often described as the international bill of rights for women, was adopted by the General Assembly in 1979 and entered into force in 1981. The CEDAW Committee held its inaugural session in 1982. As we convene for CSW70 in March 2026, we celebrate 45 years of the Committee’s work in monitoring the implementation of the Convention. As a quasi-judicial body, the CEDAW Committee has been the global vanguard for legal reform, the repeal of discriminatory laws, and the establishment of gender-responsive legal frameworks, and its General Recommendation No. 33 specifically provides guidance and recommendations to States on access to justice. In this regard, the CEDAW Committee, UN Women, OHCHR, the UN Foundation and the Ford Foundation are pleased to cohost a reception in commemoration of this important milestone.

Achieving Gender Equality in Nationality Laws

UN Women, in partnership with the Global Campaign for Equal Nationality Rights, UNHCR, UNICEF, the Global Alliance to End Statelessness, and champion States will convene a high-level event on Achieving Gender Equality in Nationality Laws on 10 March at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Despite global progress, more than 45 countries still retain gender‑discriminatory nationality laws that deny women equal rights to confer nationality, causing statelessness and lifelong barriers for millions of families. The event will spotlight testimony from people directly affected, share lessons from recent reforms, and underscore why gender‑equal nationality rights are essential to achieving justice and the SDGs. It will also launch a new Legal Atlas on Discriminatory Nationality Laws, providing the first comprehensive global mapping of these legal gaps. Impacted States are expected to announce concrete reform commitments.

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Protecting women and girls against violence, Is progress being made?

Does the UN advance equality for women?

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Townhall Meeting with the United Nations Secretary-General and Civil Society in the Margins of the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women

The townhall provides an opportunity for the UN Secretary-General to meet with the largest gathering of civil society at the UN, and to have a frank discussion on issues related to the advancement of gender equality and women and girls’ rights around the world. It offers intersectional and intergenerational civil society a space to directly engage with the highest leadership of the United Nations and to ask questions, share recommendations and strengthen collaboration. This will be the last townhall with the current Secretary-General whose term ends this year.

Achieving Gender Equality and the Empowerment of All Older Women

As part of the CSW70, this Ministerial Round Table will focus on Achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all older women, an emerging focus area identified by the Commission. The discussion, led by high-level ministers and UN leaders will address how rapid population ageing – with women comprising the majority of persons aged 60 and above – reshapes the conditions for gender equality across the life course. Ministers will exchange experiences, lessons learned and good practices to advance income security and economic independence of older women, and to transform social and cultural norms to counter ageism and sexism, prevent elder abuse, and more.

The Role of Parliaments in Achieving Parity in Decision-Making and Ensuring Gender-Responsive Access to Justice for Women and Girls

The Meeting will provide an opportunity to bring a parliamentary perspective into the CSW70 discussions on the priority and review themes. Members of Parliament from around the world will share perspectives and practices on legislative, oversight and budgetary actions to achieve parity representation in decision-making, eliminate discriminatory laws, address gaps between legal frameworks and their implementation, combat impunity for violence against women, and strengthen accountability and enforcement across justice systems. The event will also serve as the launch of the latest Women in Politics Map, presenting new data for women in executive positions and national parliaments as of 1 January 2026.

Advancing Women’s Access to Justice: Building Justice Systems that Deliver for All Including in Fragile Contexts

Amid intersecting crises, uncertainty, and deepening inequality, there is an urgent need to reimagine justice systems that respond to the realities of a rapidly changing world. At CSW70, UNDP and UN Women – in partnership with the Governments of Brazil, Kingdom of the Netherlands, and Ukraine – are hosting a high-level event to spotlight country experiences, civil society innovations and emerging legal reforms. The discussion will identify recommendations that can be taken forward now and explore how governments, civil society and international partners can work together to co-create and sustain reforms for humans everywhere, including in fragile and crisis-affected contexts.

Women Leaders Paving the Way: Access to Justice for All Women and Girls

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Hosted by the UN Women Leaders Network, in partnership with the Government of Iceland and the UN Foundation, this CSW70 side event will feature a panel discussion with distinguished speakers from the UN Women Leaders Network about ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, examined through a women’s leadership lens. The panel will highlight that meaningful access to justice depends on inclusive governance, accountable leadership, innovative policymaking, and cross-sectoral collaboration. The event will end with closing remarks from UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous.

CSW High-level Meeting on Violence Against Women and Girls

On 12 March 2026, Member States will convene at UN Headquarters for the CSW High-level Meeting on Violence against Women and Girls – the first annual High-level Meeting held during CSW under a new mandate to elevate critical cross-cutting priorities aimed at accelerating implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. The meeting will highlight what works to prevent violence and strengthen survivor-centred responses – both online and offline – at a moment when progress remains too slow and technology is accelerating new harms. Across two sessions, ministers and leading experts, including from women’s rights organizations and survivors from all five UN regional groups will share evidence, good practices with potential for scale-up, and practical actions to close implementation gaps and accelerate commitments to end violence against women and girls.

Ensuring and Strengthening Access to Justice for All Women and Girls

The Interactive Dialogue with Youth Representatives at CSW70 is a global platform that elevates the leadership, vision, and lived experiences of young people advancing access to justice for women and girls. It highlights the need for inclusive and equitable legal systems, the elimination of discriminatory laws, policies and practices, and action to address the structural barriers that deny women and girls justice.

Closing of the Seventieth Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70)

The CSW70 Closing Session brings the seventieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women to an official end. Delegates will review progress made during discussions on the priority theme of ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, consider outstanding agenda items, adopt the session’s report and agreed conclusions, and look ahead to the work of CSW71.

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‘Equal Women: Transforming Territories,’ a photographic exhibition that pays tribute to the organizations working for women’s rights in Colombia

. . WOMEN’S EQUALITY . .

An article from UN Women Colombia.

The Chicó Gallery at the Alliance Française in Bogotá will host the photographic exhibition ‘Equal Women: Transforming Territories,’ a collective exhibition that highlights the inspiring work, leadership, and achievements of ten women’s, feminist, and mixed-gender organizations that promote women’s rights in different regions of Colombia.


Photo: UN Women/Esteban Servín

The exhibition, which opened on Thursday, February 19, is the culmination of a year of training in photography, visual communication, and digital media developed with the partner organizations of the Igualitarias initiative, supported by UN Women and funded by the French Embassy. Through 50 photographic works and audiovisual pieces, the exhibition presents a narrative constructed from the organizations’ own perspective, avoiding external approaches and providing an authentic and collective visual voice.

Egalitarias is more than a name: it is a way of being in the world. It is the daily practice of organized women who sustain community life, defend their territory, promote leadership, and transform realities marked by profound inequalities. The exhibition pays tribute to these processes and highlights achievements such as organizational strengthening, the consolidation of leadership, the promotion of advocacy agendas, and the increased autonomy of the participating organizations.
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Maria Inés Salamanca Vidak, UN Women Country Representative in Colombia, stated that “this exhibition is an expression of the power of women’s leadership in the territories of Colombia. Through their own images, women not only narrate their realities: they transform them. These photographs are a testament to the collective and sustained work carried out by women’s organizations throughout the country in defense of human rights.”

Likewise, the French Ambassador to Colombia, Sylvain Itté, expressed, “The results of the ‘Equalities’ program confirm the importance of investing in local feminist organizations, which are at the heart of the most lasting social changes. We also celebrate the continuation of our partnership with UN Women, a key partner in this program, both in planning and implementation, and in constant communication with all stakeholders. The exhibition we are inaugurating today is a great tribute to this work.”

The curatorial approach combines photographs printed on paper and fabric, audiovisual projections, and QR codes that allow the public to access video testimonials from the organizations, creating a sensitive, immersive, and deeply rooted experience.

The exhibition, open to the public from February 20 to March 14, 2026, at the Alliance Française in Bogotá (Chicó branch), can be visited Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The organizations behind the works are: Corporación Colectiva Justicia Mujer; Red de Mujeres Unidas del Norte de Antioquia; Fundación Luciérnagas; Asociación No Hay Límites; Fundación Empoderarte Latinoamérica; Corporación El Cuarto Mosquetero; Corporación Yo Puedo; Fundación Concern Universal; Asociación Campesina Red Agroecológica del Tolima (REATOL); and Corporación SOS Ambiental.

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Latin America, WOMEN'S EQUALITY