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UN Women Theme for International Women’s Day 2026: Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.

On 8 March 2026, rally with women and girls around the world to demand equal rights – and equal justice to enforce, exercise, and enjoy those rights.

As we begin the second quarter of the 21st century, no nation has closed the legal gaps between men and women. Right now, in 2026, women have only 64 per cent of the legal rights that men hold worldwide. In fundamental areas of life, including work, money, safety, family, property, mobility, business, and retirement – the law systematically disadvantages women. From harmful social norms to discriminatory laws, women and girls continue to face entrenched obstacles – even pushback – to equal justice. If progress continues at its current pace, it will take 286 years to close legal protection gaps. That is not a timeline, it’s surrender.

Without justice systems that work for women, rights become a promise that never arrives.

International Women’s Day 2026 (IWD 2026), under the theme, “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls”, marks a moment to amplify our collective determination. No matter how deeply rooted the sexism or how discouraging the politics, we refuse to step back or abandon our mandate. Instead, we climb together – for the rights and empowerment of all women and girls.

This year, IWD 2026 calls for action to dismantle the structural barriers to equal justice: discriminatory laws, weak legal protections, and harmful practices and social norms that erode the rights of women and girls.

“All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law.” 

Universal Declaration of Human Rights, article 7

What does equal justice look like? Simply put, your rights are protected and defended, and laws don’t just stay on the books – they get enforced, so that people can experience equal rights and justice. It means legally protected access to education for girls and an end to child marriage. Women’s freedom to choose to work, participate, and lead in society, including in political and justice systems. Strengthened protection and prevention to end gender-based violence in all its forms. Family, labour, and healthcare laws that do not discriminate against women. Justice systems that are free of bias, centred on survivors, and backed by zero tolerance for abuse and impunity. Legal aid that is affordable and accessible. Just to name a few.

This year’s United Nations observance of International Women’s Day will take place on 9 March and focus on equal justice, purposefully aligning with the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) (from 9 to 19 March). At CSW70, an intergovernmental forum, representatives of Member States, United Nations entities, and civil society will gather to negotiate conclusions on the theme, “Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, and addressing structural barriers.”

This International Women’s Day, join UN Women, the United Nations family, civil society, youth, media, businesses, and more, to demand “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL women and girls.” Share International Women’s Day stories and messages online with the hashtag #ForAllWomenAndGirls and follow UN Women for more information on forthcoming events.

https://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/announcement/2026/01/international-womens-day-2026-rights-justice-action-for-all-women-and-girls

For IWD events see:

February 24, 2026

UN expert, Reem Alsalem, concerned by UK failure to enforce Supreme Court ruling on sex-based protections

A UN expert has expressed serious concern over the United Kingdom’s failure to ensure the effective implementation of a landmark Supreme Court judgment clarifying that the term “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 refers to biological sex.

“The continued absence of clear, updated guidance and effective enforcement measures has resulted in widespread non-compliance with the Supreme Court’s ruling,” said Reem Alsalem, the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls. “This situation undermines legal certainty with particularly serious consequences for women and girls.”

The Special Rapporteur welcomed the ruling in her report following her recent visit to the United Kingdom. She recommended that the UK Government ensure that all public and private institutions uphold the Supreme Court ruling , and that it provide the necessary guidance to all segments of society to understand the implications of the ruling.

“Without implementation, a court judgment offers little protection in practice,” Alsalem said. “Women and girls are left exposed to continued rights violations and are often compelled to rely on litigation to enforce protections that should already be guaranteed by law — an option that is prohibitively costly and inaccessible for many.”

Nearly one year after the Supreme Court’s ruling of 16 April 2025 in For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers, the expert noted that the judgment is yet to be translated into binding guidance or enforced across public authorities and service providers. The expert expressed particular concern that non-compliance appears to extend to government departments and public sector bodies, including the National Health Service, the prison service, universities and schools.

“Although the UK Government has accepted that the Supreme Court judgment reflects the law, many public bodies reportedly claim they are awaiting government action to secure parliamentary approval of the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s revised Code of Practice on Services, Public Functions and Associations,” the expert said. “At the same time, the earlier 2011 Code — now outdated and inconsistent with the ruling — reportedly remains in use.”

She stressed that the judgment was intended to resolve years of legal confusion surrounding women’s rights to single-sex services, facilities, associations and sports — rights that are central to safeguarding women’s safety, privacy and dignity, and to combating male violence against women and girls. As the first anniversary of the judgment approaches, the expert urged the Government to act without further delay.

“Prompt issuance of compliance guidance and decisive enforcement are essential to give effect to the Supreme Court’s ruling,” the expert said. “Failure to do so not only weakens legal protections for women and girls, but risks eroding public confidence in the rule of law.”

Alsalem recalled that the United Kingdom has long been regarded as a leader in addressing violence against women and girls and its consequences.

“Swift and effective implementation of this judgment would send a clear signal of the UK’s continued commitment to upholding women’s rights and the authority of its highest court,” she said.

Reem Alsalem is the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences

https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/02/un-expert-concerned-uk-failure-enforce-supreme-court-ruling-sex-based

February 17, 2026

Gender pay gap means women effectively work for free for 47 days a year – TUC

  • New TUC analysis reveals the earnings gulf between women and men leaves women making over £2,548 a year less than men on average.
  • This means women effectively only start earning from today – working for a month and a half for free compared to men
  • Women’s pay gap spans across the economy, including female dominated sectors such as health and social care and education.
  • The TUC is calling for ambitious and robust action plans to address this gap, so that working women are finally paid their fair share.

New TUC analysis published reveals that the average woman effectively works for 47 days of the year for free and only starts earning from today compared to the average man. 

The analysis reveals that the gender pay gap currently stands at 12.8%, the equivalent of £2,548 a year for the average woman worker.

That means that at current rates of progress, it will take 30 years – until 2056 – to close the gender pay gap.

The union body says a number of factors are driving the pay gap – including women having to work part-time to accommodate for extended caring responsibilities throughout their lives, therefore taking a significant pay cut.

The TUC says that the government needs to do more if it wants to meet its ambition to close the pay gap.

More opportunities for men and women to share care, improved access to flexible working and better access to childcare must all be part of the solution.

Pay gap across industries  

The pay gap persists across different industries, and even in jobs dominated by female workers, such as education and care:

  • In health care and social work the earning gap is 12.8% – meaning that the average woman effectively works for free for 47 days.
  • In education the earning gap is 17% – meaning that the average woman effectively works for free for 62 days.
  • In wholesale and retail the earning gap is 10.5% – meaning that the average woman effectively works for free for 38 days.

The longest wait for Women’s Pay Day comes in finance and insurance. The gender pay gap (27.2%) is the equivalent of a 99 days, meaning women work for free until 9 April 2026.

Gender pay gap by age

The TUC analysis shows that the gender pay gap affects women throughout their careers, from their first step on the ladder until they take retirement.

The gender pay gap is widest for middle-aged and older women:

  • Women aged 40 to 49 have a gender pay gap of 16.2%, so work 59 days for free until 28 February 2026.
  • Women aged between 50 and 59 have the highest pay gap of 19.7% and work the equivalent of 72 days for free, until 13 March 2026.
  • Women aged 60 and over have a gender pay gap of 17.7%. They work 65 days of the year for free and they start earning from 7 March 2025.

The TUC says the gender pay gap widens as women get older, due to women being more likely than men to take on unpaid caring responsibilities throughout their lives, limited childcare and social care provision, and too few good quality flexible jobs.

Older women take a bigger financial hit for balancing work alongside unpaid caring responsibilities throughout their lives – often looking after children, older relatives, and/or grandchildren.

Need for change

  • Gender pay gap reporting: The TUC says government plans through the Employment Rights Act to make employers publish action plans to tackle the gender pay gap are welcome – but says they must be more ambitious and robust to make a real difference. The union body also says these plans will serve as a blueprint for broader action on forthcoming ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting, which the government has pledged to introduce – and stresses the importance of getting the framework right from the outset.
  • Parental leave: The TUC says that the government must ensure the parental leave review delivers increased access to paid parental leave so that mums and dads can better share care.

For full press release and table of figures go to https://www.tuc.org.uk/news/tuc-gender-pay-gap-means-women-effectively-work-free-47-days-year

February 17, 2026

Domestic Abuse Commissioner responds to police reform white paper

On Monday 26 January 2026, the government published its police reform white paper, From local to national: a new model for policing.

Responding to the white paper, Dame Nicole Jacobs, Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales, said: 

“For too long, domestic abuse perpetrators have been able to enter and remain in our police forces with little to no consequence, breaking down trust with victims who rightly expect a robust response when they report domestic abuse.

“I have long called for the removal of officers with cautions or convictions relating to domestic abuse, and for stronger mandatory vetting standards to stop them joining in the first place. The new powers to tackle misconduct are a welcome and necessary step forward in protecting victims and survivors and rebuilding confidence in the police.

“I’m also pleased to see the introduction of more comprehensive public protection training which includes a focus on domestic abuse. Every 30 seconds the police receive an emergency call about domestic abuse, yet we know too often police forces do not get the basics right when first responding to victims. It’s critical that improvements to the frontline response from police officers, including their core skills, are looked at in the round and developed in partnership with survivors and the specialist domestic abuse sector.

“These reforms must be implemented without delay. I look forward to working with government and policing leaders to ensure these changes root out abusers from within their ranks and create a system which works for victims and survivors.”

Notes: 

  • Details of the government white paper can be found here.
  • Domestic abuse accounted for one third of violent crimes in the 12 months to 30 June 2025. (ONS)
  • Police forces allegations of police-perpetrated domestic abuse (PPDA) over the 12 months to 31 March 2024 showed:
    • 1,294 allegations of PPDA; relating to
    • 899 individuals within the police workforce (0.4% of workforce including all officers, staff, PCSOs and Specials).
    • The vast majority of allegations resulted in ‘No case to answer’, ‘Suspension’ and ‘Learning outcomes’, and only 4% of individuals who had allegations of PPDA made against them were dismissed. (Shifting the Scales)

https://domesticabusecommissioner.uk/domestic-abuse-commissioner-responds-to-police-reform-white-paper/

February 17, 2026