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Global Issues:
The space for women, young people, and marginalized groups to speak openly about their rights is shrinking worldwide, with issues like gender‑based violence, reproductive choice, sexual abuse, and discrimination increasingly treated as taboo. International Women’s Day urges action to dismantle structural barriers to justice, from discriminatory laws to harmful social norms. In Georgia, six women working with ‑supported organizations share their vision for equality and the steps they are taking to advance justice for women and girls.
Former child labourer Hafeeza Mai leads a trade union in Pakistan, empowering women in the cotton sector to claim their rights, demand equal pay and protect their children from child labour.
Across Africa, women innovators are reshaping the future of technology, not only by building businesses, but by designing solutions to some of the continent’s most pressing challenges - from water management to digital rights. With support from UNESCO’s African Women in Tech and AI initiative, they are turning ideas into impact, breaking barriers and shaping a more inclusive digital future. As International Women’s Day highlights the importance of rights, justice and action, remind us that equality in innovation must be sustained year-round.
For institutions to be effective, accessible and truly responsive to people’s needs, they must reflect the societies they serve. When more women sit on the bench, entire societies benefit.
As global debates on food, equity and resilience accelerate, one story highlights who must be at the center. This episode of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Work We Do podcast highlights why women and youth are essential to transforming agrifood systems.
Lauren Phillips, FAO’s Director of Partnerships and UN Collaboration, discusses findings from FAO flagship reports on women’s central roles, persistent gaps in land, finance and opportunities, and why progress remains uneven. The conversation explores the International Year of the Woman Farmer, youth participation amid high global youth unemployment, and the financing gap. It makes the case for investing in women and youth as drivers of inclusive growth, resilience and food security.
Sonya Kirgizova, a respected farmer in Tajikistan’s Tojikobod region, has become a key leader in efforts to revive traditional crops and strengthen local agriculture. As more men migrate for work, women like Sonya now manage farms but often lack resources. Sonya partnered with the to train women in gardening, greenhouses and beekeeping, and helped establish community seed banks that store climate‑resilient seeds. Women are now accessing seeds, earning income, reviving local varieties and seeing themselves as producers and decision‑makers.
International Women’s Day 2026 arrives as justice systems falter under conflict and repression, leaving women with . Across most countries, women face higher barriers to justice—denied lawyers, priced out of services, dismissed, or blamed when reporting abuses. For hundreds of millions near conflict zones, justice is absent entirely. When justice fails, women pay. Real justice means enforceable rights, believing survivors, accessible legal aid, and support after violations. UN Women urges collective action to build and fund justice systems that deliver equality.
Across fragile regions, women restore forests, manage scarce resources, and rebuild livelihoods, showing how climate resilience and peace grow stronger when communities empower women.
Women judges are vital to achieving justice. They strengthen accountability, bring new perspectives and, through their leadership, help fight corruption. Representation varies widely: women make up more than 50% of judges in Europe and the Americas, but only 31% in Oceania, 30% in Africa and 29% in Asia. While progress towards gender equality in justice systems is evident, their numbers drop sharply in senior roles. On the International Day of Women Judges (10 March) join us in promoting equal representation at all levels of the judiciary, celebrating progress, and raising awareness of the challenges ahead.
From 9–19 March, the world gathers in New York for the 70th (CSW), the UN’s largest forum on gender equality and women’s rights. What happens here influences laws, policies, funding, and accountability worldwide. This year’s theme is clear: We are in a critical point: women and girls hold just . This is why this meeting calls on governments, institutions and communities everywhere to show up for action. Follow the meetings and side events on .
This International Women’s Day (8 March), demand equal rights and equal justice. Women worldwide hold just 64% of the legal rights men do. At this pace, closing the gap could take 286 years. From work and pay to safety, family, property, and retirement, laws still disadvantage women and girls. It’s time to dismantle discriminatory laws and harmful norms. Join , use and follow our on 9 March ahead of the (9–19 March), the UN’s largest annual forum dedicated to gender equality and women’s rights.
Globally, women face violence and discrimination, and justice systems fail, making accountability, legal aid, and systemic reform urgently necessary. .
Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) are vital for sustainable development, yet women and girls continue to face barriers to entering these fields, with only 35% of STEM graduates being female. promotes gender equality in education by enhancing girls' access to quality STEM learning, improving teacher training, and supporting mentorship programs. By advocating for inclusive policies and celebrating women in science, UNESCO aims to challenge stereotypes and eliminate persistent obstacles. The International Day of Women and Girls in Science highlights these issues, featuring voices like Biology and chemistry teacher Edinah Nyakondi and her students from Kenya.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies are reshaping economies, research and daily life, but too many people are still left out of the gains. The 2026 International Day of Women and Girls in Science (11 February) highlights the power of combining AI with social science, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), and finance to build inclusive futures for women and girls. The Day reaffirms a truth: equality in science drives human progress. We must ensure that women and girls can pursue their scientific ambitions—for their rights, and for the benefit of all.