Hello all!
As International Women’s Day approaches on 8 March, we are pleased to spotlight this year’s theme:
International Women’s Day 2026: Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.
This year’s theme is a powerful reminder that gender equality - and the justice required to enforce, exercise, and enjoy those rights - demands more than commitments; it demands action. Around the world, women and girls continue to face legal rights gaps, harmful social norms, discriminatory laws, structural barriers to justice, and unequal protection under the law. Rights that are not enforced remain promises unfulfilled.
Some relevant facts in regards to this year’s theme:
- In 2026, women have only 64 per cent of the legal protections that men hold worldwide.
- Over 676 million women and girls live within 50 kilometers of deadly conflict, the highest number recorded since the 1990s.
- Conflict-related sexual violence has increased by 87 per cent in just two years, amid widespread disregard for international humanitarian and human rights law.
The Gender Unit of UNOCT is committed to advancing gender-responsive and human rights-based approaches to counter-terrorism and prevention efforts. Strengthening access to justice, addressing structural inequalities, and ensuring accountability are essential not only for safeguarding women’s rights, but also for sustainable peace and inclusive security. Full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of women in CT/PCVE efforts is essential to shaping more gender-responsive approaches to justice and accountability.
In the lead-up to 8 March, we will be sharing additional posts spotlighting resources from the GIFP Resource Library that reflect this year’s theme and support practitioners and civil society working to advance gender equality and justice in CT/PCVE.
Stay tuned in the coming weeks and join us in advancing Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.
🔗 To read more on this year’s theme, please visit the UN Women website here: https://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/announcement/2026/01/international-womens-day-2026-rights-justice-action-for-all-women-and-girls.