As International Women’s Day (IWD) is marked globally, women are using the moment to amplify their voices, drawing attention to the challenges they face and the changes they hope to see in society.
From international organisations and media groups to academics, advocates and community leaders, the voices marking this year’s IWD reflect a wide range of concerns, from access to justice and political inclusion to economic empowerment, information rights and protection from violence among others.
Every year on 8 March, the world marks IWD, celebrating the achievements of women while highlighting the inequalities they still face in social, economic and political life.
This year’s global theme, “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls,” emphasises the need for practical steps that turn commitments to gender equality into real change.
Across continents, development institutions, civil society groups and media organisations say the theme reflects growing concerns that, despite decades of advocacy and policy commitments, many women and girls still experience discrimination, violence and exclusion from decision-making.
They call for stronger legal protections, inclusive governance, expanded access to education and economic opportunities, and sustained investment in policies that empower women and girls.
UN raises concerns over women’s access to justice
According to a report by the UN Women, women and girls have only about 64 per cent of the legal rights available to men globally, reflecting deep inequalities within justice systems.
The report notes that many countries still lack laws and legal frameworks that adequately protect women from violence, discrimination, and exploitation.
“54 per cent of countries lack consent-based definitions of rape. 44 per cent of countries do not have laws guaranteeing equal pay for work or equal value. Nearly three in four countries still permit child marriage, which cuts short the childhood and education of many girls,”
The report further warns that justice systems are increasingly strained by conflict, political repression, and institutional weaknesses. “International Women’s Day 2026 comes at a time when justice systems are under strain. Conflict, repression, and political tensions are weakening the rule of law.”
While it stressed that without functional justice systems, the rights of women and girls remain largely symbolic, the report identified barriers such as legal fees, transportation costs, childcare responsibilities and income losses as often preventing women from accessing justice.
Gender equality still far from reality, Commonwealth chief warns
The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Shirley Botchwey has called for stronger global action to advance gender equality as the world marks IWD. She said the theme highlights the continuing struggle to secure equal rights and opportunities for women and girls.
According to her, gender equality remains unfinished business globally, noting that none of the targets under Sustainable Development Goal 5, which focuses on gender equality, has been fully achieved.
She also warned that progress towards gender parity in national parliaments remains slow and could still take decades if current trends continue.
The secretary-general noted that for millions of women and girls, particularly those living in poverty, the benefits of global progress remain limited, adding that the cost of delayed action is reflected in lost opportunities and unrealised potential.
Despite the challenges, she said women across the Commonwealth continue to play important roles in their communities, from rebuilding after climate disasters to leading innovation, entrepreneurship and democratic processes.
Gender-responsive and inclusive media
The Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF) joined the global commemoration by highlighting the role of the media in promoting gender equality across Africa.
The organisation aligned with the UN theme, stressing the need for concrete actions that protect women’s rights and expand opportunities for women and girls.
AMDF said media institutions have a responsibility to shape public narratives, influence policymaking and support social change that promotes gender equality.
The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to gender-sensitive reporting, supporting women journalists and amplifying the voices of women and girls across the continent.
“Gender equality is not only a women’s issue but a shared societal responsibility. Empowering women and girls strengthens communities, supports economic growth, and reinforces democratic development.”
It also called on media organisations, policymakers and development partners to translate commitments into practical actions that address gender inequality.
AWLA urges collective action to advance gender equality
The African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA) Nigeria Chapter has called for stronger collective action to advance gender equality as the world marks IWD 2026.
In a statement issued by its Country Representative, Falilat Orire, the association said the annual commemoration should go beyond celebration and serve as a call for individuals, institutions and policymakers to work towards equal rights, justice and opportunities for women and girls.
The organisation stressed that meaningful progress on gender equality requires collective action and shared responsibility, noting that sustained commitment from different sectors is necessary to drive gender parity.
It also urged individuals to support women’s advancement by challenging stereotypes, confronting discrimination and questioning biases that continue to limit women’s opportunities in society.
AWLA added that recognising and celebrating women’s achievements remains important, but emphasised that lasting progress will depend on deliberate actions that promote equality, innovation and positive change.
WISE calls for self-development and action
The Founder and Executive Director of Women Initiative for Sustainable Environment (WISE), Olanike Olugboji-Daramola, urged women to prioritise self-development and collective action in advancing their rights.
She encouraged women to continue building their skills and capacity in order to contribute to national development.
According to her, women must continually “learn, unlearn and relearn” to discover their potential and contribute meaningfully to society.
Similarly, a professor of inorganic chemistry at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Oluwakemi Aliyu emphasised that empowering women is essential for building resilient and inclusive societies.
Speaking at an IWD event organised by WISE in Kaduna, she said empowering women strengthens economic systems, promotes social equity and supports environmental sustainability.
The professor noted that women already play a significant role in Nigeria’s economy, particularly in agriculture and that improving women’s access to finance, land, technology and markets would significantly increase national productivity.
Ms Aliyu further highlighted the education gap affecting girls, lamenting that girls make up a large proportion of Nigeria’s out-of-school population.
She added that educating girls improves household income, health outcomes and civic participation while stressing the importance of women’s participation in science, technology and environmental governance, especially in addressing climate change.
According to her, climate change could cost Nigeria between six and 30 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2050 if adequate adaptation measures are not implemented.
The professor commended WISE for its environmental and empowerment initiatives, which have reached over 120,000 women and girls and supported the distribution of 60,000 clean cookstoves and facilitated the planting of about 5,000 trees across 220 schools in Kaduna state.
Foundation launches campaign for women’s protection
In Lagos, the Zach and Eunice We Care Foundation (ZEECFOUNDATION) marked International Women’s Day 2026 with a campaign focused on strengthening protection for women and girls.
The campaign, titled “PPP 2026: Power. Protection. Possibility,” aims to raise awareness about violence, discrimination and inequality affecting women.
It will include community outreach, advocacy activities, youth engagement programmes and public awareness campaigns on gender-based violence.
The Executive Director of the Foundation, Ogunleye Abike, said empowering women benefits society as a whole.
She called on community leaders, government institutions and civil society organisations to support initiatives that protect the rights and safety of women and girls.
WSCIJ urges greater inclusion of women in politics
The Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) also used the occasion to call for greater participation of women in governance and decision-making in Nigeria.
The Executive Director of the Centre, Motunrayo Alaka, said the gap between commitments to women’s rights and the realities women face remains wide.
She urged the Nigerian government to strengthen policies that enable women to access political leadership and economic opportunities.
According to her, women remain under-represented in leadership despite making up nearly half of Nigeria’s population. The centre highlighted the role of journalism in exposing injustices and promoting reforms that improve women’s access to opportunities.
Through its Report Women! programme, the organisation has trained female journalists and supported investigative reporting on issues affecting women and girls.
The programme has produced investigative reports exposing justice gaps, harmful cultural practices and barriers to women’s participation in governance. WSCIJ stressed that expanding women’s leadership is essential for strengthening democratic governance and social development.
“International Women’s Day must therefore be more than a commemoration. It must be a commitment to ensuring that every woman has the access she needs and the protection she deserves to reach her full potential.”
Science and innovation key to women’s empowerment – CGIAR
A global agricultural research partnership, CGIAR also joined the IWD campaign, highlighting the role of science and innovation in advancing gender equality within food systems.
Under the message “Science for Rights, Justice, and Action: Empowered Women Transforming Agrifood Systems,” the organisation stressed that research and innovation can help remove barriers limiting women’s participation in food, land and water systems.
CGIAR noted that discriminatory laws, harmful social norms and weak legal protections still affect women’s access to opportunities across agricultural value chains.
Addressing these barriers, it said, is essential for building resilient food systems and improving global food security.
MRA calls for gender-responsive information systems
Media Rights Agenda (MRA) also urged the Federal and State Governments of Nigeria to address barriers that limit women’s access to public information.
In a statement issued in Lagos to mark the IWD, the organisation said improving access to information is essential for women’s empowerment, participation in governance and socio-economic development.
The Programme Officer at MRA, Ayomide Eweje said access to information is a key tool for strengthening gender equality.
While she explained that access to information helps women make informed decisions, claim their rights and participate fully in social, economic and political life; she warned that digital spaces are becoming increasingly hostile for women, adding that online harassment and cyberbullying discourage women from participating in public discourse.
She urged the Federal Government, the National Assembly and state governments to implement policies that promote gender-disaggregated data, strengthen digital protections for women and ensure the Cybercrimes Act is used to protect women from technology-related violence.