9 March 2026 - Leaders, advocates and youth voices gathered at UN Headquarters in New York on 9 March 2026 to commemorate the International Day ahead of the opening of the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, the UN’s largest annual forum on gender equality.
Focus on “Rights, Justice, Action”: Speakers stressed the need for stronger action to ensure women and girls can fully access justice and equal rights worldwide.
Secretary-General highlights legal inequality: António Guterres noted that women globally hold only 64 per cent of the legal rights enjoyed by men, urging countries to dismantle discriminatory laws and defend hard-won progress.
High-profile participation: Anne Hathaway joined global leaders and advocates at the event, which also featured a musical performance by Michelle Williams.
Afghanistan in focus: Malala Yousafzai warned that women and girls in Afghanistan are being erased from public life under Taliban rule, while Afghan student Sunbul Reha urged leaders to protect girls’ right to education, saying millions of girls are counting on the international community to act.
In his statement for the Day, UN DESA’s Under-Secretary-General Li Junhua emphasized the Department’s commitment to women and girls, and its pledge to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and make gender equality a reality for all.
“Together, let us take action with and for all women and girls, champion their rights and ensure their access to justice, guided by the frameworks set out in the Sustainable Development Goals and in the Doha Political Declaration. “
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