International Women’s Day: From Inez Milholland to the Remarkable Women Who Changed the World
Every year on March 8, the world marks International Women’s Day (IWD) , a worldwide moment to celebrate women’s achievements while pushing for equal rights and opportunities for all. Sitting in the heart of Women's History Month and first recognized by the United Nations in 1977, the day has become both a celebration and a call to action. And in 2026, that call feels especially urgent. Women and girls have never been closer to equality, and yet in many places, they are also closer to losing it. Legal protections against domestic violence have expanded in some countries, but across the world, women still do not enjoy the same legal rights as men. In many places, the systems designed to protect women and girls are failing, leaving millions exposed to discrimination, violence, and injustice. Ahead of the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) at the United Nations this March, a new report warns that backlash against gender equality is intensifying . Laws are b...