International Women’s Day 2026: Rights, justice and the work still to do

Each year on 8 March, International Women’s Day provides an opportunity to pause, reflect and refocus on the progress made – and the work still required – to achieve gender equality.

Across the world, organisations mark the day through events, campaigns and conversations about women’s progress and participation in society. Within financial services, many organisations use the moment to spotlight initiatives, share experiences and create space for discussion.

At Women in Banking and Finance (WIBF), we welcome these conversations. But we also recognise that International Women’s Day is not only a celebration. At its heart, it is a call to action.

The United Nations theme for 2026 – “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.” – highlights the reality that the foundations of equality remain incomplete across much of the world.

According to UN Women, women currently hold only 64% of the legal rights that men enjoy globally, and at the current pace of progress it could take more than two centuries to close the remaining legal gaps. These inequalities affect fundamental areas of life including work, property ownership, financial independence, safety and participation in public life.

Even where legal protections exist, access to justice remains a significant barrier. Research cited by UN Women shows that women in nearly 70% of countries face greater barriers to justice than men, often due to financial constraints, lack of legal support, or social pressures that discourage reporting discrimination or abuse.

Cost alone can prevent women from seeking justice. Legal fees, lost income, childcare and transport costs can make pursuing a case impossible for many. In other cases, women may face disbelief, stigma or retaliation when reporting violence or discrimination.

For the 676 million women and girls living within 50 kilometres of active conflict zones, functioning justice systems may barely exist, leaving perpetrators able to act with impunity (UN Women).

Without justice systems that work for women, rights remain words rather than lived realities.

Gender inequality also intersects with wider issues such as health, economic opportunity and safety. According to the World Health Organization’s Regional Office for Europe, women represent 51% of the population, yet they still experience persistent inequalities in health outcomes and access to care. Women also spend a greater proportion of their lives in poor health, influenced by a combination of social, economic and environmental factors.

Violence remains one of the most significant barriers to health and wellbeing. Globally, nearly one in three women experience physical or sexual violence during their lifetime, most often at the hands of an intimate partner, yet access to appropriate health and support services remains inconsistent (WHO Europe).

These realities remind us that gender equality is not a single issue. It sits at the intersection of legal rights, economic participation, health, safety and social norms.

The role of organisations and industries

In recent years, International Women’s Day has become an established moment in many organisational calendars. Companies across sectors mark the day through events, initiatives and campaigns that highlight gender equality.

This engagement can be valuable. Financial services organisations play a significant role in shaping economic systems, influencing career opportunities and supporting financial independence for millions of people. Workplace policies around recruitment, leadership development, pay equity and flexible working can all contribute to greater equality.

At the same time, researchers have highlighted the importance of ensuring that engagement with International Women’s Day goes beyond symbolism.

Research by Professor Laura J. Spence and Dr Lauren McCarthy at King’s College London has explored how corporate engagement with International Women’s Day can sometimes risk becoming overly focused on marketing rather than structural change. Their work highlights the concept of “gender-washing,” where organisations publicly highlight equality messages while deeper inequalities remain unaddressed.

The message is not that organisations should disengage from International Women’s Day. Rather, it is that the day should act as a catalyst for meaningful reflection and sustained action. As the King’s College research suggests, the focus should be on addressing systemic barriers and investing in genuine progress, rather than treating the day purely as a communications opportunity.

For businesses, the challenge is simple but important: ensure that the conversations taking place on International Women’s Day reflect the work happening throughout the other 364 days of the year.

WIBF’s perspective

For WIBF, International Women’s Day sits within a much longer journey.

Since 1980, WIBF has championed the advancement of women in financial services. In 2022, our transition to a social enterprise strengthened this longstanding mission, enabling us to sharpen our focus on accelerating gender equality across the industry while supporting the wider economic and social conditions that allow women to thrive.

Our work aligns closely with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly:

SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
SDG 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth and decent work for all
SDG 10: Reduce inequalities and ensure no one is left behind

These goals reinforce that gender equality is not simply a diversity initiative. It is fundamental to economic resilience, innovation and sustainable growth.

Across the financial services community, we see daily examples of individuals and organisations working to drive change. Mentors supporting the next generation of leaders. Employers examining policies and practices to create more inclusive workplaces. Leaders advocating for fairer representation and opportunities across the sector.

These actions may not always attract attention, but they are the building blocks of meaningful progress.

Progress and persistence

There has been progress in recent years. Conversations around inclusive leadership, flexible working and equitable career progression have moved firmly into the mainstream. More organisations are examining data on representation, pay equity and promotion pathways.

However, progress remains uneven and fragile.

Economic pressures, political shifts and global crises can slow momentum or divert attention away from equality initiatives. Around the world, legal protections for women remain inconsistent, and structural barriers continue to limit opportunities.

This is why the United Nations’ emphasis on rights, justice and action remains so relevant.

Rights must be protected through legislation and policy.
Justice systems must be accessible and fair.
And action must be sustained across governments, institutions, organisations and communities.

Looking beyond the day itself

International Women’s Day plays an important role in focusing attention and encouraging dialogue. It creates space for reflection and brings together people who share a commitment to progress.

But the real impact of the day lies in what happens afterwards.

Meaningful change is built through everyday decisions – the policies organisations adopt, the opportunities leaders create, and the systems that determine who participates in economic life and who progresses within it.

For WIBF, International Women’s Day is not simply a date in the calendar. It is a moment to reaffirm our collective commitment to the work ahead.

Because achieving gender equality requires more than a single day of recognition.

It requires sustained effort, collaboration and action – throughout the year and across the entire financial services community.

And it requires us to stand together. When individuals, organisations and allies work collectively towards change, progress becomes not only possible, but far more powerful.

Together, we can accelerate the pace of change.