International Women’s Day: March 8th

8 March 2026 marks the 115th annual International Women’s Day (IWD) to recognize the achievements of women while shedding light on further efforts towards gender equality. The determination to achieve women’s equal
participation in society and to bridge the gap in justice and equity for women has been demonstrated since IWD’s creation in 1911.

At a time when volatile global politics question the dignity, rights, and safety of women, it is critical to resist absurd and unreasonable claims that diminish fairness and impact of women’s autonomy, individuality, and aspirations.

Wisdom2Action (W2A) is committed to gender equality as part of its overall mandate to support clients and partners to achieve positive change and strengthen communities. As part of that commitment, W2A has collaborated with the Women’s Legal Education Action Fund (LEAF), which is dedicated to improving gender equality through policy and legal reform. LEAF works to eliminate discrimination that women face in the workplace, ensure access to reproductive freedoms, prevent violence against women and gender diverse people, improve maternity benefits, equal pay, and more. Fae Johnstone, W2A Special Advisor was honored to be involved in a LEAF initiative that advocated for trans feminine inclusion, prioritized equality, and the prevention of discrimination on the basis of gender identity and gender expression. The initiative spawned the Trans Feminine Inclusion in Feminist Workplaces report which can be found at: https://www.leaf.ca/publication/tfiw-report/.

IWD is dedicated to acknowledging all women, especially those who experience barriers that hinder equality, so that the world is better for everyone. The day is an opportunity to embrace the progress that has been made, celebrate the achievements of women, and acknowledge the intersectional experiences that exacerbate already existing inequalities so that they may be addressed and dismantled. More progress is essential to achieve fairness for all women worldwide from all walks of life.

In the words of Louise McKinney, a women’s rights activist and member of the Famous Five, “the purpose of a woman’s life is just the same as the purpose of a man’s life – that she may make the best possible contribution to the generation in which she is living” (Louise McKinney, 1919).