The meeting in the General Assembly Hall brought together diplomats, advocates and activists, and speakers reminded the audience that progress on women’s rights has never come automatically: it has always been driven by those willing to insist on change.
The day began with an empowering message similar to Grammy-winning singer and Broadway performer Michelle Williams took the stage to perform “We Are Fearless,” a powerful tribute to the strength and resilience of women and girls around the world..
A call to action
UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous described International Women’s Day as both a celebration and a call to action.
“It’s about appreciating the talents and energies of women and girls around the world. Their bravery, their resilience, their contributions and their leadership,” she said.
But he warned that rejection of gender equality is increasing. “At first glance, we are not going backwards. We are redoubling our efforts. We are rising higher.”
Determined to succeed
actor and UN Women Goodwill Ambassador Anne Hathaway reflected on the tension between celebrating progress and confronting current inequality.
“It is difficult to bear the knowledge that the distance between the promise of equality and their experience remains so great for many,” he said.
Still, he insisted that the celebration itself is an act of defiance.
“Yes, we absolutely do,” he said, emphasizing that the day should still be celebrated amid current injustice. “Our celebration today affirms our determination to survive.”
UN Women Goodwill Ambassador Anne Hathaway addresses the UN General Assembly Hall during the 2026 International Women’s Day celebration.
Justice cannot be selective
Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai gave a sobering speech in which she warned that justice cannot be applied selectively..
“You’ll hear a lot about ‘access to justice’ this week,” he told the audience. “But true justice does not uphold the humanity of children in one place and ignore it in another.”
Pointing to conflict and repression around the world, she spoke of girls in Iran, Gaza and Afghanistan and urged governments to confront what she described as systemic discrimination against Afghan women and girls.
“This is not culture. It is not religion,” he said. “It is a system of segregation and domination; we must call the Afghan regime by its true name: gender apartheid.”
Nobel laureate and UN Messenger of Peace Malala Yousafzai addresses the commemoration.
Girls around the world are counting on us
The room also heard from Sumbul Reha, a young Afghan student and musician who spoke about what it means to grow up in a place where girls’ voices are repressed..
“I know what it means when a girl’s voice is silenced. I’ve lived it,” she said.
Despite the difficulties faced by women and girls in Afghanistan and elsewhere, she expressed hope in the determination of young people.
“We are not discouraged. We will not stop. We have hope,” she said, urging world leaders to defend girls’ right to education and women’s right to speak.
“There are millions of girls who are here with me in spirit: they count on all of us and they count on all of you.”