International Women’s Day (IWD), observed every year on 8 March, is a significant date for the University of Greenwich, for organisations across the UK and for communities around the world. Yet many people are unaware that different organisations set their own themes each year. This can lead to mixed messages and some uncertainty about the day’s focus. The following summary explains why these variations exist and what they represent.
The United Nations theme: Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.
For 2026, the United Nations (UN) has chosen the theme “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.”
The UN highlights the continuing inequalities faced by women and girls worldwide, noting:
“Right now, in 2026, women have only 64 per cent of the legal rights that men hold worldwide.”
This theme aligns with the UN Commission on the status of women and its core priorities to:
- Strengthen access to justice for women and girls
- Remove discriminatory laws, policies and practices
- Address the structural barriers that limit equality.
This rights-based focus reflects the original purpose of IWD: collective action to advance gender equality and challenge systemic injustice.
For more information see this link
The International Women’s Day campaign theme: Give to Gain
A separate campaign, widely recognised through internationalwomensday.com, sets its own annual theme. For 2026, it has announced the theme “Give to Gain”.
This campaign tends to emphasise celebration, community involvement and organisational participation, helping broaden engagement with IWD.
The site also lists events taking place across the UK, including a University of Greenwich event:
Making Britain Home: Celebrating Migrant Women Academics
Book Launch
The Powerhouse, Greenwich
Thursday 12 March, 1pm–4.30pm
Why are there different themes?
International Women’s Day (IWD) originated in the early 20th century as a movement for women’s rights and social justice. It traces back to a 1908 protest in New York, where some 15,000 women demanded fair pay, shorter hours, and better working conditions. Inspired by this, delegates at the 1910 International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen - 100 women from 17 countries - established IWD. Remarkably, without modern communication, the first celebrations in 1911 united over a million people across Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland. March 8 later became the official date following Russian women’s 1917 strike for “Bread and Peace”, which helped secure women’s suffrage. The United Nations formally recognised IWD in 1975, aligning with the momentum of Second Wave Feminism.
The world has evolved since 1908, and we do have greater freedom and representation, but it is not equally distributed or experienced.
Two approaches have emerged:
- The UN approach focuses on legal rights, structural inequalities and global policy change.
- The internationalwomensday.com campaign highlights celebration, participation and awareness raising activities.
These differences prompt ongoing discussion:
- Does increased corporate and community visibility risk overshadowing IWD’s political and historical origins?
- Or does it bring more people into the conversation, creating wider momentum for change?
At the University of Greenwich, we recognise the value of both approaches. The UN’s rights-based perspective reflects the need for continued progress, while the participatory campaign offers opportunities for community engagement and celebration of achievements.
For a clear overview of the day’s origins and development, see: BBC Newsround – The origins and history of International Women’s Day
