Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls: International Women’s Day, March 8

March 6, 2026

March 8 is International Women’s Day (IWD), recognized by the United Nations and celebrated across Canada. IWD honors the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women while also recognizing the ongoing barriers many face due to sexism and inequality.

The theme for IWD 2026 is “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls”. Women and gender-diverse workers have long led the fight for gender justice, yet challenges remain. Data from the Canadian Labour Congress shows that inequities are still widespread:

• 60% of minimum wage workers in Canada are women; almost a third are more likely than men to hold multiple jobs, and young women are 53% more likely to work multiple jobs.
• 40% of women reported difficulty meeting their financial needs in 2025.
• In 2023, 21% of families where women were the main breadwinners experienced food insecurity, compared to 16% of families where men were the main breadwinners. Single mothers face the highest rates at 41%.
• Three in five parents struggle to find childcare in their community, affecting women’s workforce participation.
• Women still earn, on average, 89 cents for every dollar men make.
• Immigrant women face a 55% pay gap, racialized women 40%, Indigenous women 45%, and women with disabilities 56%.
• 73% of gender-diverse workers and 46% of women workers report experiencing harassment or violence at work.

These figures make clear that advancing rights and justice requires more than awareness, it requires spaces where people can learn, reflect, and act together.

The Joint Learning Program (JLP) creates these spaces.  By connecting people through workshops and discussions, the JLP helps participants understand the experiences behind the numbers and explore practical ways to foster fairness, respect, and equity in their workplaces.

This IWD, let’s move from awareness to action. Amplify women’s voices, listen with care -  especially to those who face intersecting barriers - and commit to ongoing learning. Together, we can build workplaces and communities rooted in rights, justice, and equity for all women and girls.