The official theme for International Women’s Day 2026 is here: “Balance the Scales”.
It brings attention to the urgent need for a fairer, more inclusive and accessible justice system for women and girls.
In announcing the theme for next year, UN Women Australia said despite decades of progress, there are still many barriers that block women and girls from accessing justice. While these structural barriers have been in place for generations, it is possible for us to dismantle them.
Globally, one in three women experience violence and most never seek formal support or justice through the legal system.
In Australia, sexual assault conviction rates remain incredibly and stubbornly low. In New South Wales, just seven per cent of sexual assault cases led to convictions in 2023.
UN Women also notes that marginalised communities of women are most likely to be failed by the justice system. For example, First Nations women are 34 per cent more likely to be hospitalised due to family violence than non-Indigenous women.
“Balance the Scales is a promise for every woman and girl to be safe, heard, and free to shape her own future,” UN Women Australia CEO Simone Clarke said.
“In 2026, unjust laws, policies, and ingrained barriers still stand in the way of fair and inclusive communities.
“This International Women’s Day, we are calling on Australians to join a movement for real action – to transform our justice systems, amplify marginalised voices, and ensure equality is not the exception, but the rule.”
Climate change
Climate change is an ever-growing threat that disproportionately impacts women and girls, especially across the Pacific region. Displacement from disasters is also a concern and will deepen existing inequalities.
UN Women estimates that by 2050, climate change may push up to 158 million more women and girls into extreme poverty. This figure is 16 million more than men and boys and highlights why a climate justice approach is critical.
Australia has a pivotal role to play in elevating women’s voices and leadership, as well as working towards climate justice.
“True progress takes more than words. Together, we have the power to dismantle discriminatory systems, unlock transformation, and deliver justice, safety, and dignity for all women and girls,” Clarke said.
UN Women Australia will host its signature International Women’s Day events in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, and online on 4 March 2026.