On March 8, 2026, the entire world rallied around the theme "Rights. Justice. Action. For all women and girls," reminding us that equality is an inalienable right and a condition of universal justice.
This day highlighted the decisive role of women in building more just and inclusive societies, particularly in contexts marked by persistent inequality and violence. For the human rights organizations that are members of ROADDH, this celebration was an opportunity to reaffirm their commitment to women defenders, who are agents of change and pillars of social cohesion.
Through advocacy and citizen mobilization, they emphasized that collective action by women is at the heart of the struggle for dignity and freedom. March 8 thus becomes not only a day of commemoration, but also a call to strengthen solidarity and transnational action for human rights.
In Benin, the Coalition of Human Rights Defenders issued a statement praising the efforts of "Amazon" women in advancing human rights in the country. It urges us to "thank, support, and value the women around us" and asks us to "listen to their stories, recognize their contributions, and commit to building a society where every woman and girl can reach her full potential. Because when women advance, all of humanity advances."
The Burkinabe coalition of human rights defenders pointed out that thousands of women live and die in anonymity, deprived of civil status documents. Without a birth certificate, identity card, or passport, they are excluded from citizenship and access to fundamental rights.
She calls on the authorities to "start at the beginning": facilitate the issuance of identity documents to guarantee women a legal existence, economic integration, and full participation in national life. Recognizing their identity means recognizing their dignity and their future.
In Côte d'Ivoire, it was in the village of Taboth that the Ivorian Coalition of HRDs, in partnership with Lumière Synergie pour le Développement (LSD), marked the day by recognizing the courage and commitment of the women of the village who are mobilizing to defend their rights and those of their community in the face of the impacts of development projects on their livelihoods and living conditions.
A donation totaling three million (3,000,000) CFA francs was given to the women of the village affected by the impacts of the Atinkou thermal power plant project.
Consisting of a tricycle, with administrative documents, worth 1,500,000 CFA francs and a cash sum of 1,500,000 CFA francs, distributed among the presidents of the village's three sub-districts, this action aims to strengthen the resilience of women whose economic activities have been weakened by the impacts of the project; support their livelihoods by supporting the revival and development of their income-generating activities; and promote women's leadership by recognizing their central role in the economic and social life of their communities. The women shared their testimonies, expressed the challenges they have faced since the power plant was installed, and raised their concerns so that their realities are better taken into account in development projects.
This activity received financial support from the Foundation for a Just Society (FJS).
