08/03/2026
As we celebrate International Women’s Day, many conversations focus on advancing women’s rights and opportunities. However, one group is still too often overlooked women living with disabilities.
Globally, over 1 billion people live with disabilities, and women represent a significant proportion of this population. Women with disabilities often face multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, both as women and as persons with disabilities. As a result, they are frequently underrepresented in education, employment, leadership, and decision making spaces.
This year’s themes, “Give to Gain” and “Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls,” remind us that meaningful progress requires intentional investment. If we are truly committed to equality, we must invest in the education, leadership development, representation, and capacity building of women with disabilities.
As someone deeply passionate about equality, diversity, and inclusion, I believe it is critical for us to think intentionally about those whom society does not always adequately cater for. True inclusion means ensuring that every woman and every girl, regardless of ability, has access to opportunities, visibility, and support.
This International Women’s Day, let us reflect on how we can give so that we can gain, by advocating for inclusive policies, supporting representation, and creating opportunities for women and girls with disabilities.
Because when inclusion is real, everyone benefits. Happy International Women’s Day.