Threats to Girls and Women Globally
Despite progress over the last century, significant threats against women and girls still endanger our safety, self-determination, and equality. Among the most devastating challenges are persistent barriers to education, domestic and sexual violence, and the rise of hate towards women in public positions. Countless hard-working activists and nonprofit organizations need our support. We spoke with Dr. Lauryn Oates, executive director of Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan, about some of the toughest issues facing women today.
Barriers to Education
UNICEF estimates that 129 million girls around the world are not in school. Education gaps are even starker in countries impacted by fragility, conflict, and violence (FCV). Girls in FCV countries are 2.5 times more likely to be out of school, with 90% of them more likely to be out of secondary school. Whether due to gender bias, poverty, child marriage, infrastructure, or violence, millions of women miss out on the self-reliance and empowerment that education supports.
Violence Against Women
Another profound threat to women’s rights is gender-based violence. Brutality against women and girls remains a global crisis, with alarming rates of domestic violence, sexual assault, and femicide reported around the world. Marginalized people, including women of colour, LGBTQIA, folks who are unhoused, and others, face even greater violence and barriers to much-needed justice and support.
Dr. Oates at CW4WAfghan said that the Taliban’s return to power has meant an increase in violence and regressive policies against women, including the closure of women’s shelters, the firing of all women judges and prosecutors, and the eradication of the Elimination of Violence Against Women (EVAW) Law.
“After Taliban rule ended in 2001, Afghan women made huge strides against gender-based violence. They opened women’s shelters across Afghanistan. Legal aid clinics helped women leave abusive marriages by obtaining divorces. Women judges and lawyers were working again, and putting abusers in prison under the new law,” said Dr. Oates. “The taboo on talking about violence against women started to crumble, and Afghan media began openly discussing the issue.”
Sadly, that progress has been a casualty of the Taliban’s return to power. “They shut down the women’s shelters, fired all women judges and prosecutors, dissolved Afghanistan’s parliament, and ignored all laws passed under the previous regime, including the EVAW Law,” she shared. “There’s virtually total impunity now for those who perpetrate violence against women, whether in private or public. In fact, there are well-documented cases of senior Taliban officials who have committed terrible violence to women.”
Attacks on women in public positions
Along with threats to pay equity and women’s rights, women and girls face barriers that impede their full participation in many spheres. Targets of hate both online and in the real world, the worst of the attacks are suffered by Black, Indigenous, and racialized women.
Canadian politicians, journalists, and activists face discrimination, hate speech, and violence in increasing numbers. Threats include trolling, vandalism, hate mail, death threats, and physical violence. Canadian public life incidents are rising due to threats against race, religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity. In 2023, Canada’s first Indigenous Governor General, Mary May Simon, had to close social media comments and post the following statement: “In recent months, we have witnessed an increase in abusive, misogynistic, and racist engagement on social media and online platforms, including a greater number of violent threats.”
What can you do on International Women’s Day 2026?
Thankfully, there are a myriad of ways to get involved on International Women’s Day and throughout the year.
Wear purple clothing on IWD. Show your support with the colour that symbolizes the fight for gender equality
Amplify marginalized voices. Seek out and share the voices of girls and women from marginalized communities in Canada and beyond to help increase awareness of their experiences and perspectives.
Donate to charities or cause funds that support women.CW4WAfghan, for example, is grateful for people who donate and fundraise by hosting fundraising potluck dinners in their community to help subsidize their numerous education programs for Afghan women. Unite for Change’s Period Equity Fund helps support charities increasing access to menstrual products and education. While the Women’s Health in Focus Fund supports charities working to create equitable healthcare for women by offering critical services include mental and physical health care, sexual and reproductive education, and essential medication to women in need.