Slate of Activities Planned for International Women’s Day 2026

The Bureau of Gender Affairs (BGA) will be focusing on the global call for gender equality, while reinforcing Jamaica’s own commitments, as the country commemorates International Women’s Day (IWD) 2026, on March 8.

This year, the observance is guided by the United Nations Women’s theme ‘Rights, Justice, Action for All Women and Girls’, a message designed to accelerate progress by breaking down systemic barriers that affect women and girls and combating discrimination.

The Bureau has also adopted its local theme ‘Amplifying Voices, Accelerating Actions, Building a Lasting Legacy for Our Women and Girls’, as part of efforts to contextualize the event in the Jamaican landscape.

Principal Director of the BGA, Sharon Coburn Robinson told JIS News that the complementary themes reflect both the global imperative and the nation’s on‑the‑ground realities.

“We believe if we promote the strengthening of the collective voice of women and girls, we can start on that journey or continue on that path that we’re on to make sure that women feel that there is access to justice,” she said.

Activities for IWD started today, with a worship service at Bethel Baptist Church in St. Andrew, a longstanding partner of the BGA.

“We will have an overview on the observance of International Women’s Day so persons will know why we observe [it] and we’ll also get a chance to see why the church is an important stakeholder in empowering women and girls,” Mrs. Coburn Robinson said.

Later in March, the Bureau will host its annual national banner event, bringing together stakeholders across sectors to address matters relating to women and girls.

“The event…is a highlight event, a forum that we will have different stakeholders who are part of the gender architecture…to speak about the matters that are relating to women and girls and how it is that we want to move forward,” Mrs. Coburn Robinson explained.

The official date and venue for the event will be announced soon.

On Friday, March 13, the BGA will stage a ‘Sip and Paint Empowerment Experience’ in St. James to support women still recovering from Hurricane Melissa.

“This contained activity is designed to assist them… to go through a particular activity that would allow them to see awareness and dialogue and reflection… to feel seen, heard, valued, and validated,” Mrs. Coburn Robinson said.

A second community‑focused activity takes place on Friday, March 20 in St. Catherine, guided by the alternate theme ‘Give to Gain’.

“We have chosen St. Catherine because we discovered that there are some statistics that indicate that the cases of gender-based violence and domestic violence, were alarming in the parish,” Mrs. Coburn Robinson noted.

The event will be delivered in partnership with the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and the Social Development Commission (SDC) and is designed to create a safe space for open dialogue.

“It’s a conversation where persons can actually share how they feel about the fact that the reports are increasing and what is it that they think as a community should be happening,” she explained.

Mrs. Coburn Robinson issued a national call to action, underscoring the urgency of addressing the attitudes and behaviours that perpetuate gender‑based violence and drive violations of women’s rights beyond IWD.

“We understand that there are persons who have been misguided in their thoughts, thinking that they are entitled to women’s bodies and entitled to privileges that they don’t have,” she said.

She further underscored the collective responsibility to report harmful behaviour.

“We’re all our brother’s and sister’s keepers and we all have that responsibility as individuals to make sure that when we see something that’s wrong, we ‘bawl’ it out, we report it and play our part,” Mrs. Coburn Robinson said.