Photo Review

International Women's Day 2026 Around the World

On International Women's Day across the world women in their millions organized actions including rallies, marches, meetings, cultural performances and celebrations. They celebrated their victories and resistance, putting forward their demands for an end to all forms of discrimination, harassment and persecution, for women's rights to be fully realized as the condition for guaranteeing the rights of all, and for an end to war and the subjugation of nations. Denunciation of the crimes of the imperialist powers led by the U.S. against the peoples of the world, particularly its economic and military aggression against Venezuela, Cuba and Iran to bring about regime change and the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people featured prominently in many of the actions.

In Palestine the women and girls are resisting the genocidal war of the U.S./Israeli Zionists. In Lebanon and Iran women are in the forefront in the fight against the brutal U.S./Israeli aggression and the world stands with them. The women of Venezuela on IWD demanded the return of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, kidnapped by the U.S. and held in a U.S. prison. Cuban women facing the extreme hardships imposed by the U.S. blockade and cutting off fuel to Cuba stand strong in defence of their sovereignty and independence. In Spain thousands of women took to the streets of major cities to call for an end to the U.S./Israeli war on Iran. Across Europe and the UK, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia, Africa and Oceania women were in action. In China, Vietnam and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea state organized cultural events and meetings celebrated women's achievements and women's ongoing participation in the advancement of their societies.

CANADA
Montreal

Quebec City

Toronto

In Toronto at the IWD rally at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, to a full house, organizers greeted everyone with a militant expression of solidarity with the women of Palestine, Cuba, Venezuela and Iran and affirmed that it is up to the peoples to determine their own future. Information on their work and demands were given by women speaking for organizations fighting for the rights of migrant workers, community-based defence organizations and working women fighting the anti-social offensive of the Ford and Carney governments. A skit by the South Asian Women's Rights Organization illustrated the fight for rights of immigrant families. The audience greatly appreciated a video from a woman activist in Minneapolis showing the mass mobilization of the people against ICE, coming together to defend everyone from U.S. state attacks. The march from OISE to Toronto Metropolitan University was loud and lively, peppered with banners and signs demanding Hands Off Iran!, an end to the occupation of Palestine, and opposing war and militarization, alongside banners of fighting organizations.

Edmonton

In Edmonton the annual Dinner and Discussion organized by Women for Rights and Empowerment to celebrate International Women's Day was a big success, attended by close to 200 women and their friends, family and fellow political activists. The theme was Resistance Rising. A high point of the evening was the reception given to the presidents of the Edmonton locals of the Alberta Teachers' Association, who were given the traditional Bread and Roses award for their strike in which they smashed the myth of United Conservative Party invincibility and won the battle of public opinion that Education Is a Right!

Speakers from different sections of the economy, and representing migrant workers, Indigenous fighters, anti-war and climate activists and others fighting for rights spoke about their work, leaving no doubt that women are in the forefront of all the struggles raging for freedom, peace and democracy. Front and centre the entire evening was the dangerous situation in the world, and the leading role of the women, their great courage, resilience and steadfastness against U.S./Israeli aggression and war in Iran, in Palestine and Lebanon, in Cuba and the world over. The evening concluded with a Red Salute to the Fighting Women of the World and enthusiastic applause and approval for women taking up as their aim to Make Canada a Zone for Peace.