League statement on International Women’s Day

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, observed annually on 8 March, the League of Arab States reaffirms its steadfast commitment to advancing the rights of Arab women, safeguarding their achievements, and supporting efforts aimed at empowering them at all levels.

This commitment is regarded as a fundamental pillar for achieving sustainable development and consolidating the principles of justice and equality within Arab societies.

The commemoration of this occasion comes at a time when the region and the world are facing numerous challenges and crises, particularly in countries and areas affected by armed conflicts, wars, and humanitarian crises, in addition to the situation of women living under Israeli occupation.

In such contexts, women and girls are exposed to multiple forms of hardship and violations, including forced displacement, deteriorating living conditions, and difficulties in accessing basic services, as well as the rising risks of violence and exploitation.

These factors further exacerbate their vulnerability and increase the burdens they bear amid complex humanitarian crises.

Regional reports indicate that women and girls constitute a significant proportion of those affected by conflicts and displacement, affirming the need to intensify efforts to ensure their protection and guarantee their access to essential services without discrimination.

In this regard, the League of Arab States stresses the critical importance of intensifying regional and international efforts aimed at protecting women and girls in situations of conflict, war, and occupation, and ensuring the provision of humanitarian assistance and health, psychological, social, and legal services that safeguard their human dignity and strengthen their resilience and active participation in recovery, reconstruction, and peacebuilding efforts.

The League also affirms the need to integrate a gender equality perspective into national and regional policies and strategies, and to enhance women’s participation in decision-making processes and in efforts to achieve peace, security, and development.

This is in line with relevant Arab frameworks and documents, foremost among them the Arab Women’s Development Agenda for the Arab Region 2023–2028 and the ministerial documents issued by the League of Arab States concerning equity and gender equality for sustainable development, which underscore the importance of empowering women, protecting them from all forms of violence, and strengthening their participation in various spheres of public life.

The League of Arab States further reiterates the importance of strengthening cooperation among member states, regional and international organisations, and civil society institutions, in order to accelerate efforts to achieve gender equality, expand opportunities for the empowerment of women and girls, and ensure that their needs are integrated into development and humanitarian policies and programmes, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected environments.

While marking this occasion, the League of Arab States pays tribute to the pivotal role played by Arab women in supporting societal stability and advancing development pathways.

It reaffirms that empowering and protecting women are essential prerequisites for achieving security, peace, and sustainable development, and for building a more prosperous and just future.