08/03/2026
On International Women's Day, NHRO joins the global observance of the United Nations theme for 2026: “Rights. Justice. Action. for All Women and Girls.”
The phrase “for all” invites an important question — who remains least visible in conversations around women’s rights?
In reflecting on this theme within the Indian context, NHRO chose to centre attention on groups of women whose rights often remain underrepresented in public discourse: s*x workers, women with disabilities, tribal women, and rural women.
Data helps illustrate why this focus matters.
Nearly 73% of working women in rural India are engaged in agriculture, yet less than 14% of landholders are women.
India is home to over 26 million persons with disabilities, many of whom face barriers in education, employment and accessibility.
Indigenous and tribal communities continue to experience disparities in access to healthcare, education and economic opportunities.
Meanwhile, thousands of women working in the informal economy — including s*x workers — navigate complex legal and social conditions that often limit their access to protection and social security.
These realities remind us that the experience of rights is not uniform.
By bringing these communities into focus this year, NHRO hopes to highlight a simple but important principle: the promise of Rights, Justice and Action must extend to every woman and every girl — including those whose voices are least represented.
NHRO wishes everyone a thoughtful and reflective International Women’s Day.
