HIC Presidency message to the HIC Membership during the month of March of 2026
Now more than ever – local gender-just practices and policies for housing and land
Habitat International Coalition (HIC) celebrates all women and people of diverse gender identities within the feminine spectrum and triumphs over the milestones achieved through the coalition towards recognition of fundamental principles enshrined in the virtues of equality and co-existence. HIC also celebrates and recognise the transformative work of its Members across the world, advancing equality, justice, and the right to housing, land and the city. Across regions, local communities are leading feminist practices and policy change to counter exclusion and defend women’s rights in increasingly challenging contexts. The 2026 International Women’s Day is being commemorated at a time when global justice systems have been undermined by war, repression and geopolitical conflicts. Today, we are witnessing a growing disregard for the rule of law and human rights, shrinking access to justice for women and marginalized communities, and deepening structural inequalities shaping cities across the Global North and South..
Every day, women and girls in war affected zones are fleeing what was once their home seeking refuge and safety. Dispossession, forced displacement and insecure land tenure are daily realities, leaving thousands of women as refugees from their homes whilegirls cannot focus on getting an education as they are constantly fleeing conflict.
Habitat International Coalition and its partners (HIC) reflect on the 2026 global theme for International Women’s Day which is “Give to Gain” aligning it with our commitment to Rights, Justice and Action.. This also resonates with the theme of 70th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW 70) , focusing on fostering strong legal systems, access to justice for women and girls, elimination of discriminatory laws, addressing structural barriers and fostering justice systems that work for women and girls.
The globe has over the past few decades made progress towards equality between men and women with statistics revealing that women enjoyed 64 percent of legal rights compared to their male counterparts. The world needs to work hard to strengthen global systems and challenge inhibiting practices and norms in order to close the 36 percent gap on none-enjoyment of legal rights of women. This gap represents a set of issues that impede full enjoyment of women rights including structural barriers, discriminatory laws, harmful gender and social norms, and persistent gaps between legal commitments and lived realities.
While regions in Europe, Central Asia have improved their gender equality, legislation specifically addressing violence against women, ensuring real access to justice for women and girls is far-fetched. What is of more concern is the fast spreading of impacts of war on already struggling economies that impact more women and girls negatively.
Women will continue to be subjected to selective justice, revictimized, or priced out of legal support. While the world has struggled with the wars in Ukraine and Russia, where several lives have been lost, the world has in the recent past witnessed another wave of wars in the Middle East and invasion of Venezuela and Iran increasing their risk of abuse while failing to hold perpetrators and the powerful to account. Women, girls and the older persons continue to lose their lives in countries like Sudan and Congo DRC. Coupled with effects of climate shocks, poverty continues to carry a feminine face.
- The World needs peace to support justice for women
- With justice, Legal systems including investigative wings and courts will end impunity on women and promote timely access to justice
- National Governments need to be deliberate with provision of legal aid that women and girls can access and afford.
- Promote systems that ensure support to survivors whose rights have been violated
HIC makes a clarion call for the world to embrace the theme “Give to Gain”.
The enjoyment and promotion of women’s rights is not guaranteed. It will not just happen. It requires each and every well-meaning member of society to stand up and support aspects of equality, sovereignty, justice, peace and while upholding the right to life. It requires recognising, enabling and investing in gender-just local practices and policies that are already transforming realities on the ground. Life should be preserved and protected precisely when strong political beliefs and ideologies may differ.
HIC appeals to all global leaders to pursue peace, dialogue and protection of human life.
- Give up the weapons and gain peace while supporting Women’s justice
- Give up weaponization of aid and support women’s economic justice.
- Give up territorial invasion and and support women’s equal rights to land, housing and dignity.
Across the world, HIC members are leading transformative feminist practices and policy changes to challenge exclusion and advance women’s equal rights to housing, land and the city.
This March, our Coalition is highlighting how the local practices of HIC Members are already transforming realities on the ground across nine different countries – do visit the campaign and share these cases!
Grace Chikumo Mtonga,
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Guillermo Marzioni, |
