The World Health Organization’s Regional Office for Europe will host a special online event on March 5 to mark International Women’s Day 2026, focusing on advancing women’s rights, justice and meaningful action to improve the health and well-being of women and girls.

The event will be organised under the theme “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls” and will be open to the public through an online registration process. The initiative aims to bring attention to the need for stronger policy action and greater global commitment to women’s health and gender equality.

According to WHO Europe, women’s right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health must be recognised as a core element of equitable and sustainable societies.

Health experts emphasise that women’s health should not be treated as a narrow sectoral issue but rather as a critical component of social justice, economic development, and resilient communities.

Women account for 51 per cent of the population in the WHO European Region, yet significant health inequalities continue to affect them throughout their lives.

Despite progress in gender equality across Europe, many women still spend a larger share of their lives experiencing poor health compared to men.

Health challenges affecting women span a wide range of areas, including sexual and reproductive health, maternal care, noncommunicable diseases, mental health conditions, and issues related to ageing. Access to healthcare services also remains uneven in several parts of the region.

Experts note that women’s health outcomes are shaped by multiple factors, including biological differences as well as social, economic, cultural, and environmental determinants. Commercial influences and systemic inequalities also play a role in shaping health risks and access to care.

In addition, women and girls in diverse communities continue to experience gender discrimination and inequality that directly affect their health and well-being.

Although the WHO European Region reports some of the highest levels of gender equality in the world, no country has fully achieved the equality goals outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Persistent gaps remain in several areas, including income equality, financial independence, education opportunities, employment access, workplace conditions, and social protection systems. Violence and discrimination against women further intensify these disparities and contribute to long-term health risks.

Violence against women remains one of the most serious threats to women’s health globally. WHO data indicates that nearly one in three women experiences physical or sexual violence at least once during their lifetime, most frequently at the hands of an intimate partner.

Despite the widespread nature of the problem, fewer than 40 per cent of countries in the European Region have implemented the minimum health service policies recommended by WHO for providing care to survivors of rape.

Under the Second European Programme of Work (EPW2) for 2026–2030, WHO Europe has launched a Special Initiative aimed at strengthening the role of the health sector in preventing and responding to violence against women and girls while safeguarding their right to health.

The upcoming webinar will also mark ten years since member states endorsed the Strategy on Women’s Health and Well-being in the WHO European Region.

The event will provide a platform to review the progress achieved so far, identify remaining gaps and encourage coordinated international action.

The programme will open with remarks by WHO Regional Director for Europe Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, followed by discussions and expert panels featuring representatives from several global organisations.

Participants will include representatives from UNICEF, UN Women, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the European Institute of Women’s Health, and ministries of health from Albania, Kazakhstan, the Republic of Moldova and Spain.

Through these discussions, organisers aim to highlight the urgent need for stronger collaboration, policy reform and targeted investments to ensure that women and girls across the region can fully realise their right to health.

Published: 04 Mar 2026, 02:26 pm IST

Disclaimer: Kindly avoid objectionable, derogatory, unlawful and lewd comments, while responding to reports. Such comments are punishable under cyber laws. Please keep away from personal attacks. The opinions expressed here are the personal opinions of readers and not that of Mathrubhumi.