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Planning PR for International Women’s Day 2026? Align with the UN theme
The CIPR President urges all PR and communications professionals to please make sure you’re aligning with the official UN campaign
My annual note to remind you that if you’re planning comms for International Women’s Day, the theme for 2026 is hashtag #BalanceTheScales, set by the United Nations.
The international women’s website, which looks official, is owned by a marketing agency that profits from it year-round. Their theme this year is hashtag #GiveToGain, with hand gestures that, in my opinion, symbolise begging.
My biggest annoyance with Give to Gain is that it puts the onus on women (once again) to fix. Do we really think women need to “give” more? Most of the women I know have been giving, carrying, stretching, stepping up and absorbing the emotional load for decades.
"Balance the Scales" theme calls for achieving gender equality by dismantling systemic barriers that prevent women and girls from having fair access to justice, safety, and opportunity.
It’s about:
- Dismantling systemic barriers
- Action-oriented approaches
- Focusing on justice and safety
- Promoting equality and opportunity
- Unity and collaboration
So be aware of performative actions. Asking your colleagues to pose with random hand gestures isn’t going to change systemic barriers.
Ensure you discuss progress and the changes you're making to help women thrive in your organisation. If nothing has shifted and there’s no intention to make changes, I’d carefully consider whether you should be involved.
If you’re not sure where to begin, I highly recommend you read the UN Women’s 2026-2029 Strategic Plan. The focus is all about creating an equal world for all women and girls.
- International Women's Day 2026 takes place on Sunday 8 March 2026.
Internal communications and inclusion expert Advita Patel is the CIPR President 2025. She is the co-founder of CommsRebel, a Manchester-based communications consultancy, and A Leader Like Me, a global consultancy supporting organisations to be more inclusive.
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