Women’s History Month: ENWS Celebrates Women’s Contributions and Calls for Continued Action

From March 1 to March 31, the Ethiopia Network of Women Shelters joins the global community in commemorating Women’s History Month, a time dedicated to honoring the achievements, resilience, and leadership of women throughout history and across societies.

The 2026 Women’s History Month theme, “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future,” highlights the critical role women play in building inclusive, resilient, and equitable societies. The month also includes International Women’s Day, observed annually on March 8, which serves as a key moment to recognize women’s leadership, resilience, and contributions while calling for accelerated action toward gender equality.

Women’s History Month also provides an opportunity to recognize the vital role women play in shaping families, communities, and national development, while also reflecting on the ongoing challenges many women and girls face, including gender-based violence (GBV) and unequal access to opportunities.

In Ethiopia, the commemoration highlights the importance of strengthening protection systems and ensuring that survivors of violence have access to safe, survivor-centered services. Through coordination of women’s shelters and collaboration with partners, ENWS continues to support women and girls by providing protection, psychosocial support, legal referrals, and reintegration assistance.

Women’s History Month further serves as a call for collective responsibility. ENWS encourages government institutions, civil society organizations, development partners, communities, and families to work together to prevent violence, challenge harmful social norms, and promote equality and respect. Engaging men and boys as allies remains an essential part of building safer and more inclusive communities.

By commemorating Women’s History Month, ENWS reaffirms its commitment to advancing protection, empowerment, and justice for women and girls across Ethiopia, contributing to a future where every woman and girl can live free from violence and reach her full potential.

#WomensHistoryMonth    #CelebrateWomen     #HerStoryMatters  #WomenLead #WomenEmpowerment    #GenderEquality    #WomensRights    #EmpowerHer #Equality