This International Women’s Day, the National Education Union stands in solidarity with women in the UK and internationally.
We celebrate the resilience, courage, and leadership of women educators, students, and activists while recognising the persistent barriers to equality, safety, and opportunity that many continue to face.
Globally, these barriers take many forms. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), only 56% of girls are enrolled in schools. In Afghanistan, girls are banned from secondary school and universities, with nearly 78% of young women excluded from education, employment, or training. In Cuba, the United States’ blockade has prevented food, medicines, oil and other essential supplies reaching the island and has meant schools have had to close. In Palestine and Ukraine, continued war and violence prevent women educators and students accessing their places of work and learning. In Iran, women’s rights are systematically repressed through legal discrimination and violent crackdowns, with women and girls frequently subjected to harassment and arrests. Around the world, educators face violence, delayed salary payments, and professional restrictions, yet women continue to teach and advocate under extreme conditions.
Despite these barriers, there are signs of hope and as educators, we know that collective action can advance gender equality and education for all. Women educators, students, and activists continue to show resistance and solidarity. Unions worldwide are working together to defend rights, protect education, and amplify women’s voices.
The NEU supports all efforts to ensure safe, inclusive, and fully-funded public education, standing with teachers and students in countries where education and human rights are under threat, including Afghanistan, Cuba, DRC, Palestine, Sudan and Ukraine. Together, we reaffirm that women’s rights, workers’ rights, and quality education is achievable through solidarity and collective action both at home and internationally.