International Women’s Day Statement
By the SANOP Regional Board Chair, Mbongeni Dlamini
Today we join the global community in commemorating International Women’s Day, a moment to celebrate the achievements of women and renew our commitment to advancing equality, dignity, and justice for all.
The 2026 theme, “Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls,” is a powerful reminder that gender equality requires more than promises. It requires deliberate action to ensure that the rights of women and girls are respected, protected, and fulfilled everywhere.
For the Southern African Network of Prisons (SANOP), this theme resonates deeply with our mission of promoting human rights, justice, and community wellbeing, particularly within correctional systems and among communities affected by incarceration across Southern Africa.
Across our region, women play vital roles as human rights defenders, caregivers, community leaders, and civil society advocates. Many of them work tirelessly often with limited resources to support prisoners, former inmates, and their families. Their efforts strengthen rehabilitation, reintegration, and social justice, and they remind us that transforming justice systems requires compassion, courage, and collective responsibility.
At the same time, we must acknowledge that many women and girls continue to face systemic barriers and discrimination. Women in detention, as well as those impacted by incarceration, often experience stigma, limited access to services, separation from families, and reduced opportunities for reintegration. Addressing these realities requires us to place women’s rights and dignity at the centre of justice reform.
This year’s theme challenges us to move beyond words and take meaningful steps toward change. At SANOP, we reaffirm our commitment to:
- Promoting the rights and dignity of women and girls within correctional systems and communities.
- Advocating for justice systems that are humane, gender-responsive, and accountable.
- Supporting civil society organisations and grassroots initiatives, many led by women, that work tirelessly to improve the lives of prisoners and ex-inmates.
- Strengthening partnerships that ensure women’s voices are heard in shaping policies and reforms within the justice sector.
Advancing rights, justice, and action for all women and girls means ensuring that no one is left behind especially those who are often unseen or unheard, including women in prisons and those affected by incarceration.
On this International Women’s Day, let us recommit ourselves to standing in solidarity with women and girls everywhere, and to building societies where their rights are upheld, their voices are valued, and justice is truly accessible to all.
Happy International Women’s Day.