Madrid, 6 March 2026. This 8 March 2026, Spanish universities join the commemoration of International Women’s Day under the theme proposed by UN Women: “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL women and girls.” This theme speaks directly to our institutions, whose mission is to generate, transmit and apply knowledge through research, teaching and knowledge transfer.
Within the university sphere, defending women’s rights means ensuring their full participation in academic, scientific and professional life, without barriers, gaps or discrimination. It means promoting safe environments free from harassment and violence, and making equality of opportunity a real and effective principle, beyond a mere formal declaration.
Justice requires us to analyse reality through a gender perspective and to act accordingly. Despite the progress achieved and the women who have paved the way in academic and scientific fields, gaps and obstacles persist that limit their advancement in research careers on equal terms and hinder their access to decision-making and leadership positions. Correcting these inequalities is not a symbolic matter. It is a matter of justice that strengthens the quality, excellence and integrity of university action. Universities cannot be fully fair while part of their talent remains invisible and underrepresented.
Action demands courage, responsibility, coherence and sustained commitment. It means moving from words to deeds by consolidating and evaluating equality policies, supporting the development of women’s scientific vocations and eliminating structural biases that continue to influence evaluation, funding and recognition of women’s merit. It also involves strengthening cooperation among universities and with public administrations, the productive sector and civil society to build a more inclusive and equitable educational and scientific ecosystem.
On this International Women’s Day 2026, the Conference of Rectors of Spanish Universities (CRUE) reaffirms its commitment to a university free from inequality, diverse in its leadership, co-responsible in care and exemplary in the active defence of human rights.
From here, we call for Rights, Justice and Action for ALL women and girls — and especially for the women and young people who study, research, teach and work in our universities. Everyone who forms part of the university community shares the responsibility of making our institutions spaces of equality and of the future.
