Guided by the UN Women International Women's Day theme "Rights. Justice. Action. For all Women and Girls", this year's programme brings together researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and advocates to tackle some of the most pressing gender equity issues of our time.

 Across five days of discussions, we'll explore topics including:

•  How leadership gaps influence policy outcomes across sectors, in collaboration with UN Women and drawing on new insights from their forthcoming Gender Snapshot 2026

• Menstrual health as a human rights issue and the impact of period poverty on education, health, and economic participation

• AI, gender, and neuroscience, asking whether our increasing reliance on AI could reinforce or create new forms of gender inequality

• The rise of the online "manosphere", radical misogyny, and how digital spaces are shaping attitudes towards gender equality

• How research culture shapes recognition, visibility, and career progression in academia, and what can be done to create more equitable research environments.

As always, Breaking Barriers aims to connect disciplines, sectors, and communities, bringing together voices from STEM, HSS, public health, technology, policy, and beyond to turn research into action.

 Whether you're interested in one topic or the whole programme, we encourage you to join the conversation, ask questions, and engage with experts from around the world.

Register to attend live!

Meanwhile, watch the welcome messages and endorsements from Nicola Jones, Magdalena Skipper, and Marieke Cambeen.