At a time when women’s rights are under mounting pressure around the world, particularly in refugee and conflict‑affected settings, this year’s theme for International Women’s Day of “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.” feels especially urgent; social media, global conflicts, and a 50% rise in the number of women and girls living in conflict zones have contributed to a backlash against women’s rights, with 1 in 4 countries reporting challenges in 2024. Globally, women and girls still enjoy only 64% of the legal rights of men, and in most places, they face significantly higher barriers to justice.

In support of the theme “Rights. Justice. Action.” we are shining a spotlight on a few Canadian organizations and nonprofits that advance women’s rights and justice at home and abroad. This is not an exhaustive list, but a starting point for engagement, and we invite others to stand with them (and similar groups) by lending their support.

• The Canadian Women’s Foundation – Canada’s public foundation for gender equality and justice, funding community programs focused on ending gender-based violence and advancing economic empowerment. The CWF focuses on gender equity and provides funding to many grassroots organizations providing support for women escaping violence, healthy relationship education, indigenous centers, and anti-trafficking. The CWF also has a Northern Strategy that receives $2.8M (19% of CWF program spend) to support Indigenous women & girls in northern Canada including community safety & leadership programs. This initiative addresses fact that Indigenous women are 12x more likely to be murdered or go missing.
• National Association of Women and the Law (NAWL) – An advocacy organization focused on reproductive rights and substantive equity, including ending violence against women and advancing economic security (e.g., pay equity, accessible/safe housing, and social safety nets that lift women out of poverty).
• The Equality Fund – Launched in 2019 with investment from the Canadian government, and now in partnership with over 24 global organizations and foundations, this fund uses strategic investment to advocate for systemic social change. Their grants help organizations focused on gender equality to fight gender-based violence and support sexual, reproductive and LGBTQI+ rights as well as climate and indigenous land rights.
• Women’s Legal Education & Action Fund (Leaf) – works specifically to advance gender equality and equal opportunities for women, providing legal assistance, establishing landmark cases, and working on law reforms that have strengthened section 15 and 28 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Education is the Path to Empowerment

At Craft Science Inc. we also believe that supporting the education of women and girls is a powerful foundation to supporting justice and securing rights globally. Education helps a woman to:

• Know her rights, find her voice, instill confidence, and be treated with dignity.
• Stop harm from repeating by helping her to recognize and respond to mistreatment, abuse and inequity in families, workplaces, and communities.
• Sustain herself economically, so she is less likely to fall prey to exploitation and abuse and be able to afford legal representation when seeking justice through a court system.

There are countless inspiring organizations in Canada and around the world working to advance education for women and girls; here are just a few groups (some lesser-known) that are making a powerful difference:

• 60 Million Girls – founded in 2006 by Wanda Bedard, this organization is dedicated to supporting education for marginalized girls in developing countries, often through innovative, tech-based solutions like their “Mobile Learning Labs”. They focus on basic education, health and reproductive rights, and climate change/action. The foundation is run entirely by volunteers, reporting administrative costs under 1%.
• Canadian Harambee Education Society (CHES) – established in 1985 and run by retired teachers who volunteer their time (admin fees are less than 6%), this small nonprofit is dedicated to helping girls in Tanzania and Kenya complete high school. Its mission is to remove practical barriers like school fees, supplies, and other costs that can force girls to leave school early (or not get a high school education at all). CHES currently has 581 girls being sponsored: 248 in Kenya and 333 in Tanzania. Over 80% of their students have automatically qualified for university due to their high scholastic achievement.
• CAMFED Canada – focuses on Girl’s secondary education in Africa (almost 100K girls supported in 2023 across Ghana, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe). Like CHES, CAMFED covers school fees, uniforms, books, and other essentials that ensure girls can get access to the education they deserve. The CAMFED Association network has over 300,000 educated women leading change (as teachers, and role models), with an educational focus that includes social justice, economic development, climate change, and leadership, to foster both personal and financial independence.
• World University Service of Canada (WUSC) – started in 1920, and registered as a charity in 1967, the WUSC is one of Canada’s largest and oldest development organizations. While they support youth education of both genders, particularly those who have been forcibly displaced by climate change and conflict, they have a strong focus on women’s vocational education, equity and gender equality, and supporting young refugees. In partnership with INVEST Canada, the TVET program is helping young women get training in non-traditional vocational fields, with scholarship, internship, and apprenticeships funding for over 1600 women in Ghana, digital skills training for women and girls in refugee camps, and mentorship programs for women entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka.
• Fora: Network for Change – equips young feminist changemakers with training, networks, and influence‑building opportunities to challenge structural inequities and claim space in decision‑making institutions. By cultivating leadership among young women and gender‑marginalized people, Fora is helping build a generation that can secure legal protections, equal access to justice, and more equitable participation in social, economic, and political life.

• Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology (SCWIST) – established in 1981, SCWIST offers youth programs, conferences, and e‑mentoring initiatives designed to support girls and women as they discover and pursue STEM education and job opportunities. Their scholarships help remove financial barriers while their job boards, career fairs, Ignite STEM networking events and mentorship programs strengthen job readiness and career advancement.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day under the theme “Justice for All Women and Girls,” we invite you to pause and choose one group whose mission truly resonates with you. Support can take many forms: a donation, volunteering your time, or simply sharing their work so more people can champion their cause.

We’ll leave you with the CHES motto, which feels especially meaningful today:

“We can’t do everything… but we can do something.”