Women's march instead of Women's Day: what the organisers are demanding
The organizers of the Women's March announced the event.
This year, participants plan to focus on the new version of the Civil Code of Ukraine, which was published on 22 January 2026. These are draft laws No. 14394, No. 14394-1 and No. 14394-2.
The organisers claim that the documents are being pushed through without proper public discussion. They are demanding that the drafts be withdrawn and that a broad public discussion be held with the involvement of civil society organisations and independent experts.
The draft Private Law Code, submitted by Verkhovna Rada Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk together with other MPs, is positioned as a step towards European integration. At the same time, activists express reservations about its content.
Among the demands voiced are:
— the use of the categories of "good morals" and "immorality" as legal criteria;
— barriers to divorce during pregnancy and after childbirth;
— the introduction of "reconciliation" procedures;
— the reduction of time limits for the protection of rights, in particular regarding alimony and the establishment of maternity or paternity;
— economic risks and the possibility of financial control.
A separate demand is the protection of women in the military. The initiative supports the adoption of draft law No. 13037 on combating sexual harassment and discrimination in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. As of 2 March 2026, the document was signed by the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada and sent to the President for signature.
During the march, they also plan to remind people of the need for systematic steps to return women from captivity and provide them with full support after their release.
The Women's March is a feminist initiative that holds events in various cities across Ukraine every year on 8 March. The first march took place in 2018. The last large-scale march was held in 2021, before the full-scale invasion began.
