Global Justice Gap Widens As Women Hold Just 64% Of Legal Rights – UN Raises Alarm At CSW70
In a world that proclaims equality, the reality for millions of women and girls remains starkly different, justice, for many, is still out of reach.
A new global push to close the gender justice gap took centre stage at the Commission on the Status of Women 70th Session, where governments and rights groups warned that women worldwide enjoy only 64 per cent of the legal rights available to men, according to the United Nations.
Beyond legal limitations, experts say the situation is even worse in practice.
Weak enforcement, entrenched discrimination, and systemic inequalities continue to block access to justice for women and girls, particularly those facing multiple layers of marginalisation.
At a high-level briefing convened by global feminist coalitions, advocates highlighted how economic hardship, conflict, and cultural norms often silence survivors of violence and deny them redress.
In many communities, informal justice systems, while more accessible, prioritise reconciliation over accountability, leaving victims without protection.
Speakers also pointed to the growing impact of climate change, austerity policies, and digital exploitation, which are compounding vulnerabilities and making justice systems even less accessible.
From Asia to the Pacific, activists stressed that economic inequality and underfunded institutions are stripping women of the means to seek justice.
The consensus at CSW70 was clear: legal reforms alone are not enough.
Achieving justice for women and girls requires dismantling structural inequalities, increasing accountability, and ensuring that those most affected are included in decision-making spaces.
As global leaders renew commitments, advocates insist that justice must move beyond policy promises to real, lived experiences, where every woman and girl can claim her rights without fear or barriers.
Follow the Savinews Africa channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VawgaEL5vKA9Y5XTFg0n
