At the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous emphasized that access to justice for women and girls is non-negotiable and fundamental to achieving equality, peace, security, and sustainable development. She highlighted that discriminatory laws, impunity, and structural barriers continue to deny justice to millions of women worldwide, and that achieving legal equality remains a global challenge.
Bahous shared alarming statistics: globally, women have only 64 percent of the legal rights of men, more than half of countries lack consent-based definitions of rape, many have no equal pay laws, and three-quarters still permit child marriage. Conflict and crisis further exacerbate the denial of justice, with 676 million women and girls living near conflict zones experiencing an 87 percent increase in conflict-related sexual violence over two years.
The CSW70 hearing, Bahous explained, represents an opportunity to strengthen partnerships, advance transformative legal reform, and invest in solutions that make justice accessible and meaningful for women and girls. These include gender-responsive and survivor-centred justice services, leadership of women in all stages of the justice system, accessible legal aid, and robust support for women’s rights organizations that drive systemic change.
Bahous stressed that progress is possible and documented: family law reforms since 1970 have granted over 600 million women access to economic opportunities, while laws addressing domestic violence and sexual harassment have enabled greater participation in work, education, and public life. Where justice is realized, women and girls thrive, benefiting entire societies and economies.
She called for leveraging technology, data, and evidence to strengthen justice delivery, while ensuring political and financial backing for the women’s movement, which is central to implementing rights and accountability. CSW70 offers a platform for collaboration among member states, civil society, the private sector, and the UN system to collectively advance justice for all women and girls.
Bahous concluded by reaffirming UN Women’s commitment to convening stakeholders and fostering transformative partnerships. She highlighted the importance of celebrating feminist voices and maintaining momentum for rights, justice, and action as the world approaches International Women’s Day, reinforcing that collective efforts can overcome setbacks and ensure justice reaches every woman and girl.
