As the United Nations approaches its landmark 80th anniversary, the international community finds itself at a pivotal crossroads. Eight decades ago, the UN Charter was established as a beacon of hope, a foundational document predicated on the non-negotiable principle of universal human rights. Today, that foundation is being tested by a complex web of global crises. At the heart of this struggle is a simple, yet frequently contested truth: women’s and girls’ rights are not a separate category of privileges to be granted or withheld at the whim of political leadership. They are human rights in their purest form—essential, non-negotiable, and the very bedrock upon which a stable and civilized society must be built.
However, the current global landscape tells a more troubling story. Despite decades of advocacy and legal advancements, the fundamental rights of women and girls are currently under unprecedented strain. We are witnessing a period of significant regression where the safety, dignity, and autonomy of half the world’s population are being systematically eroded. This backsliding is not confined to any single region; it is a global phenomenon fueled by a toxic combination of armed conflict, systemic discrimination, and entrenched economic injustice. From the frontlines of war zones to the quiet halls of domestic life, the basic right to live free from fear and violence is being compromised for millions.
The threats have also evolved with the digital age. While the internet has provided platforms for mobilization and voice, it has also become a fertile ground for new forms of gender-based violence. Online harassment, doxxing, and the targeted digital character assassination of women leaders and activists serve to silence female voices and push them out of public discourse. This digital frontier of abuse mirrors the physical violence that continues to plague communities offline, creating a continuous cycle of trauma that leaves few safe havens. In many jurisdictions, the legal framework has failed to keep pace with these technological shifts, leaving victims with little recourse and perpetrators with a sense of digital impunity.
Perhaps most distressing is the persistent culture of impunity surrounding the most heinous crimes against women. In too many corners of the globe, sexual violence and femicide—the intentional killing of women because they are women—go unpunished. The statistics are a sobering reminder of a collective failure to protect. When justice systems fail to hold offenders accountable, they send a message that women’s lives are disposable. This culture of neglect is often codified in law or practice; reduced penalties for so-called “honour” crimes remain a stain on several legal codes, suggesting that the “reputation” of a family or community carries more weight than the life of a woman. Forced marriage and the persistence of harmful gender stereotypes further entrench this inequality, creating a world where the rule of law is applied selectively, if at all.
The erosion of these rights is not merely a social issue; it is a direct threat to the integrity of human rights frameworks worldwide. These frameworks were specifically designed to prevent the very abuses we see today. However, without the twin pillars of accountability and the rule of law, international declarations remain little more than ink on paper. A right that cannot be enforced is not a right—it is a hollow promise. To move from rhetoric to reality, the global community must ensure that legal systems are not only robust but also accessible to those who need them most.
This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a visionary roadmap for gender equality that remains the most comprehensive global policy framework to date. In 1995, leaders from 189 countries gathered with a shared conviction: that the full realization of human rights for women and girls is the only way to achieve sustainable development and peace. Three decades later, the task is no longer just to envision a better world, but to deliver on the promises made in Beijing. The gap between the aspirations of 1995 and the realities of 2025 must be closed with urgent, decisive action.
Central to this mission is the concept of access to justice. It is the vital mechanism that bridges the gap between high-level international commitments and the lived experience of women and girls. Access to justice means that a survivor of violence can walk into a police station and be treated with dignity rather than suspicion. It means that a woman can own property, inherit assets, and seek employment without being blocked by discriminatory statutes. It means that courtrooms are equipped to handle gender-based crimes with sensitivity and expertise. When women have access to justice, they have the power to transform their lives and their communities.
Looking ahead, the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) in 2026 stands as a critical milestone on the global calendar. With a dedicated focus on dismantling discriminatory laws and strengthening justice systems, CSW70 offers a rare opportunity for member states to move beyond generalities. The goal is to identify and strike down the thousands of laws that still treat women as second-class citizens, while simultaneously building the institutional capacity to protect rights in real-time. This session will be a litmus test for the world’s commitment to gender equality in a post-pandemic, conflict-heavy era.
In the face of these challenges, UN Women is leading the charge to turn global promises into tangible progress. The organization’s work is focused on the “how”—the practical, ground-level interventions that change the trajectory of lives. A prime example of this is the Gender Justice Platform, a collaborative initiative that has already yielded significant results. In just the past year, the platform facilitated access to justice for more than 125,000 individuals, providing the legal support and resources necessary to navigate complex and often hostile systems. This isn’t just about legal aid; it’s about restoring agency to those who have been marginalized.
Furthermore, UN Women’s advocacy has been instrumental in driving systemic legislative change. Last year alone, the organization supported 77 major legal reforms across the globe. These were not minor adjustments but transformative shifts in policy. In Mexico, constitutional guarantees were strengthened to ensure better representation and protection. In nations such as Bahrain, Guyana, Honduras, Malaysia, and Mali, new protections against violence were codified into law, providing law enforcement with the tools to intervene and survivors with the grounds to seek protection. Albania also saw the passage of a comprehensive gender equality law, setting a new standard for the region. These legislative wins prove that even in difficult political climates, progress is possible when there is a concerted effort to align national laws with international human rights standards.
As the world observes Human Rights Day, the message is clear: human rights are the essential daily requirements for a functioning, peaceful, and prosperous world. They are not luxuries to be enjoyed only in times of stability; they are the very tools we use to build that stability. When we secure the dignity and equality of women and girls, we are not just helping one demographic—we are strengthening the foundation of global peace and development. The path forward requires more than just marking anniversaries; it requires an unwavering commitment to justice that transcends borders, cultures, and political cycles. On this day, and every day following, the objective remains the same: to ensure that for every woman and girl, justice is not an aspiration, but a guaranteed reality.
