Breaking the Gavel of Inequality: A Global Mandate for Women’s Legal Empowerment
The halls of the United Nations Headquarters in New York recently served as the backdrop for a pivotal moment in the global struggle for gender equality. As the international community prepares for the landmark 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), UN Under-Secretary-General and UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous delivered a clarion call for a radical restructuring of the world’s legal frameworks. Addressing the first-ever multi-stakeholder hearing dedicated to the priority theme of CSW70, Bahous outlined a vision where justice is not a luxury for the few, but a fundamental right guaranteed to every woman and girl, regardless of her geography or economic status.
The theme for the upcoming 2026 session—”Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls”—comes at a time when the global progress toward gender parity is facing unprecedented headwinds. Bahous noted that this hearing is a direct result of the CSW revitalization resolution and the recently adopted Pact for the Future, representing a shift toward more inclusive, collaborative diplomacy. By bringing together Member States, civil society, the private sector, and grassroots activists, the UN aims to dismantle the structural barriers that have historically rendered the legal system a tool of exclusion rather than empowerment.
The urgency of this mission is underscored by a sobering reality: the principles of the UN Charter, which promise equal rights to all, are currently under siege. Bahous highlighted a disturbing trend of “pushback” against women’s rights, characterized by constrained civic spaces, the withdrawal of essential funding, and the escalation of global conflicts. In this volatile climate, discriminatory laws remain entrenched in many nations, and impunity for crimes against women has become a haunting norm. For millions, the law is either a weapon used against them or a distant promise that remains perpetually out of reach.
The data provided by UN Women paints a stark picture of the legal chasm. Globally, women possess only 64 percent of the legal rights afforded to men. Perhaps most shocking is the fact that in 2026, not a single country on Earth can claim to have achieved full legal equality. This systemic failure manifests in various forms: 54 percent of countries still lack a consent-based legal definition of rape; 44 percent have no legislation supporting equal pay for work of equal value; and three-quarters of the world’s nations still permit child marriage, a practice that disproportionately truncates the potential of young girls.
Bahous emphasized that the denial of justice is most visible and visceral in zones of conflict and crisis. Currently, more than 676 million women and girls live within 50 kilometers of active conflict zones. In these regions, conflict-related sexual violence has surged by a staggering 87 percent in just a two-year period. As international humanitarian and human rights laws are increasingly disregarded by combatants and states alike, justice has become a vanishing prospect for those most vulnerable to the horrors of war. Bahous asserted that upholding the rules-based international order is the only way to ensure accountability and restore the dignity of survivors.
However, the discourse was not solely focused on the deficits of the present. Bahous offered a compelling case for the transformative power of legal reform, framing justice as a “public good” that yields immense dividends for society at large. Since 1970, reforms in family law have enabled more than 600 million women to enter the workforce and access economic opportunities that were previously denied to them. When domestic violence is criminalized and sexual harassment laws are enforced, women are empowered to participate more fully in education, public life, and the economy. The message was clear: when women thrive through legal protection, entire nations experience greater social cohesion, lasting peace, and sustainable development.
To bridge the gap between rhetoric and reality, Bahous identified several critical pathways for reform. Central to this strategy is the support of women’s rights organizations. These grassroots groups act as the vital link between global policy and local implementation. They are the ones challenging discriminatory norms in courtrooms, utilizing strategic litigation to set new legal precedents, and providing direct support to victims of abuse. Yet, despite their essential role, these organizations are currently among the most underfunded and targeted entities in the global civil society landscape. Bahous called for a massive scale-up in political and financial investment to protect these frontline defenders of justice.
The vision for CSW70 also includes the integration of modern technology into the pursuit of equity. Bahous pointed to the potential of digital justice systems to streamline legal processes, making them more accessible to women in remote or underserved areas. By strengthening data collection and evidence-gathering through technological means, the international community can better identify where the legal system is failing and implement targeted interventions. This data-driven approach is seen as essential for moving beyond symbolic gestures toward measurable, systemic change.
As the UN Women Executive Director looked toward the future, she framed the upcoming session of the Commission as a unique opportunity for multilateralism to prove its worth. The “Pact for the Future” serves as a roadmap, but its success depends on the collective energy and commitment of all stakeholders. Bahous expressed confidence that the “momentum of the movement” would be strong enough to overcome the regressive forces seeking to roll back rights. She reminded the audience that there is no pushback stronger than collective action and no regression more powerful than a movement fueled by the passion for a feminist agenda.
The road to CSW70 will culminate in March, coinciding with International Women’s Day. The theme for the 2026 celebration—”Rights. Justice. Action. For all women and girls”—serves as both a slogan and a mandate. It reflects a shift in focus from mere advocacy to tangible enforcement. The goal is to ensure that the legal systems of the world no longer reflect the prejudices of the past but instead serve as the essential framework for a future defined by equality.
In her concluding remarks, Bahous reaffirmed UN Women’s role as a convener and a catalyst for this change. She thanked the participants for their “steadfast partnership” and urged them to remain courageous in their pursuit of justice. The hearing served as a reminder that while the statistics may be grim, the solutions are known and the path forward is clear. The challenge now lies in the political will to enact transformative legal reforms that will finally secure the rights of women and girls everywhere.
As the international community prepares for the deliberations of CSW70, the world’s eyes are on the United Nations. The success of this session will be measured not by the elegance of its resolutions, but by the tangible changes it brings to the lives of women who have long been denied their day in court. For those living in the shadow of conflict, those fighting for equal pay, and those seeking protection from violence, the promise of “justice for all” must finally become a lived reality. Through inclusive legal systems and the elimination of structural barriers, the goal of CSW70 is to ensure that no woman or girl is ever again left to navigate a world where the law does not recognize her worth.
