As the world approaches a pivotal milestone in the movement for gender equality, the United Nations Headquarters in New York has become the staging ground for a transformative dialogue centered on the fundamental right to justice. At the opening of the first multi-stakeholder hearing for the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), the atmosphere was one of both urgency and resolve. Under the ambitious priority theme of “Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls,” global leaders, activists, and policymakers gathered to confront a sobering reality: for billions of women, the promise of legal protection remains an unfulfilled aspiration.
The 70th session arrives at a historical crossroads. This year’s focus on legal systems, discriminatory practices, and structural barriers is not merely a thematic choice but a direct response to a global climate where the rights of women are increasingly under fire. Sima Bahous, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, delivered a stirring address that served as both a diagnostic of current failures and a roadmap for systemic reform. She characterized the hearing as a “strong gain” of the CSW revitalization resolution and the Pact for the Future, emphasizing that the complexities of modern inequality require a unified, multi-stakeholder effort that transcends borders and sectors.
The statistical landscape of gender justice remains grim. Despite decades of advocacy, UN Women’s latest data reveals that women globally possess only 64 percent of the legal rights afforded to men. Perhaps most startling is the fact that not a single country on the planet has achieved full, unequivocal legal equality. This gap is not a passive oversight; it is maintained through 54 percent of countries lacking a consent-based legal definition of rape, and 44 percent of nations operating without laws that mandate equal pay for equal work. Furthermore, three-quarters of the world’s countries continue to permit child marriage, a practice that systematically truncates the potential of girls before they reach adulthood.
“We meet as the UN Charter principles of the ‘equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small’ are being tested,” Bahous remarked during her address. She noted that civic spaces are currently being constrained, resources are being withdrawn, and conflicts are escalating at an alarming rate. “For too many of the world’s women, discriminatory laws remain in force, impunity reigns, and the law applies unequally or lies within reach only of the very few.”
The correlation between conflict and the denial of justice was a central pillar of the discussion. Today, more than 676 million women and girls live within 50 kilometers of active conflict zones. In these volatile environments, the breakdown of the rule of law has led to an 87 percent increase in conflict-related sexual violence in just two years. When international humanitarian and human rights laws are disregarded with impunity, justice becomes a distant luxury rather than a basic right. Bahous asserted that upholding a rules-based international order is essential for multilateralism to survive, positioning CSW70 as a dedicated platform for those women and girls who have been systematically silenced by violence and legal negligence.
However, the narrative of CSW70 is not solely one of deficit. The hearing also highlighted the profound, transformative power of successful legal reform. Since 1970, changes in family law alone have opened economic doors for more than 600 million women. When domestic violence and sexual harassment are criminalized, the ripple effects are felt throughout society; women gain the safety and agency required to participate in the workforce, pursue higher education, and engage in public leadership. Justice, the Commission argues, is the essential framework that underpins social cohesion, lasting peace, and sustainable development.
“Justice reflects our social norms,” Bahous stated, underscoring that when access to justice becomes a reality, societies do not just change—they thrive. “Where women and girls thrive, so do whole economies and their societies.”
To bridge the gap between current reality and the vision of total equity, CSW70 is focusing on several key pillars of action. Central to this strategy is the support of women’s rights organizations. These grassroots entities serve as the bridge between international policy and local implementation. They are the ones utilizing strategic litigation to challenge discriminatory norms and driving the systematic accountability necessary for long-term change. Yet, in a bitter irony, these organizations are currently facing unprecedented levels of underfunding and political undermining. CSW70 aims to reverse this trend by advocating for justice to be treated as a “public good” that requires dedicated political and financial investment.
The session also looks toward the future of the legal profession and the integration of technology. Harnessing digital justice systems and strengthening data collection are seen as vital steps in making legal recourse more accessible to those in remote or marginalized communities. By digitizing records and streamlining reporting mechanisms, the “structural barriers” mentioned in the session’s theme can begin to be dismantled. This technological evolution must be paired with transformative legal reform that prioritizes prevention and ensures that justice systems are designed to serve victims rather than protect perpetrators.
The significance of partnership was a recurring motif throughout the hearing. The UN Women Executive Director emphasized that the UN system cannot act in a vacuum. The synergy between Member States, the private sector, and civil society is the only engine powerful enough to “move the needle” on access to justice. This collaborative energy is what has historically made the CSW a “beacon of multilateralism,” providing a space for feminist creativity and commitment to flourish even in the face of global regression.
Looking ahead to March, the momentum of CSW70 will culminate in the commemoration of International Women’s Day. The 2026 theme, “Rights. Justice. Action. For all women and girls,” serves as a clarion call to move beyond rhetoric and toward tangible legislative and social results. The upcoming events are expected to showcase the voices of those on the frontlines of the justice movement, celebrating the activists who continue to fight for accountability in the most challenging environments.
As the multi-stakeholder hearing concluded, the message was clear: the pushback against women’s rights is formidable, but the collective momentum of the global feminist movement is stronger. CSW70 represents more than a series of meetings; it is a commitment to ensuring that the law is no longer a tool of exclusion, but a shield of protection and a ladder of opportunity. For the millions of women and girls currently denied their day in court or their right to safety, the work being done in the halls of the United Nations is a vital step toward a world where justice is not an exception, but the rule.
“There is no pushback stronger than our collective efforts, no regression more powerful than our movement’s momentum,” Bahous concluded. Through steadfast partnership and a refusal to accept the status quo, CSW70 seeks to ensure that the 70th year of the Commission is remembered as the year the world finally prioritized justice for every woman and girl, without exception.
