Breaking the Bars of Inequality: Global Leaders Demand a Revolution in Legal Justice for Women and Girls
As the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) convened in New York, the air was thick with a sense of urgency that transcended the typical diplomatic decorum of United Nations headquarters. While the main sessions focused on the broader priority themes of inclusive and equitable legal frameworks, a high-level side event held on 11 March emerged as the emotional and strategic heart of the week. Titled “Women Leaders Paving the Way: Access to Justice for All Women and Girls,” the gathering served as a rallying cry for a fundamental overhaul of the world’s legal architectures. Organized by the UN Women Leaders Network in collaboration with the Government of Iceland and the UN Foundation, the event brought together a formidable coalition of veteran stateswomen, rising youth activists, and legal experts to confront a harsh reality: for millions of women and girls, justice is not a right, but a luxury they cannot afford.
The backdrop of the discussion was undeniably grim. The year 2026 has been marked by what many delegates described as a “polycrisis”—a confluence of rising economic inequalities, a visible backsliding of democratic norms, and a persistent, often violent, pushback against gender equality. In many parts of the world, discriminatory laws that were thought to be relics of the past are being revived, while new legal barriers are being erected to limit women’s bodily autonomy and economic participation. It was within this volatile atmosphere that the UN Women Leaders Network sought to bridge the gap between policy and practice, emphasizing that without access to justice, all other rights remain theoretical.
Atifete Jahjaga, the former President of Kosovo and Founder of the Jahjaga Foundation, set the tone for the session with a poignant reminder of the high stakes involved. Speaking from a place of deep experience in post-conflict reconstruction and human rights advocacy, Jahjaga noted that the timing of the meeting was not just appropriate, but critical. She observed that the world is currently “under fire,” with conflicts and systemic crises disproportionately impacting those who are already the most vulnerable. “While the world is under fire, we are more than ever in need to unite, because women and children are the ones who are suffering the greatest consequences,” Jahjaga stated. Her message was clear: leadership is not merely about holding a title; it is about the moral obligation to join forces and demand accountability for those who have been silenced by systemic failure.
The event’s power lay in its intergenerational and intersectional composition. The organizers recognized that the justice systems of the future cannot be built solely by the architects of the past. This sentiment was echoed by İlayda Eskitaşçıoğlu, a human rights lawyer and UN Young Leader for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Eskitaşçıoğlu challenged the traditional metaphors of leadership, specifically the idea that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Instead, she proposed a more dynamic vision of solidarity. “I do not agree with that,” she said, referring to the “weakest link” adage. “A chain is as strong as how well-linked and how well-connected it is.” Her call for “connected accountability” resonated deeply with the younger activists in the room, suggesting that the path forward requires a seamless integration of grassroots energy and high-level policy influence.
The discussion also delved into the practical, often invisible, ways that legal systems dictate the trajectory of a woman’s life. Shantel Marekera Chakara, representing the World Bank Group’s Women, Business and the Law programme, provided a sobering look at how legal frameworks act as gatekeepers to economic opportunity. For many women, the concept of “justice” is not limited to a courtroom; it is found in the everyday safety and agency they are often denied. “For me, access to justice means women and girls not having to think twice about making basic decisions,” Chakara explained. She illustrated this by pointing to the fundamental choices many women face daily: whether they can walk safely to their place of employment, whether they have the legal standing to access education, or whether the law protects their right to receive equal pay for equal work. When these basic certainties are absent, the legal system has failed in its primary duty.
The dialogue was masterfully guided by Yasmeen Hassan, a human rights lawyer and the former Global Executive Director of Equality Now. Hassan, who has spent decades fighting to repeal discriminatory laws globally, facilitated a conversation that was both strategic and deeply personal. The panellists explored the “justice gap”—the chasm between the laws on the books and the reality of their enforcement. They noted that even in countries with progressive constitutions, the lack of affordable legal aid, the presence of biased judiciaries, and the persistence of social stigmas often prevent women from seeking redress for gender-based violence or land rights violations.
As the event progressed, the focus shifted from diagnosing the problem to demanding radical action. Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, a prominent lawyer, political activist, and the founder of Women in Leadership, delivered a stirring call for “unconventional” methods of change. Known for her uncompromising advocacy, Mos-Shogbamimu argued that traditional diplomatic channels, while necessary, are no longer sufficient to meet the urgency of the moment. “I believe in mass mobilization,” she declared. “Access to justice has to be achieved unconventionally. It has to be achieved in untraditional ways because that is where we ought to be today.” Her words served as a reminder that history’s greatest leaps in civil rights were rarely the result of polite requests, but rather the product of organized, disruptive, and collective action.
The closing remarks were delivered by Sima Bahous, the Executive Director of UN Women, who distilled the day’s complex discussions into a clear blueprint for the future. Bahous acknowledged that while the challenges are daunting, the solutions are already known; the missing ingredient is often the political will to fund and implement them. She outlined a vision of “integrated justice systems” that do not operate in silos but are connected to social services, healthcare, and economic support.
Bahous emphasized several key pillars for this transformation: the provision of free and accessible legal aid, the robust funding of grassroots women’s organizations which often serve as the first point of contact for survivors, and the adoption of inclusive technologies that can bridge the data gap in gender statistics. “We know what works,” Bahous told the assembly. “Women’s leadership, always, and in every space.” Her conclusion was a powerful endorsement of the day’s theme: that justice is not something that can be granted to women by benevolent systems; it is something that women must be empowered to define, lead, and enforce themselves.
The CSW70 side event concluded not with a sense of closure, but with a renewed commitment to the long road ahead. The message from the UN Women Leaders Network was unambiguous: advancing justice for women and girls is the litmus test for the health of global democracy. In a world where legal rights are increasingly under threat, the collective action of intergenerational leaders—from the halls of the UN to the front lines of grassroots activism—is the only force capable of turning the tide. The event served as a potent reminder that when women lead the charge for justice, they do not just seek to reform the law; they seek to transform the world.
