NEW YORK— A new United Nations report identifies feminist movements and civil society as among the most powerful drivers of progress on women’s rights worldwide, while warning that justice systems, both formal and traditional, including religious ones, can reinforce inequality when shaped by patriarchal norms. The report outlines policy and institutional reforms aimed at expanding access to justice and reducing violence and discrimination worldwide.
The release of the report coincided with the 70th annual Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), which took place from March 9 to 19, 2026, at United Nations Headquarters in New York, and was convened under the priority theme: “Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls.” As the UN’s largest annual gathering on gender equality, this year’s session focuses on what legal inequality means in practice, and what must change to close the gap.
The meeting unfolded at a critical moment. The rule of law is under pressure in many regions, democratic space is narrowing, and the rights of women and girls are being rolled back even as justice systems struggle to provide protection or accountability.
Globally, women and girls have only about 64 percent of the legal rights afforded to men. At CSW70, Member States committed to addressing key drivers of inequality, including poverty, gender-based violence, and discriminatory laws related to child marriage, property, and economic participation.
Although women represent a small share of prison populations, between 2 and 9 percent, the number of incarcerated women has increased dramatically (by 57 percent) since 2000, compared to 22 percent for men. Advocates say this rise is due to structural inequalities targeting women, including the criminalization of poverty and systemic gender bias.
The political declaration adopted at the session is intended to serve as “a roadmap to build more inclusive governance, support peace and social cohesion, and prevent future violations,” according to the United Nations. Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women, described it as “an important commitment to advancing access to justice for women and girls, ending impunity, and building justice systems that work for everyone, equally.”
For the first time in its 70-year history, the Commission on the Status of Women did not adopt its agreed conclusions by consensus. Instead, the United States called for a recorded vote following weeks of negotiations on the theme of access to justice for women and girls. The United States objected to language in the document related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), definitions and framing of gender, references to the impacts of climate change on women, and sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Regardless, the measure passed with 37 votes in favor, six abstentions, and a single vote against from the United States, prompting standing applause in the General Assembly Hall.
Nevertheless, the accompanying report underscores a stark reality: no country has achieved full legal equality between women and men.
The consequences of legal inequality are far-reaching. Gaps in the law can mean that sexual violence is not fully recognized or prosecuted, that child marriage remains legally permitted under certain conditions, or that wage disparities persist without effective remedy. These inequities shape economic opportunity, personal safety, and autonomy across generations.
Even where legal protections exist, structural barriers often limit access to justice. Social norms, economic inequality, and discrimination continue to determine who can realistically seek protection under the law. Women face compounded obstacles linked to income, religion or belief, sexual orientation and gender identity, disability, and migration status. Fear of retaliation, stigma, and mistrust of institutions further discourage engagement with justice systems.
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The report also highlights the complex role of traditional and community-based justice systems, including religious frameworks. In many contexts, these systems offer accessible and culturally grounded avenues for resolving disputes. At the same time, they may reflect existing power imbalances, particularly where women are underrepresented in decision-making roles or where patriarchal norms shape outcomes.
Technology presents both opportunity and risk. Digital tools can expand access to legal information and services, particularly in underserved areas. However, they have also enabled new forms of harm. AI-generated deepfake sexual images, overwhelmingly targeting women, now constitute the majority of such content online, while legal accountability for creators remains limited.
The report emphasizes that justice is where gender equality is ultimately decided. When laws are equitable and institutions function effectively, the impact can be transformative. Reforms to family law, covering marriage, divorce, inheritance, and property, have already enabled an estimated 600 million women to access greater economic opportunity.
At the same time, global instability continues to undermine progress. An estimated 676 million women and girls live near conflict zones, where justice systems may be weakened or collapse entirely. In these settings, sexual violence increases, accountability diminishes, and access to protection becomes even more limited.
The report points to the enduring tension between tradition and rights. Traditional and community-based justice systems, including religious ones, are often more accessible, faster, and culturally grounded than formal legal institutions, particularly in underserved regions. At the same time, the report notes that these systems can reflect and reinforce existing power imbalances, including gender inequality, especially where decision-making authority is concentrated and not broadly representative. This dual reality raises broader questions about how authority, accountability, and equity are negotiated within decentralized or community-based spiritual and cultural frameworks, particularly where formal legal protections are limited or absent.
CSW70’s focus on access to justice reflects a growing recognition that rights must be enforceable to matter. The report outlines several key actions addressing the points of concern above: eliminating discriminatory laws, strengthening enforcement, funding legal aid and survivor-centered services, supporting women’s organizations, and ensuring that technology and data systems expand, rather than restrict, access to justice.
Although not fully optimistic, the report nevertheless remains cautiously hopeful, emphasizing that progress is possible through sustained political will, adequate resources, and structural reforms.
The challenge now is implementation, that is, whether these commitments will translate into real change. The United Nations does not have the authority to compel member states to act. Its role is to influence rather than force compliance. Nevertheless, without that real change, as the report notes, equality before the law will remain an unfulfilled promise for many women and girls worldwide.
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