Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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March 4, 2026 Women
The justice system, designed to uphold rights and uphold the rule of law, is failing to protect women and girls, the UN reports ahead of International Women's Day. Globally, women enjoy only 64 percent of the legal rights enjoyed by men.
A new report by the UN Secretary-General clarifies that in more than half the world's countries, rape is still not defined based on the principle of consent. Therefore, a woman can be raped, but for one reason or another, the law may not recognize the incident as a crime.
A girl can still be forced into marriage under national law in almost 75 percent of countries. And in 44 percent of countries, the law does not require equal pay for work of equal value, meaning a woman may earn less for the same work.
"When women and girls are denied justice, the damage extends far beyond any individual case. Public trust is undermined, institutions lose legitimacy, and the rule of law weakens. A justice system that fails half the population cannot claim to deliver justice," said UN Women Executive Director Sima Bacchus.
Violations of women's and girls' rights are on the rise worldwide—in courts, online, and in conflict zones. Laws are being rewritten to restrict women's and girls' freedoms and allow abuses to go unpunished.
Against a backdrop of rapidly advancing technology, women and girls face increasing digital violence in a climate of impunity. In conflict settings, rape continues to be used as a weapon of war, with the number of reported cases of sexual violence increasing by 87 percent over the past two years.
The UN Secretary-General's report also shows that progress is possible: 87 percent of countries have adopted laws against domestic violence, and more than 40 countries have strengthened constitutional protections for women and girls' rights over the past decade.
However, laws alone are not enough, the UN emphasizes. Discriminatory social norms, stigma, victim-blaming, fear, and societal pressure continue to silence victims and impede justice, allowing even the most extreme forms of violence, including femicide, to go unpunished.
Women's access to justice is also often limited by everyday realities – cost, lack of time, mistrust of the institutions that are supposed to protect them.
Ahead of International Women's Day, UN Women calls for an end to impunity and for the rule of law and equality to be upheld – not only in the legal sphere, but also in practice, across all spheres of life.
The seventieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women, which will take place from 9 to 19 March this year, presents a unique opportunity to highlight the problem of discrimination against women and to ensure justice.
“Now is the moment to stand up and speak out – for rights, for justice, and for action so that every woman and girl can be safe, speak out freely, and live an equal life,” said UN Women Executive Director Sima Bacchus.
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