United Nations, Mar 10: United Nations leaders have called for stronger global action to address gender inequality and ensure access to justice for women and girls, warning that equality remains an unfulfilled promise despite decades of progress.
Opening the seventieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women on Monday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said gender equality has always been “a question of power” and stressed that every gain in women’s rights has been achieved through persistent struggle.
“Not a single step forward for women’s rights has ever been given. It has been won,” Guterres said, acknowledging generations of women, activists and community leaders who have fought for equality.
The main theme of this year’s session focuses on strengthening access to justice for women and girls worldwide. Delegates are discussing ways to promote inclusive legal systems, eliminate discriminatory laws and policies, and remove structural barriers that prevent women from accessing justice.
Guterres highlighted continuing global disparities, noting that women worldwide enjoy only about 64 per cent of the legal rights available to men.“Justice remains a distant dream for millions of women and girls,” he said, pointing to persistent discriminatory laws and entrenched patriarchal norms that continue to limit women’s opportunities and protections.
The UN chief also expressed concern about the limited participation of women in peace negotiations and conflict-resolution processes. He said research shows that peace agreements tend to be more durable and societies recover more effectively when women are meaningfully involved.
However, he noted that women are still frequently absent from negotiation tables while sexual violence continues in many conflict zones.UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous said gender inequality often worsens in situations of war and instability.
Addressing the gathering, Bahous urged renewed efforts toward diplomacy and dialogue, calling for an end to violence in conflict-affected regions including parts of the Middle East and Africa.
Delegates from across the world are participating in the session, which aims to advance policies and commitments to improve justice systems and strengthen protections for women and girls globally.
