The 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) commenced at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on March 9, uniting global leaders, diplomats, and advocates under the theme “Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls.” This opening set the stage for discussions on women’s access to justice, revealing significant progress but also persistent gaps that remain. Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted that women globally possess only two-thirds of the legal rights afforded to men, calling for the dismantling of discriminatory laws to safeguard existing advancements. Such was the backdrop amidst voices like Anne Hathaway and Malala Yousafzai, who emphasized the dire situation in Afghanistan under Taliban rule, where women are being removed from public life.
Executive Director of UN Women, Dr. Sima Bahous, underscored that while 84 percent of countries have implemented domestic violence laws, full legal equality for women is yet to be realized. In a survey of 70 percent of countries, barriers such as cost, discrimination, and systemic failures continue to impede progress. An eight-point agenda was laid out, calling for comprehensive legal reforms and the safe use of legal technology and data, which are crucial to bridging the justice gap. More details are available here.
A panel organized by Egypt and UN Women highlighted how judicial leadership could enhance women’s access to justice. Judge Amal Ammar from Egypt’s National Council for Women described a rise in female judges from 30 in 2007 to 186 today, a testament to ongoing judicial reforms. Similarly, Jordan’s Wafa Beni Mustafa shared the nation’s strides in raising female representation in the judiciary, while Morocco’s Naima Ben Yahia outlined reforms under King Mohammed VI that modernized court access.
The day’s discussions also included a procedural session where the United States proposed amendments addressing gender definitions and reproductive health, which were ultimately rejected, reflecting the complexities in reaching a consensus on these sensitive issues. This procedural confrontation mirrors the ongoing political challenges facing women’s rights agendas.
Amidst these developments, the launch of a global network dedicated to prosecuting conflict-related sexual violence was a notable highlight. Spearheaded by a coalition of countries and UN entities, this initiative aims to transform successful prosecutions from exceptions to a standard practice. The network provides resources such as a jurisprudence database and training materials, fostering collaboration among prosecutors. This proactive approach was further emphasized by practitioners from Colombia and Nigeria, who shared how these efforts are crucial in holding perpetrators accountable, especially in conflict scenarios.
The initial day of CSW70 presented both a reflection on progress and a roadmap for further action, with the issue of access to justice for women taking center stage. The increased representation of women in judicial roles and legal reforms marks advancement, yet the existing structural and political challenges signal that more committed efforts are necessary.