A new report released by the United Nations has revealed that women across the world currently enjoy only about 64 percent of the legal rights available to men, highlighting persistent global inequalities in law and justice systems.
The report, titled “Ensuring and Strengthening Access to Justice for All Women and Girls,” was published ahead of International Women’s Day 2026, drawing attention to the continuing barriers women and girls face despite decades of progress in gender equality.
According to the report, no country in the world has yet achieved full legal equality between men and women.
It warned that in some regions, recent legal and policy changes are even restricting women’s freedoms, limiting their voices and allowing certain abuses to occur without proper accountability.
The findings painted a troubling picture of how laws and justice systems still fail many women around the world.
In several countries, legal frameworks remained weak or outdated on key issues affecting women’s rights and safety.
For example, the report states that more than half of the world’s nations do not define rape based strictly on the principle of consent.
It also noted that nearly three-quarters of countries still allow girls to be forced into marriage under certain legal conditions, which often disrupts education and long-term opportunities.
Another major gap concerns economic equality.
The report stated that 44 per cent of countries still lack laws guaranteeing equal pay for work of equal value, leaving women vulnerable to persistent wage disparities.
Beyond workplace discrimination, women in many parts of the world continue to face legal restrictions related to property ownership, divorce, citizenship rights and freedom of movement without spousal permission.
Speaking on the findings, Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women, warned that when women and girls are denied justice, the consequences extend far beyond individual cases.
She explained that weak protection for women undermines trust in public institutions and damages the credibility of legal systems.
According to Bahous, a justice system that cannot protect half of the population cannot truly claim to uphold justice.
Despite the alarming statistics, the report also pointed to some positive developments.
Today, about 87 per cent of countries have enacted laws against domestic violence, while more than 40 nations have strengthened constitutional protections for women and girls in the last decade.
However, the report emphasised that legal reforms alone are not enough to ensure justice.
Many survivors still struggle with stigma, fear, financial barriers and distrust in the institutions meant to protect them.
These factors often prevent victims from reporting abuse or pursuing legal action.
The report also highlighted the severe risks faced by women living in conflict-affected areas.
It estimated that about 676 million women and girls live within 50 kilometres of active conflict zones, where justice systems are often weak or completely absent.
In such environments, perpetrators frequently act without punishment, and sexual violence is sometimes used as a weapon of war.
Reported cases of conflict-related sexual violence have increased by 87 percent over the past two years, the report states.
Commenting on the findings, António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, stressed that protecting women’s rights is essential for building fair and stable societies.
He said investing in women and girls remains one of the most effective ways to improve communities and promote sustainable development.
Guterres also described International Women’s Day as more than a day of reflection, calling it a moment for governments, institutions and civil society to take stronger action toward gender equality.
According to him, real equality cannot exist as long as women remain unequal under the law.
He urged global support for UN Women and grassroots women’s movements to help translate legal rights into real protections for women and girls everywhere.
