Make Justice a Reality for Women and Girls - UN Secretary-General

E. adu Gyamfi Odopa

(Odopa2@gmail.com)

United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, António Guterres on International Women’s Day 2026 said, "When we are not equal under the law, we are not equal." 

He called for an immediate global effort to dismantle centuries of discriminatory legislation and make justice a daily reality for women and girls everywhere.

Mr. Guterres highlighted a worrying statistic indicating that worldwide, women currently hold just 64 per cent of the legal rights enjoyed by men.

"Legal discrimination is not a relic of the past; it is a current crisis shaping every aspect of a woman’s life," Guterres said. 

He noted that in many nations, women are still legally barred from Owning property or securing financial independence, Seeking a divorce or escaping domestic abuse and Taking employment without a husband’s formal permission.

Perhaps most alarming, Guterres pointed out that in more than 40 countries, marital rape is still not recognized as a criminal offense.

The Secretary-General warned that the world is witnessing a "dangerous new trend" where even long-standing progress is being dismantled. He attributed this regression to rising authoritarianism and political instability.

"We are seeing a renewed push to entrench patriarchy," Guterres remarked, citing the rollback of sexual and reproductive rights and the weakening of fair work protections in various regions. 

He emphasized that even where laws are "on the books," weak enforcement and systemic bias mean many women remain effectively locked out of the courtroom.

The 2026 International Women's Day theme; Rights, Action, and Justice, serves as the cornerstone for the UN's Beijing+30 Action Agenda. 

Guterres urged Member States to move beyond symbolic gestures and deliver on the promises of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).