Women’s rights are regressing in many parts of the world, with women holding only 64 per cent of the legal rights enjoyed by men globally, according to a new UN report.
Despite decades of progress, the report says women and girls remain unequal to men under the law in every country.
The report, titled Ensuring and Strengthening Access to Justice for All Women and Girls, warns that laws in some countries are being reshaped to restrict women’s freedoms, silence their voices and enable abuse without consequences.
It cautions that women and girls are increasingly being failed by the very systems meant to protect them, leaving many exposed to abuse, injustice and impunity as backlash against gender equality grows.
The findings come as the world marks International Women’s Day 2026, which highlights the urgent need to close the justice gap for women and girls worldwide.
According to the report, inequality within justice systems remains a critical global challenge.
“The reality is stark. In more than half of the world’s countries, rape laws are not based on consent,” the report states.
It also notes that nearly three out of four nations still legally allow girls to be forced into marriage, cutting short their childhoods, education and future opportunities.
In addition, 44 per cent of countries do not have laws guaranteeing equal pay for work of equal value, while about 54 per cent lack a consent-based definition of rape.
In many countries, women continue to face legal barriers to owning property, seeking divorce, passing citizenship to their children, or even working and moving freely without their husband’s permission.
Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women, warned that denying women and girls access to justice has consequences that extend far beyond individual cases.
“When women and girls are denied justice, public trust erodes, institutions lose legitimacy, and the rule of law itself is weakened,” Bahous said.
“A justice system that fails half the population cannot claim to uphold justice at all.”
Despite the challenges, the report notes that some progress has been made.
Today, 87 per cent of countries have laws against domestic violence, and more than 40 nations have strengthened constitutional protections for women and girls over the past decade.
However, the report stresses that legislation alone is not enough.
Survivors often face stigma, fear, financial barriers and a lack of trust in the institutions meant to protect them. As a result, justice remains out of reach for many.
At the same time, the report warns of troubling setbacks.
In some countries, hard-won rights are being rolled back, while new forms of violence, including digital abuse, are on the rise.
For the estimated 676 million women and girls living within 50 kilometres of active conflict zones, justice systems are often absent and perpetrators frequently act with impunity.
Rape also continues to be used as a weapon of war, with reported cases of sexual violence rising by 87 per cent in just two years.
According to António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, protecting women’s rights is essential to building a better world.
“Women’s rights are human rights, and investing in women and girls is one of the surest ways to make the world a better place,” Guterres said.
He described International Women’s Day not only as a moment for reflection, but also as a call to action.
“When women are not equal under the law, equality does not truly exist,” he said.
“Ensuring justice for all women and girls is essential for building fairer, stronger societies everywhere. Now is the time to act.”
Guterres also called for stronger support for UN Women and women’s movements worldwide to help turn rights into reality for every woman and girl.
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