UN chief says justice for women and girls must be ‘cornerstone of the world we seek to build’
New York, US (PANA) - UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday stressed that justice for women and girls must be “cornerstone of the world we seek to build”.
Delivering a speech at the opening of the International Women’s Day 2026 and the opening of the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at UN Headquarters in New York, the Secretary-General highlighted the legal inequality faced by women.
He noted that women worldwide hold only 64 percent of the legal rights enjoyed by men, urging countries to dismantle discriminatory laws and defend hard-won progress.
“Not a single step forward for women’s rights has ever been given. It has been won. Won by generations of women and girls, advocates and activists, community leaders and justice seekers. Won by you,” Mr. Guterres said.
The UN chief said in a world strained by conflict, climate chaos, widening inequalities and technological upheaval, the pushback on women’s rights is in overdrive, adding hard-won legal protections are being eroded.
Yet, over 40 countries have amended constitutions to advance women’s rights; 90 percent have strengthened laws against violence.
“The world is changing because women are changing it,” he said. “But we have barriers to overcome and gaps to fill – opportunity gaps, implementation gaps, justice gaps.”
He highlighted “four frontlines for justice”: the engine for sustainable development; the foundation for peace and security; the guardian of human rights and human dignity; and the key to a safe and inclusive digital future.
He also said climate justice and gender justice go hand-in-hand.
Pointing to the UN’s role to ensure women’s leadership, he said the Gender Equality Acceleration Plan coordinates action across dozens of entities to deliver real change in the lives of women and girls.
“We must keep going – inside and outside these walls. We need every voice, every idea, every ounce of leadership from the world’s women and girls,” he said.
Maritza Chan Valverde of Costa Rica, Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to UN and President CSW70 opening the session, said they should turn the commitments into action now to make real changes in the lives of women and girls,
“We owe it to the trailblazers who charted the path for us, and to those who shall follow in our footsteps… to our mothers, grandmothers, daughters, and sisters,” said .
Access to justice is not merely a right; it is a cornerstone of dignity, empowerment, and progress for individuals and societies alike. And it is essential for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls, she said.
This session’s agreed conclusions, carefully consulted with all Member States over the past months, “are our chance to urge concrete action and break new normative ground on this important theme”, she said.
Concrete gains include new commitments to formally recognise community justice actors, integrate gender-responsive access to justice across sectors, and introduce new language on digital justice and AI governance.
The text also advances participatory and co-created research approaches, strengthens standardised systems for gender-based violence data, and promotes a whole-of-society approach that recognises civil society as a key partner in implementation and accountability.
“Let us send a clear and united message to the world by adopting this road map to ensure and strengthen access to justice for all women and girls,” she stressed.
Lok Bahadur Thapa of Nepal, President of the Economic and Social Council said equality is not achieved simply by adopting laws alone.
"It is achieved when justice systems work in practice – for every woman and every girl," he stressed.
Lok Bahadur said laws must uphold rights, institutions must ensure justice, and systems must leave no one behind, he said.
“When justice systems are inclusive and responsive, women and girls can claim their rights and participate fully in society, and unlock the full potential of entire communities,” he said.
The outcomes of the Council’s current session will inform the 2026 High-Level Political Forum, he said, adding that its guidance will ensure that gender equality remains at the heart of the global development agenda.
-0- PANA MA/RA 9March2026
