World leaders meeting at the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) have reached a consensus on a significant set of Agreed Conclusions. The agreement focuses on improving access to justice for women and girls while promoting gender equality on a global scale. This development comes as the United Nations begins its largest annual meeting dedicated to women’s rights. The negotiated text serves as a roadmap for more inclusive governance and aims to protect against violence while increasing trust in legal institutions.
Sima Bahous, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, said: “I applaud the delegations that have worked tirelessly to reach these Agreed Conclusions. They represent an important commitment to advancing access to justice for women and girls, ending impunity, and building justice systems that work for everyone, equally. By coming together, governments are once again demonstrating to the world what this Commission can achieve – and what our multilateral system can deliver for women and girls.”
The agreement arrives following a report from the UN Secretary-General which revealed that no country has yet reached full legal equality between men and women. In response, the Commission is calling on governments to amend discriminatory laws concerning property rights, family law and child marriage. Member states have committed to expanding legal aid, coordinating justice institutions more effectively and using digital innovation responsibly. A notable inclusion in the text is the formal recognition of community justice workers and paralegals within national legal frameworks.
Ambassador Maritza Chan of Costa Rica, who serves as the Chair of CSW70, noted that the real work begins after the session. She said: “We came here to commemorate, and we’re leaving with something harder to carry – responsibility. Every woman who spoke to us today carried a single message: behind every statistic is a life, behind every negotiating position, is a woman or girl waiting to see if we mean what we say.” She concluded by stating: “The answer depends on political will.”
The Commission also highlighted the need for survivor-centred justice systems in regions experiencing conflict. Governments are urged to take stronger steps to tackle violence against women both online and offline. The CSW70 session continues until 19 March at the United Nations Headquarters. During this time, civil society and UN entities will continue to discuss policies and financing to ensure women can live safely and exist equally.
