UN Agreement Enhances Access to Justice for Women & Girls

By: WE Staff | Thursday, 12 March 2026

• The government signs a global agreement during a meeting held in New York, USA
• The agreement is on how to improve access to justice for women and girls
• A framework is introduced to bridge the gap in gender equality in justice systems

A global framework for ensuring women's and girls' access to justice was developed by representatives from different countries at an UN-sponsored event held on March 9, 2026, in New York City.

The framework includes principles of legal equality, special support, and justice systems that meet the specific needs of women and girls.

No country has yet achieved legal equality between men and women; therefore, this framework's objective is to eliminate this disparity and allow women and girls to gain access to justice globally.

Governmental officials signed off on the framework on March 9, 2026. Every nation is expected to enact new laws prohibiting practices that deny women and girls access to justice and to create justice systems that guarantee equal access to justice for both genders.

The framework was ratified at the World Conference on the Status of Women during the first session of the 70th CSW and will be implemented between March 9 and March 19, 2026.

The CSW is a global meeting of government and civil society representatives and representatives of the UN who address women's rights and gender equality.

The agreement will not be legally binding, but it should have an impact on national policy-building and advancing towards the UN's 2030 Sustainable Development Goals relating to Gender.

According to UN Women, the agreement is an important step in improving gender equality, especially considering what is currently happening to women's rights around the world.

Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women, described the agreement as a commitment to improve justice for women and girls, to hold perpetrators accountable, and to create a fairer justice system.

The agreement highlights the role justice plays in promoting equality and non-discrimination, as well as providing protection to women and girls who have experienced violence or abuse and building trust in public institutions.

While progress has been made, millions of women and girls continue to suffer due to Violence, Discrimination, and Inequality.

Additionally, the agreement recognizes the role of civil society and feminist organizations, acknowledges their right to advocate for and protect civic space, and calls for continued flexible funding to enable them to carry out their efforts effectively.