From 9 to 19 March 2026, the international community will gather at the United Nations in New York for the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) to address a major imperative: ‘Ensuring and enhancing access to justice for all women and girls’.

In this context, the Women in Law and Development in Africa network is taking part in the work of this international session. The network is represented by its Regional Coordinator for West Africa, Ms Antoinette MBROU, who is participating in discussions alongside civil society organisations and institutional actors committed to promoting women’s rights.

Ms Antoinette MBROU (WiLDAF-AO Coordinator) at the right during ECOWAS High  level ministerial panel in New-York (CSW70)

As the world faces multiple crises, marked by worsening inequalities between women and men, increasing conflicts and rising violence against women (particularly in conflict zones), access to justice has never been more crucial. Women and girls today face a worrying decline in their rights.

Yet, according to Article 7 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

“All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law.”

The reality, however, remains very different. In nearly 70% of the countries studied, women face more obstacles than men in accessing justice.

• Women and girls have only 64% of the legal rights enjoyed by men.
• Legal fees, transport costs, childcare costs and loss of income prevent millions of women from initiating or pursuing legal proceedings.

The theme of CSW70 thus highlights the urgent need to transform legal systems so that they become effective bulwarks against discrimination against women and girls. This session is an important opportunity for the international community to examine these challenges and negotiate commitments that can be translated into concrete and transformative public policies.

On this occasion, the Women in Law and Development in Africa – Afrique de l’Ouest (WiLDAF-AO) network joins civil society organisations in calling on States to take action.

The time has come to guarantee rights, justice and action for all women and girls.

Rights, Justice, Action, For ALL women and girls.

This involves, in particular:

• Ending impunity: closing legal loopholes, ensuring effective enforcement of laws and holding perpetrators accountable for their actions.
• Promoting inclusive legal systems: ensuring accessible, fair and gender-sensitive courts for all women, without discrimination.
• Eliminating discriminatory laws and policies: repealing legislative frameworks that perpetuate inequalities and hinder the empowerment of women and girls.
• Removing structural barriers: addressing social prejudices, economic barriers and geographical constraints that prevent women from obtaining redress.
• Fund justice: ensure adequate resources for justice systems, including legal aid and victim support services.
• Support and fund women’s organisations that work for transformative justice reforms, support survivors and mobilise public opinion.

Furthermore, effective access to justice also requires strong and sustained political will. States, judicial institutions and all partners must commit to strengthening the independence of judicial systems, training justice actors on gender equality issues and ensuring that redress mechanisms are truly accessible to women and girls, especially the most marginalised.

Without effective and accessible justice systems for women, rights remain promises that are never fulfilled.

LET US ACT NOW!

WiLDAF-AO

Communication Service