UN Report: Women Hold Just 64% of Legal Rights Globally, Progress Reversing

Women’s rights are regressing worldwide, with women holding only 64 percent of the legal rights available to men, according to a new United Nations report that warns justice systems are failing to protect half the global population.

The report, titled “Ensuring and Strengthening Access to Justice for All Women and Girls,” finds that despite decades of progress, women and girls are still not equal to men under the law anywhere on earth. It warns that laws are being reshaped to restrict women’s freedoms, silence their voices, and allow abuse without consequence.

According to the report, this leaves women exposed to abuse, injustice, and impunity as backlash against gender equality intensifies. The findings come as the world marks International Women’s Day 2026, which this year highlights the urgent need to close the justice gap for women and girls worldwide.

Key Findings on Legal Inequality

The report paints a stark picture of systemic inequality in justice systems globally. Among its key findings:

· In more than half of the world’s countries, rape laws are not based on consent.

· Nearly three out of four nations still legally allow girls to be forced into marriage, cutting short childhoods, education, and future opportunities.

· 44 percent of countries lack laws guaranteeing equal pay for work of equal value.

· Approximately 54 percent of countries do not have a consent-based definition of rape.

In many places, 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.

UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous emphasized that the consequences extend beyond individual cases. “Public trust erodes, institutions lose legitimacy, and the rule of law itself is weakened. A justice system that fails half the population cannot claim to uphold justice at all,” Bahous said.

Mixed Progress and Troubling Setbacks

The report acknowledges some progress, noting that 87 percent of countries now have laws against domestic violence, and more than 40 nations have strengthened constitutional protections for women and girls in the past decade.

However, it warns that laws alone are insufficient. 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 far too many.

At the same time, the report highlights troubling setbacks. In some places, hard-won rights are being rolled back, while new forms of violence, such as digital abuse, are increasing.

The report also draws attention to the 676 million women and girls living within 50 kilometers of active conflict zones, where justice systems are largely absent and perpetrators act with impunity. It notes that rape continues to be used as a weapon of war, with reported cases of sexual violence rising by 87 percent in just two years.

Call to Action

UN Secretary-General António Guterres described International Women’s Day as both a moment of reflection and a call to action. “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.

“When women are not equal under the law, equality does not truly exist. Ensuring justice for all women and girls is essential for building fairer, stronger societies everywhere. Now is the time to act,” he added.

The UN chief urged support for UN Women and women’s movements worldwide to help turn rights into reality for every woman and girl.