The theme of the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) focused on access to justice for women and girls — including inclusive legal systems, the elimination of discriminatory laws, and tackling structural barriers. Together with other Catholic NGOs, we submitted a Written Statement highlighting the experience of our networks from across India, Nepal, Kenya, Peru, the Philippines, Mozambique, South Africa, Spain, and Zimbabwe.
They reported real progress: laws on equal pay, maternity leave, and harassment protection, gender pay audits and parental leave in Spain, and inheritance and labour protections in India and Nepal. However they are concerned that enforcement remains patchy. Women in the informal economy are often left unprotected, and in parts of Kenya and India, customary law still overrides statutory rights, particularly around land and inheritance.
Even where legal frameworks are strong, weak enforcement undermines protections against domestic violence and workplace discrimination. Survivors face slow judicial processes, social stigma, and poorly trained officials, while women in rural or informal settings struggle with cost, distance, and fear of retaliation. The result: legal frameworks that look progressive on paper but fail to reach the women who need them most.
The consequences ripple outward — deepening poverty and exploitation, harming families, and costing national economies billions in lost productivity.
Our message to global leaders is “laws alone are not enough.” Real change requires consistent enforcement, proper resourcing, and cultural transformation. We called on UN Member States and world leaders to:
- Reform unjust legal systems
- Invest in women in the workforce
- Invest in education for girls and women
- Implement gender diversity in leadership
- Invest in women’s reproductive health and rights
Read the full Written Statement HIER.
We also co-signed another Written Statement with members of the Justice Coalition of Religious (JCoR). Read it HIER.
