UN Chief Calls for Global Action to Advance Women’s Rights on Int'l Women’s Day

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, António Guterres urged governments and societies worldwide to take decisive action to guarantee justice and equal rights for women and girls, warning that many hard-won gains are under threat.

In a message marking the day, Guterres said this year’s observance focuses on “rights, action and justice for all women and girls,” highlighting persistent legal and social inequalities that continue to affect millions worldwide.

According to the UN chief, women globally enjoy only 64 percent of the legal rights granted to men, underscoring the scale of legal discrimination that shapes many aspects of women’s lives.

“Legal discrimination can affect every part of a woman’s life,” Guterres said, noting that in some countries women are prevented from owning property, filing for divorce, or even taking a job without their husband’s permission.

He also pointed out that marital rape is still not recognized as a crime in more than 40 countries, while other laws restrict women’s access to education, their ability to pass citizenship to their children, or even their freedom of movement outside the home.

The Secretary-General stressed that even where legal protections exist, women often struggle to obtain justice because of discrimination and weak enforcement mechanisms. Limited access to courts and legal support continues to hinder women seeking to defend their rights.

Guterres warned that many discriminatory laws have remained in place for centuries, but he also expressed concern over what he described as a “dangerous new trend” threatening progress.

Amid rising authoritarianism, growing political instability and renewed efforts to reinforce patriarchal systems, he said, hard-won gains in areas such as workplace protections and sexual and reproductive rights are being rolled back. 

The UN chief called for renewed global commitment to the goals of the United Nations, including the Sustainable Development Goals and the Beijing+30 Action Agenda, aimed at advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment.

“By fighting discriminatory laws and practices — and defending the progress already achieved — we can ensure the dignity, opportunity and freedom all women deserve,” Guterres said.

He concluded by stressing that true equality cannot exist without equal protection under the law, adding: “When we are not equal under the law, we are not equal. It is time to make justice a reality for women and girls, everywhere.”