UN Report: Women Hold Only 64% of Legal Rights Compared to Men Worldwide

UN Report: Women Hold Only 64% of Legal Rights Compared to Men Worldwide
——————————————
A recent report by the United Nations has revealed that women worldwide possess only about 64% of the legal rights available to men, exposing them to various forms of discrimination, violence, and exclusion throughout their lives.

The findings appear in a report by the UN Secretary-General titled “Ensuring and Promoting Access to Justice for All Women and Girls.” The document highlights persistent legal gaps in many countries regarding women’s rights and protections.

According to the report, rape is still not legally defined based on the absence of consent in more than half of the world’s countries—around 54%— meaning that some legal systems may not fully recognize sexual violence as a crime under internationally accepted standards. The report also notes that approximately three-quarters of countries still allow child marriage, while 44% of countries lack laws guaranteeing equal pay for work of equal value, allowing women to receive lower wages than men for similar work.

Sima Bahous, head of UN Women, said the denial of justice for women and girls affects entire societies, undermining public trust in institutions and weakening the rule of law.

The report also highlights rising digital violence against women, as technological development has outpaced legal protections. In conflict zones, sexual violence continues to be used as a weapon, with reported cases increasing by 87% over the past two years.

Despite these challenges, the report notes that about 87% of countries have adopted laws against domestic violence, and more than 40 nations have strengthened constitutional protections for women’s rights over the past decade.

With International Women’s Day approaching, UN Women called for urgent action to end impunity, strengthen the rule of law, and achieve full equality for women and girls in both law and practice.