At the Commission on the Status of Women 70th Session, the United Nations warned that women worldwide hold only 64% of the legal rights enjoyed by men, highlighting persistent gender inequality in global laws. UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged governments to remove discriminatory nationality laws and turn legal equality for women from promises into real action.
The United Nations has issued a stark reminder that gender equality under the law remains far from reality. At the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) in New York, UN leaders warned that women globally holds only 64% of the legal rights enjoyed by men.
The figure comes from the latest global assessments discussed at the conference, which has brought together ministers, diplomats, and civil society leaders to review progress on women’s rights. The gathering is one of the UN’s most important annual forums focused on gender equality and the empowerment of women.
Speaking at the opening discussions, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the persistence of discriminatory laws shows how far the world still has to go to achieve equal rights.
“We are living in a world where women still have only about two-thirds of the legal rights enjoyed by men,” Guterres said. “Equality for women and girls remains the greatest human rights challenge of our time.”
Nationality Laws Still Trap Millions
One of the central issues highlighted at CSW70 is the persistence of gender-discriminatory nationality laws.
A high-level event during the session focused specifically on legal frameworks that prevent women from passing citizenship to their children or spouses on equal terms with men. According to UN assessments discussed at the meeting, more than 45 countries still maintain such laws.
These legal gaps can have severe consequences. Families affected by discriminatory nationality rules often face difficulties accessing education, healthcare, employment, and legal documentation. In some cases, the laws create intergenerational statelessness, leaving children without recognised citizenship.
UN officials warned that the problem is not just legal but deeply social. Stateless individuals often face barriers to travel, financial services, and political participation.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees has long argued that eliminating discriminatory nationality laws is one of the most effective ways to prevent statelessness globally.
Leaders Call for Rights “in Practice”
Speakers at the conference stressed that passing laws alone is not enough. Governments must also ensure those laws are implemented effectively.
Guterres said legal reforms must be paired with investments in justice systems that protect survivors and ensure accountability.
“We must move from rights on paper to rights in practice,” he told delegates. “That means funding survivor-centered justice systems, closing legal loopholes, and dismantling discriminatory frameworks wherever they exist.”
UN Women leaders echoed the same message during the session.
Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women, said legal equality remains the foundation for broader gender equality.
“Without equal rights under the law, women cannot fully participate in society or the economy,” Bahous said during discussions around the CSW70 agenda. “Legal reforms are essential for unlocking women’s full potential.”
Civil Society Pushes Governments to Act
Civil society organisations and legal advocates attending the conference urged governments to accelerate reforms.
Rights groups have long argued that nationality laws represent one of the clearest examples of structural gender discrimination. In many countries, women cannot pass citizenship to their children if they marry foreign nationals, while men face no such restrictions.
Human rights advocates say these rules often reflect outdated legal systems built on patriarchal assumptions about family and nationality.
During the CSW70 discussions, experts emphasised that closing these gaps would improve not only gender equality but also economic development.
Research from international development organisations shows that legal barriers preventing women from accessing rights or property can significantly reduce national economic growth.
A Global Policy Agenda
The Commission on the Status of Women serves as the United Nations’ primary global policy platform dedicated to gender equality. Each year, the session reviews progress on international commitments and develops policy recommendations for governments.
The 70th session places particular focus on strengthening legal frameworks, expanding women’s economic participation, and addressing structural barriers that continue to limit opportunities for women and girls.
Policy experts attending the session also discussed the need for stronger data collection and legal monitoring to track progress on gender equality commitments.
UN officials stressed that achieving Sustainable Development Goal 5, which aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, will require significant legal reforms across multiple countries.
The Test Ahead
The conversations at CSW70 underline a broader challenge for governments around the world. Legal equality remains incomplete in many regions, and progress has slowed in recent years.
UN leaders say the path forward requires both legislative reform and institutional change.
Guterres concluded his remarks with a clear warning to policymakers attending the session.
“Gender equality is fundamentally about power,” he said. “Until women and girls enjoy the same rights as men everywhere, our societies will remain unequal and our democracies incomplete.”
The coming years will determine whether governments turn these commitments into real legal reforms or allow gender inequality in the law to persist for another generation.
Clear Cut Gender Desk
New Delhi, UPDATED: March 11, 2026 09:00 IST
Written By: Ayushman Meena
