UN Report: Women Hold Only 64% of Legal Rights Globally
In March 2026, the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General released a report titled “Ensuring and Strengthening Access to Justice for All Women and Girls”, revealing that women worldwide hold only 64% of the legal rights of men in nearly 70% of countries surveyed, resulting in pervasive discrimination and social exclusion.
Key Findings of the Report:
Violence: In 54% of countries, rape is not legally defined based on consent, while digital violence against women and girls is increasing with limited accountability for perpetrators.
Marriage: National laws in nearly three out of four countries still permit girls to be forced into marriage.
Pay: In 44% of countries, laws do not mandate equal remuneration for work of equal value, allowing legal gender pay disparities.
Equality: According to the report, no country in the world has yet achieved full legal equality between women and men.