12th plenary meeting - Commission on the Status of Women, Seventieth session (CSW70) - Interactive expert panel on priority theme

I call to order the 12th meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women at its 70th session. I invite the Commission to resume its consideration of sub-item A of agenda item 3 on the priority theme, Ensuring and Strengthening Access to Justice for All Women and Girls, including by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, and addressing structural barriers in order to hold an interactive expert panel discussion. Excellencies, distinguished participants, it is my pleasure to welcome you to this interactive panel discussion on the priority theme of CSW70. The UN Secretary-General's report on the priority theme describes women's and girls' access to justice as often resembling a two-way road, the justice needs of women and girls moving in one direction while justice systems move in another, realities and remedies failing to meet. Across all regions, women and girls face discriminatory laws, policies, and practices alongside implementation and access gaps shaped by structural barriers, including discriminatory social norms. This means ensuring legal and justice systems reform, formal and traditional alike, together with legal aid, civil society engagement, technological innovation, and research aligned to deliver access to justice for all women and girls. This event is intended to provide a space for member states and NGO representatives to engage in a dialogue with experts representing all 5 UN regional groups with diverse expertise on how to improve access to justice for women and girls. I would like to welcome our distinguished speakers for this expert panel discussion. Mrs. Teresa Zappetta, Executive Director of the International Indigenous Women's Forum. Mrs. Rangita da Silva de Alvaes, Distinguished Adjunct Professor of Law and Global Leadership at Penn Carey Law, University of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Marwa Shraer-Feldin, Senior Advisor and Board Member of Musawa, joining us virtually; Mrs. Afrodita Peroni, Executive Director of the Human Rights and Democracy Center; and Mrs. Tanya Surden, Emeritus Professor, University of Newcastle, also joining us virtually. I now turn to the Executive Director of the International Indigenous Women's Forum. How can governments operationalize whole-of-government justice strategies so that systems function as a coordinated problem-solving ecosystem that responds effectively to the structural barriers affecting women and girls. Mrs. Zepeta, you have the floor.

Thank you.

Buenos días.

Good morning, Mr. Chair, members of the Commission, delegations, sisters and colleagues, panelists. It's been almost 80 years since CSW was established and we celebrate women's achievements throughout the world. Nevertheless, to answer the question of how governments can implement comprehensive strategies to overcome these structural barriers that affect women and girls, we must start based on certain assumptions. We must recognize that justice is a right that cannot be renounced. It is also a pillar to reach the full enjoyment of Recognizing the sociocultural diversity of women, we are not a monolith. There is plurality among us, and this diversity impacts our contexts and realities. We must recognize that the different manifestations of violence interact intersectionally and have differentiated impacts on the lives of women and girls, Indigenous women and girls, women with disabilities, migrants, refugees, people who have been pushed out of their territories, women living in conflict-affected areas, just to speak of a few realities. It is important to be aware of the fact that in most countries many women and girls are not even recognized as rights holders. And I would start with the example of not even having a document to verify their ID in many countries, which is the starting point to access traditional justice. That is why one of the first strategies is to continue naming and recognizing the multiple structural barriers and above all acting to find and implement solutions which are relevant. In the case of Indigenous women and girls, it is necessary to highlight that inequality persists and is worsened by racism, marginalization, exploitation, as well as megaprojects that are carried out in their territories and militarizations which worsen sexual violence and the control over their bodies via forced sterilization, as well as climate violence, political violence, and the criminalization of human rights defenders. The adoption of General Recommendation No. 39 of CEDAW on the rights of Indigenous women and girls is an instrument that commits State parties to fundamental strategies in order to recognize the individual and collective rights of Indigenous women and girls. In this sense, I would like to highlight some of the strategic actions that are born out of this general recommendation and that give States a whole menu of opportunities and strategies to address this. First, it is important to understand and integrate in normative frameworks and public policy the different conceptions, methodologies, and methods of governance for justice. For Indigenous women and peoples, justice is linked to the defense of our territories, collective rights, spirituality, reparation and non-repetition, as well as healing and living well. It is important to create mechanisms and affirmative actions to ensure the participation of Indigenous women in decision-making and also the administration of justice. A recent example in Guatemala is the fact that for the very first time, an Indigenous woman was named as a judge. We must reduce access when it— gaps when it comes to accessing justice. We must go from a monocultural, monolingual, colonial, and racist model of justice towards multicultural, multilingual, and intersectional model of justice that is culturally relevant and decentralized. Women shouldn't have to walk for hours or days to be able to access justice. Creating data, evidence, cultural knowledge, recognizing as well the digital gap, permanently establishing training programs and awareness-raising programs in local languages on fundamental human rights. It is also important to recognize in normative frameworks and in national justice systems Indigenous justice systems and to establish coordination between both justice systems. It is important to decolonize and transform racist and discriminatory practices, practices which criminalize Indigenous leaders as well as Indigenous human rights defenders. Access to justice is holistic and should be comprehensive. States have the important opportunity and responsibility to implement programs that ensure relevant and equal access to education, health, political participation, economic opportunities, among others, in order to support this permanent struggle for justice in all of its dimensions. And finally, I would like to invite all of you men and women to make sure access to justice also means the right to re-establishing peace and development on an individual level but also a collective level. Thank you very much, Chair.

I thank the Executive Director of the International Indigenous Women's Forum for sharing these ways forward grounded in the lived realities of women and girls. I now turn to the distinguished Adjunct Professor of Law and Global Leadership at Penn Carey Law, University of Pennsylvania. How can the process of gender-responsive legislative reform integrate clear transformative pathways to counter the gap between rights in law and rights in practice after enactment? Professor da Silva de Alves, you have the floor.

Thank you, Your Excellencies and distinguished friends. Access to justice is an inalienable and indivisible human right, and the promise of gender equality under law is a fundamental freedom. I wish to begin with the stark reminder, Your Excellencies, that at the heart of the Taliban's rule in Afghanistan are the over 100 edicts, including the 114-page law on the promotion of virtue and the prevention of vice, which includes the denial of girls' and women's education, corporal punishment of women for so-called moral crimes, and the most recent edict which legitimizes domestic violence, which are all repugnant to gender equality under the law. The Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, the CEDAW, on which I serve, is recognized as the global bill of rights and remains key to addressing de jure and de facto discrimination. Articles 2F and 2G of the CEDAW respectively call upon States Parties to both enact new gender equality laws and repeal existing unequal laws, including penal provisions which constitute discrimination against women. In my own global mapping, Your Excellencies, although equality before the law is enshrined in 134 constitutions, access to justice is enshrined in only 21 constitutions. And access to legal aid is defined only in 34 constitutions. The subjugation of women is a threat to global security. Discrimination goes hand in hand with the political and economic instability of nations. What recommendations do I make to transform laws into lived realities? Transformation is key because transformation results in macroeconomic policies that stabilize nations. Stereotypical assumptions in the law such as overprotection of women or the exclusion of women from certain categories of work reinforce biases that women are fragile and incompetent and have negative impact on the national and global economy at a time of profound global shifts in the global economic order. Unequal retirement laws, overprotections in the laws that restrict women's employment in terms of hazardous work, nighttime work, all impede women's equal access to the global markets. While discriminatory husband obedience laws, male-only head of household laws, unequal inheritance laws, unequal property rights, access to banking and credit not only subordinate women but impede a nation's full human capital and the full potential of a country's growth. The gap between the normative premise of the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women and its application is most prevalent in family laws, which still retain discriminatory provisions. Women are often sacrificed at the altar of her family's honor, and the law is complicit in this. Personal status codes all over the world retain unequal laws on unilateral divorce, virginity testing, stereotyped definitions of consent in rape laws which subjugate women's human security but also impedes the state's macroeconomic advances. The law's power to construct women's inferior status can be both subtle as well as direct. Nationality laws can exclude mothers from passing their nationality to their children on an equal basis with fathers, creating a category of second-class citizenship which may lead to children's statelessness. While many countries such as Tunisia, Jordan, Lebanon, Bahrain, and Morocco have recently repealed provisions in their penal codes which allowed rapists to escape punishment by marrying their victims. Most recently, soon after dialogues with the CEDAW Committee, Kuwait repealed Article 153 of its Penal Code, which allowed the rapist to marry his rape victim as an exculpatory offense. Your Excellencies, what recommendations do I make to transform the jury laws into de facto action? First is to honor the transformative power of courts, both domestic and international, and that of women justices. First, the domestication of CEDAW and the domestication of all international human rights including international humanitarian law. For example, the International Criminal Court's Rome Statute calls for principles of complementarity. Therefore, we need to look at the ways in which the Prosecutor versus Boska Itaganga recognized sexual slavery and the Ongwen case recognized forced pregnancy and forced marriage as a crime against humanity. Second, the role of women justices. In the seminal Akayesu case before the International Criminal Tribunal on Rwanda, the only woman judge played a major role in changing the law to recognize rape as a tool of war. The Guatemalan Zipulsaco case is also a case in point. One of the first instances where a domestic court prosecuted sexual slavery as an international crime was marked by creating survivor-centered traditions within the formal court structure. Victim and survivor-centered pretrial procedures including pretrial testimonies, rules of evidence, rules of procedures, that were trauma-informed, were constructed to allow women to tell their stories and honor women's voices in court and restore the dignity of the victim. And most importantly, Your Excellencies, the court was presided over by 3 female justices, which helped in transformative justice to the abuelas of Sepúlveda. National courts too have played transformative roles. For example, Iraq's Supreme People's Court outlawed husband obedience laws in Article 41 of its penal code which used to allow the husband the right to moderate chastisement under the penal code. And finally, while anti-discrimination laws are part of the formal equality tradition, transformative access to justice, calls for implementation of international law and a shift from formal gender equality to substantive gender equality as a way to address the legacy of discrimination against women. And I will share just 3 important examples of the codification of substantive equality in constitutional guarantees. The South African Constitution in Article 30 mandates— mandates that a court, tribunal, or forum must consider international law. Second, the importance of male involvement in addressing gender discrimination and achieving gender equality under law. For example, the Laos Law on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women guarantees that men have responsibilities and shall take ownership in preventing violence. And then finally, the German Constitution. A sentence was inserted into Article 3.2 of the German Constitution that now reads, the state shall promote the actual implementation of equal rights for men and women and take positive steps to eliminate disadvantages that now exist. This is a clear recognition of an active role that is part of a state responsibility to not only guarantee anti-discrimination under law but to take positive steps to eliminate the root causes of disadvantages and discrimination against women. Thank you, Your Excellencies.

Thank you. I thank the distinguished Adjunct Professor of Law and Global Leadership at Penn Carey Law, University of Pennsylvania, for this comprehensive reply in such a short time frame, one that centers on the importance of substantive equality through law across contexts. I now turn to the Senior Advisor and Board Member of Musawah, connecting virtually. How can the work of feminist groups and women's rights organizations combating discriminatory norms be integrated into formal legislative and institutional justice reform processes at the national level. Ms. Sharaf Eldeen, you have the floor.

Thank you. Thank you, Your Excellencies. Today I will be speaking specifically about how feminist groups have been constructively dealing with a challenging nexus affecting women and families' access to justice. That's the nexus between religion, law, and family. In many contexts, religious discourse still informs and shapes both laws and social norms governing women's rights and status in society. Sometimes this religious link is overtly visible in state constitutions, laws, and social norms, as we heard from the former speaker, and sometimes it is more hidden, as in some societies that appear to be secular. Either way, nowhere is this religious link more visible than in gender-related issues. In contexts where religion is important socially, politically, and legally, we sometimes find dominant patriarchal interpretations of religious texts that see male superiority, authority, and guardianship over women as a sacrosanct religious edict that has to be followed by all. This is then used in concrete institutional locations such as family laws and norms to justify both women's social and legal obligation to, for example, obeying their male guardians, needing permission to leave the home, work, travel, sign contracts, and the list goes on, all with the blessing of state law and societal norms supported by strong religious beliefs. Therefore, when working for real access to justice in such contexts, it is almost impossible not to address religion with its diversity of discourses that range from patriarchal to egalitarian in its very locations of institutional power, such as family, law, and state. In my own academic and activist work, I look at how gender norms governing women and families in diverse Muslim contexts have been contested and challenged through constructive scholarly feminist and activist engagement with religion. Both the research and work on the ground are showing us that to impact discriminatory social norms and laws, ensuring better access to justice, what was needed were the following findings and recommendations. Number 1, a multi-layered institutional approach and set of interventions that are a) cognizant of power relations, and simultaneously engaging the very institutions of power that are shaping gender norms, which are religion, family, law, and state. In many parts of the world, social norms are part of a fierce competition over concrete interests, with strong actors vying against one another for dominance and control over resources and power. They use religion, as well as social and legal norms, governing women's bodies and lives to maximize their interests institutionally. Therefore, a multi-layered institutional approach is needed because it is not only up to mere individuals and their individual behavior to make these kinds of big socio-legal changes. Rather, systematic, structural, and institutional efforts need to be made. As the research shows us, it takes years of persistent concerted action and organization and mobilization by feminist movements, coalitions, and communities of people working together with these institutions and sometimes even putting pressure on them to finally reap fruit. Second, serious critical and constructive engagement with religious discourse is necessary in contexts where religion has power in the public and private spheres. Often in these contexts, the state and its religious institutions select a patriarchal, discriminatory religious discourse to be reflected in laws and norms which serves state interests and significantly affects the daily lives of women. However, there is indeed a gender-sensitive religious discourse that argues for gender equality and justice out there. It is a discourse that includes women's voices and their lived reality experiences in it. With serious engagement with religion by feminist groups and their allies in institutions of power, as demonstrated in the research, this alternative religious discourse did provide part of the solution to the problem of change and access to justice. States selectively resorted to it to make changes when it was beneficial for state interests. It is therefore not a matter of theology anymore, but rather one of politics and power, which eventually affects whether a patriarchal or egalitarian religious discourse is favored and selected by those in power to affect social norms and laws influencing gender relations. Needless to say, engagement with religion is fundamental, yet on its own is not enough. It needs to be part of a more holistic framework of action that also includes human rights standards, constitutional guarantees of equality, along with the lived realities of women, men, and families. My third and final point is that it is difficult to understate the role that women's movements play in this long-term institutional and political work. For example, recent research analyzing successful measures taken to address violence against women in 70 states over 30 years, and I quote, reveals that the most important and consistent factor driving policy change is feminist activism, end of quote. Feminist activists have also been found to play a very important role in social change and law reform in as mediators between different and often conflicting stakeholders and discourses, connecting the local with the global and vice versa. They were usually the ones who took the risks, organized, did the research, lobbied, tested, proposed solutions, pushed, shoved, and inspired the way towards change. It only makes sense that those with the deepest interest for change will have to be involved in the process if any real progress is to happen. Therefore, accelerating work and support of feminist civil society organizations and women's movements is a worthwhile investment to improve women's and families' access to justice, given the proven track record of success so far. Thank you very much.

I thank the Senior Advisor and Board Member of Musawah for her response and for unpacking the need for a multi-layered approach that engages law, institutions, social norms, and civil society. I now turn to the Executive Director of the Human Rights and Democracy Center. What scalable approaches have proven most effective in extending legal aid and empowerment initiatives to women and girls facing compounded barriers? In your experience, what have been the best practices with the traditional justice system?

systems.

Ms. Peroni, you have the floor.

Thank you.

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, and colleagues, this is Afrodita Peroni, and I am the Executive Director of Human Rights and Democracy Center in Albania. Albania has a good legislation, a good legislation, good framework, but the problematic is the poor implementation of this legislation. legislation. Access to free legal aid in Albania has expanded since the adoption of 2017 Free Legal Aid Law, which broadened eligibility criteria and improved service delivery. Vulnerable groups including women affected by domestic and gender-based violence, Roma and Egyptian communities, persons with disabilities, and low-income individuals are now legally entitled to get free legal counseling and court representation. Approaches for extending legal aid and empowerment to women and girls in Albania involve cooperation with state institutions. NGOs play a critical complementary role in extending legal empowerment of women and girls, particularly those facing compounding barriers such as poverty, domestic violence, rural isolation, or belonging to marginalized communities. Organizations provide legal aid services, rights awareness campaigns, and community outreach programs. NGOs are often able to reach out vulnerable groups more effectively because— than the state institutions, because they work directly within communities, cooperate with social— local social services, and adopt survivor-centered approaches when assisting women affected by gender-based violence. These are problematics of communities who often face challenges also in Eastern Europe countries. Another effective approach is legal awareness and empowerment initiatives. NGOs frequently conduct informative sessions, public awareness campaigns, and legal literacy programs aimed at informing women and girls about their legal rights, available remedies, and procedures for accessing legal aid. Collaboration between state institutions and NGOs have led to establishment of integrated support mechanisms for survivors of domestic violence. Where legal aid is combined with other tailor-made services. Such coordination helps ensure that women and girls receive comprehensive assistance when pursuing legal remedies. Another approach, successful approach, is periodic capacity building of legal aid providers. The best practice in this regard is to work closely with state institutions, bring better coordination among legal aid providers such as advocates, judges, free legal aid providers, and state actors. In Albania, impact depends not only on expanding services but strengthening institutional responsiveness while maintaining strong community-based support structures. Best practice vis-à-vis traditional justice system HRDC best practice in this regard include community legal empowerment, monitoring implementation of legislation by state institutions, monitoring of courts, amendment of domestic violence such as domestic violence law, anti-discrimination law, and law on gender equality, as well as work that we do on international level. level regarding preparation of specific shadow reports, lobby and advocacy on domestic and international level. From 20 years— from HRDC 20 years experience, we have seen that successful engagement with traditional justice, we noted that system requires a broader community dialogue and legal awareness activities. Legal literacy programs help communities to understand national laws, women's rights, and available legal remedies, thereby encouraging gradual shifts in social norms. Thank you.

I thank the Executive Director of the Human Rights and Democracy Center. For so concretely identifying the barriers to legal aid and how to concretely overcome them. We will now hear from the Emeritus Professor, University of Newcastle, participating virtually, who will focus on the main opportunities technologies offer to expand access to justice for women and girls. She will also touch on where digitally enabled justice platforms have created new barriers or exclusions. Professor Surden. You have the floor.

Thank you very much, and thank you to Your Excellencies. I join you from the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation in Australia. I'm delighted to have a conversation about how technology can assist to remove some of the barriers to access to justice and how technology can mitigate some of the issues that arise in terms of access to justice for women. I do want to say, though, initially that the impacts of technology are not uniform. Many women are disadvantaged because of the digital divide, and they may not have digital literacy nor connectivity which enables them to access more digitized systems. Secondly, there is a significant difference in terms of the offerings that apply around the world in relation to justice. Some justice systems are well digitised, others do not support remote access. And this is gradually changing with some systems now enabling people to access, if you like, the court system through the use of a mobile phone, which is advantageous for many who cannot afford a computer. That can afford a different type of connection. Thirdly, if the technological processes simply mimic the existing processes that exist that exclude vulnerable people, it's unlikely that they're actually going to assist to overcome or mitigate the barriers to access to justice. When I talk about technology, and I have been researching in the area of AI since 2003, I normally break up technological development into 3 groups. And I'm going to briefly touch on each of those 3 groups. Firstly, I'll mention supportive technologies, then talk about replacement and more disruptive technologies. Supportive technologies include those technologies that enable people to use a simple chatbot, which is not that responsive, but which will at least provide a basic level of guidance and and information. It includes those technologies that allow remote access through Zoom or Teams or whatever video conferencing platform is used. They're the technologies that can allow for translation, and they may also enable some voice-to-text work. These technologies are really important in terms of opening up the justice system to more people because they enable some basic information to be, if you like, collated and then given to people in a way which means that there is a better understanding about that information and more likelihood that people can access courts and also obtain some basic advice about legal problems. Some of those technologies are important because they remove the need to have a physical attendance at a court or physical attendance with a lawyer or even a paralegal. And whilst there have been huge efforts in attempting to improve access to paralegals in some parts of the world, those attempts have largely been stymied by geographical distance as well as particular issues that impact on women. There are impacts in terms of reduced travel and childminding costs. However, there are also downsides in that many women may not have safe or comfortable environments or good connections that enable them to access supportive technologies. Supportive technologies are the most basic generative AI systems that operate, and they've really transformed the way that people obtain advice about everything. Again, the rollout of the generative AI technologies has not been uniform across the world, and there are vast differences in the way that people use GenAI to get advice. There are also, of course, the well-known issues with errors and inaccurate-based information. However, for many, it's better than a Google search, and in terms of access to justice, GenAI offers a lot of promise to enable people to better understand their rights and also their obligations. There are problems with some supportive technologies in terms of coercive control. There are lots of opportunities for surveillance and other-based— other technologies that really can deprive women of opportunities and also ensure that they remain in a disadvantaged position. Replacement technologies, which is the second category, are really, I think, important in that they offer opportunities with online courts, paralegal AI, financial AI. All of these replacement technologies collate, summarise, can deal with documents and For those of you who are aware of the online courts in China, hundreds of thousands of people have now dealt with court matters in less than 15 minutes by accessing them on their mobile phone and effectively being able to go through a court or a legal process on their mobile phone. There are massive opportunities in the context of access to justice that are provided by these sorts of technologies. And when you build that in with agent AI as well as agentic AI, there are also significant opportunities. These systems are well developed in some consumer areas in the West, and I have no doubt that they will be better developed in courts internationally over the next 5 to 10 years. The disruptive technologies are also interesting, and this is really my final point. And these disruptive technologies provide opportunities for women because they provide more opportunities in the context of wearable technologies with direct translation and also opportunities for people to engage in a much simpler manner with justice systems and also to obtain advice and support. So my final point is really that technology does have the capacity to support women and children. It does have the capacity to create greater access, but it really depends on the existing justice and legal system that operates and is very much dependent on how courts and governments choose to invest in technology to ensure that barriers are removed as much as they can be and to also ensure that what is produced doesn't replicate systems that cause inequities.

I thank the Emeritus Professor, University of Newcastle, for unpacking so clearly the pathways and obstacles that lay before us in this rapidly emerging area. I now invite participants wishing to make comments and pose questions to the panelists to press the microphone button on their console. I would like to remind delegations that interventions in the discussion should be limited to 3 minutes or less. As per past practice, the microphones will be automatically muted when the allotted time has elapsed. I also would like to remind speakers to kindly deliver the statements at a normal speaking speed and to send copies of statements to estatements@un.org to facilitate interpretation and for uploading in the e-statements portal of the Journal of the United Nations. I thank you for your cooperation and understanding, and I apologize in advance to any speakers who may be interrupted. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Haiti.

Bonjour.

Good morning, everybody. It is a pleasure for me to see you this morning.

Thank you, Mr. President.

To speak about this topic that evokes the issue of women and girls and the opportunity to find justice for them. This morning, I'm not the Minister on the Condition of Women and Girls, but rather the ex-minister. And this morning, I have the pleasure of saying that the Haitian government is doing the best that it can to facilitate this kind of justice that allows Haitian women to enjoy their rights, their civil and political rights, to enjoy their right to be a woman, to enjoy their right to be a girl. And everything that we are doing is geared towards reviewing the procedures of our policies in Haiti. It's not easy in Haiti. And now, with all of the changes in the government and amendments in our penal code, we see major progress. And something that I can point to is that we were able to modernize our penal code In terms of infractions and integrating new types of crimes such as cybercrime, human trafficking, corruption, we strengthened sanctions for violent crime such as kidnappings and sexual violence because, as you know, Haiti is currently experiencing an insecurity crisis and the criminal responsibility becomes a lot clearer in terms of Aggravating. Aggravating circumstances. We've worked in order to provide a dose of humanity when it comes to sanctions. We've found options to incarceration in the cases of misdemeanors to reduce our prison population. Now, I would like to speak about civil society. Civil society has asked— has demanded for transparency in fighting impunity, as well as the creation of independent control mechanisms. Of our judicial institutions. They've also demanded the regular publishing of judicial decisions to strengthen public trust and also to strengthen our institutions and to provide constant training for judges, policemen and women, and prosecutors, as well as the depoliticization of nominations in our legal system. And all of this is meant to ensure access to justice So along with civil society, we have deployed community legal clinics, we have simplified our procedures, and— the microphone is cut off.

I thank the distinguished representative of Haiti and now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Serbia.

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, honored colleagues. In addition to the different challenges to full equality that we heard this morning, I would like to add one. The right to inheritance is both a right to access to justice and at the same time an internal and intimate right to a voice within a close community such as the family. It is also the base for economic empowerment of women. Although the existing legal framework in the Republic of Serbia treats men and women equally since 1947, 6, prejudices, stereotypes, and beliefs that place women in a less equal position when inheriting property are still deeply rooted. Despite the disproportionally small number of women who own property, the practice of renouncing inheritance in favor of male relatives is still present, notwithstanding the fact that women are often economically dependent, have difficulty finding employment, and are more severely affected by the consequences of renouncing inheritance. The traditional and practical values are most often the key motives for renouncing inheritance, with moral duty towards family and custodial preferences being emphasized. The Commissioner for the Protection of Equality of the Republic of Serbia, the institution that I lead, conducted a countrywide survey on attitudes in the area of inheritance and property management. The results were conclusive. While men understand equal rights as sufficient for female heirs not to be completely excluded from the inheritance process. For women, equality implies property division by law. Of those who did not exercise their right to inheritance, as many as 68% renounced it in favor of another heir, 44% which in favor of brothers. I will quote one focus group participant who said, everyone has the same right, only my right is a little stronger. This attitude also unequivocally points to the need to include men in this topic so that we can altogether influence the traditional reasons that have been the basis for discriminatory attitudes towards women for centuries, including in the areas of inheritance. In addition, the lack of understanding of human rights concept in general has turned out to be one of the challenges that we must face as urgently as possible. In order to succeed in raising awareness of equality in the exercise of any right, we must first understand that I have the right means that whether or not that right is exercised is the sole decision of the right holder. I thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Serbia and now give the floor to to the distinguished representative of Mexico.

Hola.

Hello. Greetings to all of those that have participated in this forum. I think that I would like to focus on intra-family violence, which is still not reported enough in many cases that should be addressed because women can Women continue to experience fear when it comes to reporting, and often when they report, they quickly give up because there is a mistrust in institutions. A woman that experiences violence, as the representative of Haiti just mentioned, what she wants is for that violence to cease. She doesn't necessarily want to see the aggressor end up imprisoned. We need to think in alternative measures and reeducation, and we need to have a greater focus on aggressors and a change in behavior. We must also avoid revictimizing these women because often our institutions, the police, the prosecutor's offices, judges, they make women feel bad. Women that have taken that step to go ahead and report, they make them feel guilty as if somehow they had caused the violence, as well as understanding that this woman is a victim. It is important to consider when talking about access to justice that stereotypes still do prevail, and that is why the General Recommendation that CEDAW is preparing is so important, and it will be useful for all of the world's legal systems that continue to work with protocols that are geared towards avoiding violence against women. But as Teresa Zepeta said, the intersectionality isn't always reflected appropriately when it comes to women with disabilities, Indigenous women, and foremost, or above all I would say, girls who experience direct and indirect violence. In Latin America, we experience a multitude of challenges, but it is clear that we are really betting on our legal systems, and we have so much work to do when it comes to the social sphere. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Mexico and now give the floor to Gelides, Instituto da Mulher Negra.

Thank you, Chair. Good morning, distinguished delegates and colleagues. I speak on behalf of GLEDES, Black Women Institute, a Brazilian organization with nearly 4 decades of commitment to advancing the rights of people of African descent, particularly women and girls. We welcome the adoption of the agreed conclusions and the recognition that discrimination, structural inequalities, poverty, and violence remain the major barriers to justice. However, for women and girls of African descent, these barriers are further compounded by the structural inequalities produced by systemic racism and patriarchy, the enduring impacts of colonialism, the transatlantic slave trade, and persistent racialized economic inequalities. Justice in this context must be understood in a broader sense. Access to justice cannot be limited to courts or legal remedies. It also encompasses economic, reparatory, and racial justice. Globally, women of African descent remain disproportionately concentrated in the lowest levels of income, informal employment, and social protection. The racial and gendered division of labor, particularly in care and domestic work, continues to reproduce precarious conditions rooted in colonial legacies. These inequalities create material barriers that prevent many women and girls of African descent from initiating, sustaining, or concluding legal processes. At the same time, they face disproportionate levels of violence. In many contexts, lethal gender-based violence, mass incarceration, and discriminatory policing practices reflect patterns of institutional racism imbibed within justice systems. For these reasons, the commitments adopted by this Commission must now translate into concrete implementation. This can include sustained investment in accessible and culturally responsive justice systems, as well as predictable and flexible funding for organizations led by women of African descent working on legal empowerment and community-based justice. Ensuring justice for women and girls of African descent is not a peripheral issue. It's central to addressing systemic inequality and to fulfill a shared commitment Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Guyana and now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Philippines.

Good morning. The Philippines is supported by a robust legal framework that affirms the rights of women and girls. And a landmark legislation is the Magna Carta of Women, which operationalizes in the domestic legal system the CEDAW. We also have the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act and the Safe Spaces Act, which address all forms of violence, harassment, and discrimination in both public and private settings. The Supreme Court has also played a critical role in these protections through jurisprudence. In one decision, the court has held that gender-based violence is not merely a private matter but a public offense, recognizing that any person with personal knowledge of such acts has personal standing or legal standing to file a complaint. We have also recently increased the awards of damages in sexual violence offenses, recognizing that the court has to move beyond jurisprudence The Supreme Court adopted the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations in 2022. Under the strategic plan, we have evolved these reforms. We have promulgated the guidelines on the use of gender-fair language in the judiciary and gender-fair courtroom etiquette. We also have a manual and continuously do gender sensitivity training for all our judges and court personnel. We embarked on a study on legal feminism in Philippine gender jurisprudence, identifying the stereotypes that are still perpetuated in our decisions. Under our Justice Sector Coordinating Council, we promulgated the victim-sensitive guidelines for all types of criminal offenses, and we are also set to launch the manual and protocol for handling women in conflict with the law. Which incorporates both the Bangkok Rules and the Mandela Rules. It is a first in the region. And we have established 7 specialty justice zones focusing on online sexual abuse and exploitation of children and the use of child sexual abuse exploitation materials. And one is an anti-human trafficking justice zone in the south, in Mindanao, which is a recognized entry and transit point in human trafficking. Lastly, we have the free legal aid directory, which allows you to access free legal aid services anywhere in the Philippines, which is accompanied by a chatbot that allows the, the potential client to ask for basic legal information. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representatives

Thank you very much, Mr.

Chair. Good morning. We would like to first thank the distinguished panelists for their relevant presentations. I would like to share some ideas on the topic of this interactive dialogue, and also I do have a question for the panelists. We welcome today see 5 women that have been at the podium today. Access to justice in Cuba is a right that is recognized constitutionally for all people. They are equal before the law. They benefit from the same protection and treatment. They enjoy the same rights, freedoms, and opportunities without discrimination of any kind that would imply a distinction that would harm their human dignity. Our legal system has a strategy to incorporate the gender perspective as well as to prevent and address gender-based violence when carrying out legal tasks. And this corresponds to the period 2022-2030. The General Prosecutor of the Republic implements an action protocol in order to address cases that could be possibly related to discrimination in any of its manifestations. The Ministry of the Interior and the People's Supreme Court also have action protocols to address these issues. Cuba works hard in order to ensure that all people, including women and girls, can effectively enjoy their right to access justice, and we Do this despite the serious challenges imposed by the unprecedented economic blockade against our country implemented by the government of the United States, which impacts all areas of normal life in our country. After so many years of this criminal blockade, our people, headed by women, has learned to be resilient and to continue resisting in a creative manner. Mr. Chair, Today we have heard the different experiences that other countries have implemented when it comes to accessing justice. We heard this from the panelists themselves and also from participants. And in this sense, we would like to know the opinions of our distinguished panelists on what kinds of other actions could be carried out by UN Women and the United Nations system in general to foster a more fluid exchange of information on good practices when it comes to this. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Cuba and now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Spain.

Muchas gracias, Presidente.

Thank you very much, Chair, and thank you to our distinguished panelists for such an interesting dialogue. We've really learned a lot from it. Spain has A transformative legal framework that begins with our law for the true and effective equality between men and women, a law from 2007 that recognizes the need to have a gender perspective in the design of all public policy, as well as the importance of parity when it comes to state organs and also equality panels in companies that have over 50 employees. We also have a comprehensive law against gender-based violence. And a law that establishes aggravating circumstances when the felonies happen within the context of a couple or a former partner. And we also recognize the importance of taking into account legal and economic rights for victims of gender-based violence. We also have a law that recognizes affirmative consent as a defining element to determine whether there's been a case of rape or sexual abuse. Aggression has specific financing for a 5-year period and also recognizes the existence of 3 types of new violence, such as digital violence, vicarious violence, and economic violence. On the other hand, and as one of the panelists said, it is not enough to have an advanced legal system, but we also need for the state to provide services and resources for the full enjoyment of those rights. Spain has 113 courts specialized in gender-based violence, 42 specialized prosecutors, 59 crisis centers for survivors, and we also have a special phone line, 016, which provides guidance for victims of gender-based violence. And we provide 24-hour service in 53 languages. We also have services from our national police, and they have specialized units on this. And we provide training for our courts and prosecutors. We also recognize fiscal and economic rights, such as reorganizing the workday, protections against firings or layoffs, and to provide the victim the possibility of taking a break from work, but also keeping her post for a certain period of time. And the state also provides resources to those victims that have insufficient economic resources. On the other hand— I apologize. On the other hand, we have also experienced challenges in the implementation of these public policies. And I think many States will understand when I say that in decentralized States, it is very important to have State bodies that allow us to, in a certain way, homogenize the services and rights that we ensure for women to guarantee that any girl or woman has the same rights regardless of where they live in the state. Moreover, I would like to add—

the microphone is cut off. I would like to thank the distinguished representative of Spain, and now I give the floor to the Corporation, Catholic Women for the Right to Choose from Colombia.

Thank you very much. On behalf of the Catholic Network for the Right to Choose from Latin America and the Caribbean, we firmly denounce the persistent interference of religious instances in the legal mechanisms of our region. Legal systems in Latin America and the Caribbean continue to be strongly influenced by patriarchal, religious, racist, and moralist biases that reproduce stigma and violence, which is an obstacle for the full enjoyment of human rights. This situation affects in a disproportionate fashion women and girls that live in poverty, that live in rural areas, that are Afro-descendants or indigenous migrants, trans women, and women living with disabilities who face multiple barriers to access effective mechanisms to ensure justice. The right to justice, which includes effective access to comprehensive services for reproductive and sexual health, and this includes abortion, continues to be restricted due to the influence, the unjustified influence of religious actors that would like to impose their specific beliefs on the lives of women and girls. And in many of our countries, we see that the legalization of abortion and pushing back against this has become one of their main strategies to fight against this right. And the consolidation of full democracies and truly secular states in Latin America and the Caribbean is an important milestone in order to ensure our rights. We are deeply concerned by the arbitrary actions of certain legal instances in our countries, which are sometimes used by sectors that hold economic and political power in order to weaken democratic institutions and persecute social and popular movements. Moreover, we would like to call out the expansion of misogynist rhetoric on supposed false claims or false reports when it comes to gender-based violence. This is baseless rhetoric that seeks to undermine women and weaken protection mechanisms and mechanisms to access justice. Our network calls upon UN member states to adopt specific measures in order to ensure access to justice for women and girls with a secular and Intersectional focus and to strengthen legal systems in order to eliminate impunity when it comes to all forms of violence, and this includes reproductive and sexual violence. There will be no true justice until, or as long as, women and girls continue to be criminalized for exercising their rights, or as long as religious beliefs interfere in public decision-making.

The microphone I would like to thank the Corporation Catholic Women for the Right to Choose.

The floor is to the distinguished representative of Morocco.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Ensuring access for all women and girls requires a series of legal and institutional and social mechanisms in order to eliminate barriers to women and girls. I would like to focus on these mechanisms. One, legal reforms by enacting laws that criminalize all forms of violence and discrimination against women and girls— domestic violence, harassment, forced marriage, among others. National legislations must be harmonized with international conventions, including CEDAW. Facilitate access to all justice systems by establishing courts or specialized units that are focusing on violence against women. Provide psychosocial support for women through shelters and centers that provide guidance for women and girls. Judges and public prosecutors, police officers, and all law enforcement officers must be trained on gender issues. There must be gender-sensitive mechanisms when dealing with victims. Legal procedures must be facilitated, and there must be free legal aid provided to women and girls. Awareness raising must be carried out, and women and girls must be made aware about their rights. Justice and equality must be part of educational curricula, and civil society organizations that provide legal assistance must be supported. Social, economic barriers must be eliminated, and cultural factors that prevent women from accessing justice must be addressed as well. Women must be economically empowered so that they So that we reduce their dependence on those who violate their rights. Support must be provided for women with disabilities. We need a database on cases of domestic violence and discrimination. We need a database on all cases of violence and discrimination. In addition, laws and programs must be addressed and assessed to determine their credibility. We need to adopt a comprehensive approach that brings together effective laws and strong institutions and societal awareness-raising. Direct support must be given to victims to ensure access for all without discrimination. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Morocco and now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Kenya.

Distinguished Chair, delegates, and the panelists, Kenya firmly believes in ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices and addressing structural barriers to realize access for justice to all women and girls. In order to realize this, the Constitution of Kenya, various laws of Parliament, and institutional frameworks create a platform for gender equality and non-discrimination. Judiciary has set up specialized gender justice courts to improve efficiency and effectiveness, to foster the efficient and expeditious disposal of cases. It is also meant to reduce delay, improve case management in adjudicating sexual and gender-based violence cases, and protect vulnerable victims with the overall objective of enhancing access to justice for victims. Victims of gender-based violence. The National Legal Aid Services provide pro bono services for vulnerable women and girls, which enhances free access to justice. Alternative justice systems, such as the alternative dispute resolution, strengthens community-based justice while promoting gender equality and fair processes. Resource allocation for strengthening women and girls' access to justice in Kenya involves governmental financial commitments, legislative implementation, partnerships with civil society, and international donor support. Key resources are directed towards legal aid, anti-GBV initiatives, gender-based violence recovery centers, and economic empowerment programs. Kenya has constitutional commissions and mechanisms which promote gender equality, human rights, and provide platforms where citizens can lodge complaints and seek redress. Kenya has repealed the Children's Act 2001 and amended this act with the Children's Act 2022 to ensure it complies with the Constitution, defining the rights of intersex children and children with disabilities. Child protection centers, child protection units, child rescue centers, and gender-based violence recovery centers have been established across the country. And Kenya has also established child help desks in police stations, as well as establishment of more children's courts.

I thank the distinguished representative of Kenya and now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ukraine.

Sorry.

It is an honor to address this gathering during the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. Ensuring access to justice for women and girls is a fundamental condition for achieving gender equality and building fair and inclusive societies. Today, Ukraine exercises this issue in a very specific context. For more than 10 years, our country has been resisting the armed aggression of the Russian Federation, and the full-scale invasion has created unprecedented humanitarian, social, and economic challenges. Millions of people have been forced to leave their homes Thousands of civilians have been killed, injured, and significant parts of the country's infrastructure has been destroyed. The war has also intensified existing gender inequalities and created new risks for women and girls, including an increase in conflict-related sexual violence. In such circumstances, access to justice becomes not only legal matter but also a matter of dignity, security, and the restoration of justice. At the same time, Ukraine women demonstrate extraordinary resilience. They defend the country, work, support their families and communities, and care for children, the elderly, and those affected by the war. Despite the war, ensuring equal rights and opportunities for women and men remains a priority of Ukraine's public policy. The state continues to strengthen legislation support survivors of violence and expand access to legal aid. Civil society also plays a crucial role in addressing these challenges. In particular, the NGO Territory of Women has been implementing initiatives for several years aimed at supporting women affected by the consequences of my— of war by creating recovery spaces, providing psychological and social support, developing education programs, and strategizing women's economic empowerment.

It is through partnership between governments, civil society,

I thank the distinguished representative of Ukraine and now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Burundi.

Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, the Burundian Constitution has Articles 13 and 22 which reaffirm the right of women to political public participation, and they also guarantee equality and non-discrimination. Our national gender policy for 2026 to 2040 advocates gender equality. Burundi has also ratified international and regional instruments which promote women's rights under the CEDAW and the Kampala Declaration dating 2000, and we also acceded to the Beijing Program of Action. There are various laws which have been amended in order to facilitate gender equality, and a 30% minimum quota was set for women in decision-making bodies. And this contributes to combating against sociocultural stereotypes. We also note that the magistrature also has a minimum 40% women's participation. In order to make justice accessible to all, there have been guarantees established under the ministry related to the Program for Women, Peace and Security. Our government has adopted a number of relevant measures. 4 national action plans under Resolution 1325 were crafted and implemented. The redeployment of police— military and police contingents in peacekeeping operations for countries in conflict where women police and soldiers are represented. Furthermore, with the aim of having women aware of their rights and to help them improve their legal awareness, the Ministry of Justice has adopted the following measures: drafting and awareness-raising about public services, setting out clear definitions for judicial procedures and judicial authorities, Radio programs are being disseminated on a weekly basis in order to raise awareness related to magistrates and lawyers. There is an Office for Improvement of Access to Justice and Decentralization of Judicial Services. And the government of Burundi wishes to reaffirm our commitment to guaranteeing and enhancing access to justice for all women and all girls.

Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Burundi and now give the floor to the International Disability Alliance.

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, colleagues, I am pleased to participate in this interactive dialogue on the CSW priority theme on behalf of the International Disability Alliance. And a persistent lack of legal aid and support services, to name just a few. The lack of recognition of legal capacity of women with disabilities is of particular concern today. Women with disabilities are still denied the right to make decisions about their own life. Through guardianship regimes and substituted decision-making systems, they are often considered incapable of acting before the law. This means that many women with disabilities cannot file complaints, cannot initiate legal proceedings, cannot testify freely, and cannot instruct lawyers on their own behalf. When a woman is denied legal capacity, access to justice becomes impossible, representing clear violation of Articles 12 and 13 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. If we are serious about ensuring sustainable, scalable, and accessible justice systems, our policy and financing frameworks must address these barriers. First, states must reform laws and policies that deny legal capacity, harmonizing their legislation with the CRPD and investing in supporting decision-making systems that enable women with disabilities to exercise their rights. Second, persons with disabilities must be able to access legal aid and support services on an equal basis with others. Third, partnerships with organizations of persons with disabilities are essential to make justice systems truly accessible and effective. Women with disabilities must be part of designing and monitoring these systems. Policies created without us will continue to leave us behind. Colleagues, access to justice is not only about laws and institutions. It is about our power, our autonomy, our dignity as women with disabilities. Importantly, when justice systems become accessible and inclusive of women with disabilities, they become stronger for all. I thank you so much.

I thank the International Disability Alliance And I now give the floor to the representative of Interpol.

Mr.

Chair, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, a single act of violence against women is an affront to human dignity. The ubiquity of violence today, with 1 in 3 women experiencing it in their lifetime, is a profound and collective crisis. Gender-based violence remains one of the most severe discriminatory practices faced by women and girls. Allow me to highlight the crucial role of law enforcement in strengthening access to justice in response to this threat. For decades, Interpol has supported our member countries in dismantling transnational human trafficking networks that not only perpetuate gender-based violence but profit from it. Last year, we led the multinational operation Liberterra 3, which safeguarded 4,414 potential victims across 119 countries, including underage girls and young women trafficked for sexual exploitation. Our operations have revealed a worrying trend: women and girls are increasingly targeted by traffickers online and on social media. This is part of a broader shift. Gender-based violence is expanding into the digital sphere. Women and girls now face digital forms of exploitation from image-based sexual abuse to sextortion, increasingly facilitated by generative artificial intelligence. In response, law enforcement must strengthen efforts against all forms of gender-based violence, including those that are digitally enabled. To this end, Interpol has recently launched Project Echo, which aims to develop a global law enforcement strategy against online image-based sexual abuse and digital sex crimes. We have also integrated cyber capabilities into our anti-human trafficking operations, using cutting-edge techniques to detect suspicious activity on websites and messaging apps. Finally, Through Project Soteria, we are training frontline officers to recognize and respond to sexual violence using survivor-centered approaches that prevent re-victimization. Mr. Chair, as the landscape of gender-based violence evolves, so too must the response of law enforcement. Interpol will continue to support our member countries in combating the scourge of gender-based violence and strengthening access.

I thank the representative of Interpol, and I now give the floor to Nadam Foundation.

Distinguished delegates, colleagues, and advocates, I am a proud— distinguished delegates, colleagues, and advocates, I'm a proud representative of Nadam Foundation, an organization that focuses on one world concept, an idea centered on unity and global harmony, the same values the UN were meant to uphold. And yet, despite decades of commitments, declarations, and international agreements, not a single country in the world has yet to achieve gender legal equality for women and girls, the very equality this body has repeatedly promised. Through Nadam Foundation's work, we have witnessed a powerful truth. When women are given education, bodily autonomy, and financial support, they thrive, they lead, they succeed, they transform communities, and to no one's surprise, they're equal. Is that not the goal we claim to share? But yet, 54% of countries still do not legally define rape based on consent. This is a failure on display, not upholding accountability and justice. Organizations like NADAM and countless other NGOs We'll continue to fight. We will continue to advocate and support women and girls who've been failed by the systems meant to protect them. But the question must be asked, how can the United Nations expect NGOs and activists to do all the work while this very institution fails to hold its own member states accountable for their crimes? All we expect from you here is to unite, and yet we continue to see division, laziness, and complicity, while activists on the ground are expected to keep This is the 70th session, and yet women still hold only 64% of the legal rights that men do. It's the 70th session, and yet genocides and wars continue to unfold, placing women and girls in even greater danger— our women and girls. It's the 70th session, yet the very member states responsible for violence and discrimination remain protected by this very place. If this institution does— cannot hold these and others accountable, then what can NGOs and activists really do? We put our lives out there to make this work 1% different for everyone, but it does not lead to anything unless this institution reforms completely. If it takes an institution, a country, a person this long to recognize women and children as human beings, the system is not slow, it is simply bad. And until the concentration of power within these member states are challenged and heavily diluted, leaders will continue not to see us and we'll have the same conversation again in the 140th session. Thank you and have a good time.

I thank Nadam Foundation and I now give the floor to Penal Reform International.

Distinguished Chair, Excellencies, colleagues, Penal Reform International welcomes the agreed conclusions of the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. We particularly welcome the clear recognition of the criminalization and detention of women, an issue that for the first time has been meaningfully reflected in the Commission's outcomes. Together with UN human rights experts, we urge Member States to strengthen protections for women and girls in contact with criminal justice systems. Across the world, their access to justice safety and dignity remains profoundly inadequate. Today, an estimated 740,000 women and girls are deprived of their liberty globally, around 7% of the world prison population. Since 2000, the women— the number of women in prison has risen by 60%, almost 3 times faster than that of men. At the same time, around 19,000 children live in prison with their mothers. Most women are detained for minor nonviolent offenses often linked to poverty such as inability to pay fines or bail or punitive drug policies. Criminalizing women for acts tied to survival, caregiving responsibilities, and socioeconomic vulnerability fails to address the underlying causes of their contact with the law. Women in prison also face heightened risk of violence including sexual and gender-based violence. Violence, inadequate healthcare, and severe overcrowding. These risks are even greater in conflict-affected and fragile contexts. While international standards such as the Bangkok Rules provide clear guidance, their implementation remains uneven. We therefore call on States to use this moment to make concrete commitments. This includes addressing the structural drivers of women's criminalization: poverty, discrimination, racial and ethnic marginalization, and harmful social norms. These commitments also require better data and research informed by meaningfully engaging with women with lived experience of the criminal justice system. States should reduce reliance on imprisonment for minor non-violence offenses and expand women-centered community-based sanctions. Where detention is used, conditions must be safe, gender-responsive, and trauma-informed. in line with international standards. All women deprived of their liberty have the right to dignity, protection from violence, family contact, meaningful access to justice, rehabilitation, healthcare, including mental, sexual, and reproductive health services. Progress in this area is essential to achieving gender equality and building fair, accountable justice systems. CSW has marked a turning point this year by ensuring that women and girls affected by criminal justice systems are no longer invisible in the gender policy. Thank you.

I thank Penal Reform International and now give the floor to the distinguished representative of South Africa.

Thank you very much, Chair, Excellencies. Thank you for the opportunity. In South Africa, access to justice is a constitutional imperative that must be afforded to all persons, as also was quoted by the Professor. The South African Presidential Summit Declaration against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide calls for a justice system that is tailor-made to respond effectively to the needs of survivors. Just recently, our gender-based violence laws were amended to establish a more survivor-centric justice system. The Domestic Violence Act affords children local standing to act against their abusers. To curb the incidence of femicide, courts are now empowered to issue domestic violence safety monitoring notice which call for police monitoring of their survivor. Online applications for the protection— for protection orders are now legally permitted, and so is the online service of such orders. Last month, our court commenced with the service of protection orders via WhatsApp platform no later than 24 hours after the issue of such order. This is an innovation we are encouraging. We are encouraging and we are adopting. The safety of our survivors must always receive precedence. In our law, no court is permitted to grant bail to a perpetrator who has domestic relations with the survivor without first issuing a protection order against such perpetrator. This is meant to curb femicide cases that would occur after perpetrator is released on bail.

Thank you.

Excellencies, the justice system is usually criticized for being nebulous and difficult to navigate. South African Police Service— services established victim-friendly rooms at police stations to ensure privacy during statement-taking from victims and survivors. Our Tutuzela centers, which are the one-stop centers, continue to provide medical, legal support services and prosecution guided investigation. Our homegrown sexual offenses court have been legislated to provide a catalog of support services intended to create a caring, responsive, agile, and effective court experience. To ensure remote access to justice, our law was amended to permit witness to testify virtually. Consent in sex crime is always subject to consultation in South Africa. Contest to foreplay does not constitute a consent to sexual penetration. As justice actors, we need to strengthen our system against endangering cybercrimes and bullies.

I thank the distinguished representative of South Africa and now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Malawi.

Thank you.

Chairperson, Malawi realizes that access to justice is not merely about existence of courts. It is about whether women and girls are able to claim existence of their rights in practice without fear, prohibition of cost, and intimidation. When women and girls are denied justice, the consequences are far-reaching, affect their education, health, and economic well-being. Malawi has made progress, significant progress indeed, in its commitment to policy commitments to promote gender equality and protect the rights of women and girls. Malawi has made provisional in the constitution Sections 13, 20, and 24 are referring to this. Malawi has also enacted a registration that aims to address gender-based violence and protecting the rights of child marriages. And the country has also developed policy frameworks that guide gender equality and women empowerment. In addition, government has undertaken several practical measures Strengthening the national efforts to campaign and campaign to end child marriage, including ongoing processes to further strengthen laws against child marriage. Working closely with traditional leaders to eliminate harmful practices. Economically empowering women, child-headed households, and living in extreme poverty. Deploying legal aid officers in all the districts to ensure that we improve access to free legal services and provision of sexual and reproductive health services. In conclusion, Malawi government reaffirms its commitment to strengthening inclusive justice systems and ensuring that no woman or girl is left behind. I thank you, Chairperson.

Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Malawi, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Senegal.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you. In Senegal, significant progress has been achieved for the protection and promotion of women and girls' rights, as well as those of children. We have a normative framework which emanates from international commitments. And specifically with a focus on the— specifically those adopted under the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Violence Against Women and Girls and the Beijing Programme of Action. There are a number of initiatives which attest to this desire: enhancement of protection mechanisms against gender-based violence, like the National Action plan to contribute to the eradication of all forms of violence and the promotion of human rights, the protection of children online, the existence of holistic legal treatment centers for victims and survivors, a green hotline, multisectoral initiatives with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of the Interior, and other ministries. There is a training program as well as awareness training programs have been implemented to raise awareness among women and girls about their human rights. And there are efforts that are being undertaken to have justice brought closer to communities in close conjunction with territorial governing bodies, specifically in rural areas. Juvenile justice programs are geared towards humanizing and facilitating access to justice. However, This progress notwithstanding, there are still persistent challenges. Women and girls continue to, to face sociocultural, economic, and geographical obstacles which limit their meaningful access to justice. A lack of awareness and fear of stigma and other issues hinder access to justice. Guaranteeing access to justice not only reflects protection of women, but this also helps to shape fairer and more inclusive societies. I firmly believe that the sharing of experience amongst states under CEDAW— this CSW this year will help to accelerate progress to ensure that every girl, every woman, every child has opportunities to flourish and to meet their full potential without any fear and without any discrimination. Thank you for your attention.

I thank the distinguished representative of Senegal and now give the floor to the Sunmass Marshall Cultural Relations Public Union.

Honorable Chair, distinguished delegates, it's an honor to join this discussion as a leader of an NGO dedicated to empowering women and expanding their access to justice through cultural initiatives. Culture has the power to unlock even the most firmly closed doors, shapes how societies understand rights, dignity, fairness, and belonging. When women express their realities through art and literature, they assert their humanity, their agency, and their rightful place in public life. Azerbaijan has a unique history of social and cultural progress. It was the first country in the East to grant women the right to vote. In multicultural societies like Azerbaijan, translation is crucial to ensure that women's voices, including those of minority communities, are heard nationally and internationally. We emphasize shared values over differences and celebrate diversity as a source of strength. Through projects, particularly Women, Literature and Society and our flagship initiative Women Create, we train, empower women artists, writers, and poets to speak out about their experiences and enable them to share these experiences with peers and cascade knowledge about legal reporting and advocacy to vulnerable women. These initiatives strengthen confidence, foster dialogue, and challenge the social norms that silence women and create safe spaces for healing, self-expression, and empowerment. Justice begins when silence ends. Azerbaijani women, through exhibitions and cultural exchanges across many countries of the world, have presented their creative contributions and personal experiences on international platforms. Azerbaijan's cultural memory also reflects historical respect for women. In moments of conflict, a woman could halt bloodshed by stepping between opponents and placing her head cover on the ground, a sacred gesture creating a moral boundary no one dared to cross. Today, women's representation in parliaments worldwide has nearly doubled. In Azerbaijan, This progress is qualitative as well. Our national parliament is led by a woman, signaling a shift from participation to leadership. I respectfully propose: 1, recognize cultural and creative empowerment as an integral component of access to justice frameworks. 2, integrate legal empowerment programs with cultural and educational initiatives, ensuring that women who speak out are protected. 3, meaningfully include civil society organizations especially those at the intersection of culture, gender, and justice in policymaking. 4, strengthen gender-responsive financing to sustainably support women-led cultural, educational, and community-based initiatives that advance legal literacy, leadership, and the prevention of violence. I thank you very much.

I thank the San Mars Martial Cultural Relations Public Union. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Mauritania.

In the name of God, the merciful, the compassionate, ladies and gentlemen, Mr.

Chairman, access to justice for all women and girls through legal systems which are fair, with an emphasis on the elimination of obstacles which prevent and bar the full and meaningful participation of women in public life is of critical importance, including decision-making, in addition to the elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls. Recently, Mauritania has achieved significant progress in this area. We have promoted institutions— we have been promoting institutions for the protection of women and girls inter-ally through the establishment of a national observatory for the protection of women's rights and girls' rights. And we have also been promoting institutional frameworks which include the Local Commission to Combat Against Child Marriage, and including combating against girls' genital mutilation. And this includes a framework to combat gender-based violence. We've also adopted a national strategy— a national strategy to put an end to girls' genital mutilation, female genital mutilation, in addition to the measures that have been adopted with a view to resolving disputes in various families, amongst various families with a victim-centered approach. There's a national strategy for a gender-based approach, and this is for the period up until 2030. We also have gained momentum as we seek to decentralize access to service centers. And this is in addition to the protection of children and in conjunction— and is conducted in conjunction with various institutions for the provision of services to women and girls. And in addition to more equitable means being provided for women and girls, specifically in rural areas, we are also combating Violence against women as we seek to promulgate certain directives, and we have been promoting assistance delivery to women and girls as part of the family code in our country. We are also providing legal assistance to women. Thank you. May the peace of God be with you.

Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Mauritania and now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Belize.

Thank you very much, Chair. Belize recognizes that strengthening access to justice requires continuous improvement across legislation, institutions, and service delivery systems. Guided by our national gender policy and our National Gender-Based Violence Action Plan, Belize continues to advance reforms that strengthen protection and accountability. In November last year, we passed 2 acts enabling trained Senior Justices of the Peace to issue emergency interim protection orders when courts are not immediately accessible. Belize has also been strengthening its protections through sexual harassment legislation, reinforcing safeguards within workplaces and institutions. At the same time, coordinated responses to gender-based violence continue to be strengthened through multisectoral protocols for gender-based violence and the essential services packages for women and girls subject to violence, ensuring integrated support across the justice, health, and social service sectors. Belize is also establishing a one-stop center for victims of gender-based violence in Belize City, expanding training for police and frontline officers and strengthening national response mechanisms, including domestic violence hotline. Justice must also be accessible and affordable, so we are strengthening our Legal Aid Commission to expand legal assistance for vulnerable individuals. We also recognize that many women face structural barriers to justice, including poverty, economic dependence, and geographic isolation. So in response to to this, the Ministry of Human Development, Family Support, and Gender Affairs has expanded its Economic Empowerment Unit, providing wraparound services for strengthening women's financial independence and their ability to exercise their rights. I recognize that we have limited time, so I would leave it at that. But just to reinforce that Belize remains committed to strengthening its institutions and ensuring that justice systems work effectively for women and girls. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Belize and now give the floor to the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa.

Mr.

Chair, Excellencies, colleagues, my name is Faiza Badmos Busari from the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa. A network with over 250 women's rights organizations. Across the Horn, women seeking justice are increasingly confronted with systems that criminalize rather than protect them. In Sudan, for example, the ongoing conflict— many women have been arbitrarily detained and charged under Articles 50 and 51 of the Sudanese Criminal Code, accused of collaborating with armed actors and criminalized under the morality provision. These charges carry death penalty. Women detained in these circumstances often have little to no access to independent legal representation and may remain without meaningful defense. In response, feminist networks such as CIHA are bringing together women's lawyers, mediators, and community paralegals and have worked to connect detained women with independent legal representation. The impact has been immediate and measurable. 7 women have been acquitted due to insufficient evidence, and 13 have had the death sentence overturned on appeal. Beyond legal representation, sustained advocacy prompted an official directive which led to the release of 402 women who had been arbitrarily detained on these charges. These outcomes demonstrate an important lesson: access to justice improves when women-led legal networks are organized, supported, and able to act quickly. However, across the Horn, the significant structural barriers that remain is the lack of accountability for violations against women and girls. During a recent dialogue, panelists from multiple countries, including Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, and South Sudan, all pointed to the same reality. When violations occur without investigation, prosecution, and consequences, it creates a circle of impunity. The circle discourages survivors from seeking justice, weakens trust in institutions, and allows violence against women to continue without consequences. Breaking this circle requires not only legal frameworks but sustained support for actors who make the accountability possible. Women organizations and feminist-led networks are often the first responders documenting violations, supporting survivors through legal processes, and pushing institutions to act. We therefore urge member states and the UN to prioritize 3 actions. First, strengthen accountability mechanisms for violations against women and girls, particularly in conflicts and fragile settings. Second, invest directly in women-led aid, legal aid organizations, and feminist networks. Last, support gender-responsive justice systems, including training judicial officers and justice actors, because access to justice cannot exist where violations go unpunished. Thank you.

I thank the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa and now give the floor to the Women's Center for Legal Aid and Counseling.

Thank you. Thank you, Chair. My name is Wendy Isaac, a human rights lawyer from South Africa. I speak on behalf of Palestinian feminist organizations who had planned to participate participate in person in the 70th session of the CSW. Yet their participation in the session was not possible since in December 2025, the United States expanded its travel ban to include holders of Palestinian passports alongside nationals of dozens of countries, many from the Global South and from contexts affected by colonial legacies and ongoing human rights violations. These measures have directly restricted the ability of Palestinian women human rights defenders to access international spaces, including this Commission. At the same time, we have witnessed a troubling pattern of political pressure targeting international justice mechanisms. Over the past year, sanctions were imposed on, on the International Criminal Court and its staff following the issuance of warrants of arrest related to the war crimes in occupied Palestinian territory, particularly in Gaza. Situations were also— sanctions were also imposed on ICC judges and on the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. These developments do not exist in isolation. They contribute to a broader environment that undermines international accountability and restricts the participation of those most affected by violations. For this reason, Palestinian feminist organizations collectively decided to limit their participation in CSW70 to virtual engagement only. This decision was not taken lightly. The theme of this session is access to justice, yet many of the women who experience the most severe forms of injustice, women living under occupation, siege, and systemic discrimination, are prevented physically from accessing the very spaces that claim to advance justice and equality. At this very moment, developments in the Gaza Strip continue to unfold. Borders remain closed, humanitarian aid is once again severely restricted, and Israeli bombardment continues. Women in Gaza are pleading to be allowed to leave in order to receive urgent medical treatment that is unavailable under siege. In the West Bank, while global attention is focused on broader regional escalations, Israeli settler attacks against Palestinian communities continues. Villages are being burned, people are being killed, and Palestinian women are living under constant threat and displacement. When women from these contexts are excluded from international platforms, the consequence is not only the silencing of their voices, it reproduces structural injustice within the international system itself, an international system that claims to uphold equality, justice, justice and the universality of human rights. The CSW was founded on principles of inclusivity, equitable representation, and the universality of human rights. Restricting the participation of women from conflict-affected—

I thank the Women's Center for Legal Aid and Counseling, and I now give the floor to the Forum Méditerranéen pour la Promotion des Droits du Citoyen.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is my honor to take the floor on behalf of the civil society organizations who are engaged in the defense of human rights and the promotion of the dignity of women. Achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women is not merely a moral commitment. This is a prerequisite for the achievement of sustainable development and in order to shape fairer, more stable societies. The Commission and the CSW plays a critical role in the promotion of international dialogue and for the guiding of policies which are geared towards achieving these goals. We welcome the progress achieved by the Kingdom of Morocco in the protection and promotion of women's rights. The 2011 constitution was a milestone. In shoring up principles of equality and enhancement of the protection of rights and basic freedoms. We also seek to implement recent judicial reforms which have been initiated by our authorities to enhance women's rights, specifically amendments proposed for the Family Code. Our engagement in the United Nations human rights system and our commitment to the implementation of the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women serve as a testament to the clear desire to continue to enact reforms and to promote gender equality— equality between men and women. These efforts have resulted in progress, tangible progress in a number of areas. Progress has been achieved in expansion of opportunities for education for girls, greater participation of women in public life, as well as the implementation of measures to combat violence against women. In this vein, we welcome the significance of the full meaningful participation of civil society at national and international levels for the promotion of women's rights. And this is a pillar for strengthening public policies and for the exchange of expertise and for the achievement of tangible results in the empowerment of women and girls. We also wish to draw attention of the Commission to the humanitarian situation of women and girls in the Tindouf refugee camps in Algeria. Women and girls there are facing numerous challenges linked to access to education, health services, and legal protections. Guaranteeing their dignity, their safety, and the full enjoyment of their basic rights requires that there be international attention be focused on this and for that attention to be sustained. To conclude, promotion of gender equality requires continued implementation of reforms and the enhancement of constructive cooperation between governments, national institutions, and civil society in order to make international commitments a reality with tangible improvements in the lives of women and girls. Thank you very much for your attention.

I thank the Forum Méditerranéen pour la Promotion des Droits du Citoyen. We have just heard the last speaker for this morning's meeting. I would now like to give the floor to our distinguished panelists to respond to comments made and questions posed. I just saw that we just received a request from Chad, so I will— I'm happy to give you the floor, distinguished representative from Chad.

Thank you, Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen.

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Access for justice to women and girls is a key pillar for the achievement of— for the advancement of rule of law and sustainable development in Chad. We've adopted initiatives, commendable initiatives, which facilitate access to justice for all women. This is— this includes the establishment of an integrated cross-sectorial service center to provide treatment for the victims of violence against women, and this plays a critical role These centers provide a cross-sectoral approach which helps to provide support to victims in a holistic way and in a coordinated manner. And this provides, inter alia, for women— for victims to be heard in a safe and confidential environment. Medical treatment includes emergency care as well as trauma treatment for physical trauma and prevention and infection.

Thank you.

and prevention of infection measures. Psychosocial assistance is provided to provide assistance to survivors as they surmount their trauma, as they restore their dignity. Legal assistance is provided to inform victims about their rights and to support them in the judicial journey, including fees for lawyers which are being covered. Access to economic and social services. Is for the promotion of social services access and empowerment of survivors. The collection and documentation of instances of violence also contributes to efforts to combat impunity as well as to strengthen public policies. Unfortunately, these centers do not cover all of our national territory. And in addition to these challenges, many women continue to encounter significant obstacles as they seek to exercise their rights. And this is owing to social, cultural norms, as well as violence and legal standards and norms which may be specific in rural areas. And economic constraints are also a factor here. Commitments have been adopted through the United Nations and under the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. And in light of this, there's a need to strengthen access mechanisms for justice— access to justice— as well as to expand access of these centers to women and girls. This is key when it comes to providing comprehensive assistance to survivors and when it comes to improving access to justice. Investments in justice and investments in women's protection are investments in peace and stability. The microphone has been cut off.

I thank the distinguished representative of Chad. Excellencies, colleagues, as I see no more requests for the floor, I would now like to give the floor to our distinguished panelists to respond to comments made and questions posed for a duration of 4 minutes each. I will first give the floor to Professor da Silva de Alves.

Thank you, Your Excellency, and thank you for these profoundly important comments that were shared with us throughout the morning. They really alter the ways in which transformative justice can provide access to justice in a non-discriminatory manner to women and girls throughout the world. What I would like to do is to distill some of the important issues that I have been privy to this morning but also shape them in a way that also complies with my own normative agenda. There are 4 4 calls to action that I would like to share with you, Your Excellency, as well as the international community that is gathered here. One is the importance of piercing the veil of impunity to address the intersections of power imbalance in the law, as well as to make the law disability-centered, to call for remedies, reparations, historical memory, in both conflict and non-conflict landscapes to comply with the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, international law, and international humanitarian law with a focus on access to justice for women in conflict. 2, to address structural inequalities in the law and to adopt due diligence obligations for both state and non-state actors. That is something that I would like to add to this discourse, that we need to include due diligence obligations by the private sector. Under the CEDAW's Article 2E, non-state actors must also employ due diligence to guarantee women's equality both in public and in private. The 3rd call to action is the respect for the rule of law. And the due process of law. No one is above the law. Laws must be transparent. Laws should not be ex post facto. And laws must respect habeas corpus guarantees and stare decisis guarantees. Fourthly, women cannot be sacrificed at the altar of culture. While the right to culture is a fundamental right, It cannot violate the right to gender equality. And finally, to include new and rapidly changing and rapidly shifting categories of gender-based violence, which include technology-facilitated gender-based violence, cybercrimes, cybertrafficking, non-consensual sharing of intimate images, including deepfakes, and cybergrooming and doxxing. Where online and offline violence collide and coalesce. But into these categories of violence, I would like to also add that we are in the midst of an AI revolution. AI has the promise of great good, but it also has a promise of great harm. The AI divide, the global digital divide was mentioned, But this growing digital divide is now the growing AI divide, and it is a global AI gendered divide. We need to also address, Your Excellency, the ways in which data bias, algorithmic bias, and develop— developer bias compound discriminatory biases against women and girls. Large language models, LLMs, are trained on historically biased datasets, and women are underrepresented in the development of AI, especially women from the Global South. And these forms of coded biases will continue to shape women's lives and will be amplified as well as as well as reproduced in gender biases, gender stereotypes, and ways in which discrimination will continue to be omnipresent and ubiquitous if we do not address AI biases in data, in algorithms, and in development. Thank you.

I thank Professor da Silva de Alwis, and I now give the floor to Emeritus Professor Tanya Srdjan.

Thank you very much.

I had—

and thank you for the very interesting conversation this morning. I had a couple of observations that I would like to make based on some of the comments that were made.

Morning.

The first one relates to a comment by Kuba where I think there was a suggestion that there could be a best practice hub or a clearinghouse in relation to technological initiatives that might support access to justice. And I thought that this was a very useful suggestion, particularly after hearing from a number of members talking about what they had done in their own domestic jurisdictions. We heard, for example, about chatbots in the Philippines supporting legal aid work. We heard about telephone and 24/7 support systems in Spain. We heard about databases using to determine what laws were more effective in Morocco. And we heard from South Africa about WhatsApp an online provision of information and advice as well as virtual attendance. All of these initiatives, and my apologies if I've missed some of those initiatives, are worthwhile to consider and certainly to track and collect so that they can be shared amongst all states. The second point was really, I think, a point that was made by the first speaker, which was where tech— technology enables gender-based violence and also discrimination. I'd suggest that having a clearinghouse in relation to practical steps in that area might also be useful. We heard about Project Echo with Interpol, and we've also just heard about data bias. And it comes back to the AI governance question and around the extent to which women are involved in AI governance, and that issues that are important to women are reflected in the ethical guidelines that relate to AI governance. The third point was really, and it was raised by a couple of people, which was around human-centered justice design. And clearly, there's massive variation amongst all of the jurisdictions that are represented. However, having really good data can help create better justice design solutions. At the end, though, it's really got to be human-centred. And by that, I mean that women in different jurisdictions have to be asked, how can technology support you? You know, can it help you in terms of summarising, translating, filling out forms? Can it help you in terms of advising, informing? and engaging with court and other systems. So they were really the comments that I wanted to make following the discussion today, and I thank you and all the participants for a very interesting discussion. So thank you.

I thank Emeritus Professor Tania Sordin and now give the floor to Ms. Peroni.

Thank you.

Thank you.

The reform on justice system started in 2016 in Albania, which produced a new judicial map in Albania. Through this reform, many courts in Albania were closed, but it was followed also on an approval of the law on legal aid in Albania in 2017. Before this— before the approval of this law, access to justice for victims of gender-based violence and domestic violence was very limited. Through establishment of these free legal offices all over Albania, it's increased the access to justice of victims of gender-based violence and domestic violence. As long as this mechanism is pretty new, I would suggest that priority reform for Albania is further strengthening of the state-guaranteed legal aid system with a particular focus on increasing accessibility of women, rural populations, and marginalized groups where the need is the greatest. Expansion of free legal aid services as well as improving public awareness, as many citizens are unaware that free legal aid exists, especially those living in rural areas where the need is greatest. These measures help ensure that free legal aid is more accessible, efficient, and effective, particularly for vulnerable and marginalized groups. Thank you for your attention.

I thank the Executive Director of the Human Rights and Democracy Center, and I now give the floor to Mrs. Zapeta.

Muchísimas gracias.

Thank you very much. I wish to thank everybody for their comments, for their statements, and for the questions. When we hear discussions about Progress being made. We do allow ourselves to hope that we are— when we consider the reality of women, we see that there's a significant gap, a gulf. You today mentioned institutional progress, and this indeed is commendable, the fact that such progress has been made. I welcome the fact that a great deal of this progress was done Thanks to the assiduous efforts of women's bodies, indigenous peoples' bodies, and other associations— this does need to be recognized— there continue to exist structural obstacles which require structural, cross-cutting, complementary solutions to meet them. When we discuss equality, of rights, equality of rights, which is enshrined in a number of constitutions, even though this is not necessarily the case for all constitutions, we do need to bear in mind that this equality of rights is not enough if we really wish to guarantee access to justice and if we wish to have all rights be exercised. There is a need for equality in fact. For example, when we consider— when one considers the languages, the linguistic access In what language are they being provided? Education, in what language is it being organized? How are states behaving vis-à-vis rural communities, indigenous persons' communities, our brothers in cities, sisters living with disabilities? We see there's a gulf.

And so we know that equality before the law is not truly real, but we do have to value it. It's progress, but it's insufficient. Another aspect that is important are intersectional responses. All of the panelists have mentioned the relevance of economic empowerment along with health, education, self-care, the exercise of our labor rights, etc. These things are all connected, and in the case of Indigenous women, we see that gender inequality is connected to the inequalities produced by racism, colonialism, and exclusion. We also have to put this on the table when states offer responses and when the private sector does as well, as one of the experts was mentioning. And I would also like to highlight that for many of us as Indigenous peoples, Exercising the access to justice is not something that happens individually. It does happen individually when I exercise it myself as an individual person, but it is collective when we recognize the right to land, the right to language. So it affects the entire community, all of our girls, and this is what I would like to close with, and what I would like to highlight, there is a need to really concentrate all our efforts on girls. It is urgent for us to invest financially, invest in terms of our institutions, so we can put a stop to violence committed against girls throughout the world. If we don't do something to support our children and youth, tomorrow again will be violent and unfair. So I would like to invite all of you to just place that focus on healing and reparation. We cannot keep taking the future generations down a path that offers a model for life and a model for governance based on violence without justice. That is my invitation to you, and I would like to thank you once again for the opportunity to be here.

I thank the Executive Director of the International Indigenous Women's Forum. Excellencies, distinguished experts, and colleagues, as we conclude this dialogue, I would like to extend sincere thanks to our panelists and to all the participants for the rich and thoughtful exchange we've had today. Across the discussion, a clear message has emerged: improving access to justice for women and girls requires more than isolated reforms. It demands systems that work coherently, from legislation and institutions to legal aid, civil society mobilization, innovation, and data. Justice must be designed around the realities all women and girls face in their daily lives. Our panelists reminded us that reform must begin with strong legal frameworks. At the same time, the conversation made clear that the existence of laws alone does not guarantee justice. Implementation challenges continue to prevent many women and girls from seeking or obtaining remedies, particularly those facing intersecting forms of discrimination. We also heard the importance of institutions working together so that systems can better respond to the needs of all women and girls. The role played by civil society and women's rights organizations remains essential. These actors help bring justice closer to communities, raising legal awareness, supporting victims and survivors, and advocating reforms in areas like family law that change lives. Their work strengthens both the accessibility and legitimacy of justice systems. Finally, we were reminded that innovation, including the use of technology, offers new opportunities to expand justice access. Yet these tools must be developed carefully, ensuring that they close gaps rather than create new exclusions. Ultimately, ensuring access to justice for women and girls is not only about institutions or procedures. It is about enabling women and girls to exercise their rights with dignity, confidence, and agency. Thank you all for your contributions today and for your continued commitment to advancing justice for all women and girls. The Commission will reconvene this afternoon at 3 PM in this conference room to hold an interactive dialogue with youth representatives. Information on these sessions is accessible The minutes of this meeting are available on the iGov portal, igov.un.org. The meeting is adjourned.