In order for women and girls to exercise their most basic rights they must have equitable access to justice. Yet many justice systems are failing them. While many countries have made progress in passing laws to uphold sexual and reproductive rights and safeguard bodily autonomy no nation has achieved true equality under the law for women and men. In light of this, the theme for International Women’s Day is: “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL women and girls.”
Our experience as INERELA+ is Discrimination against women and girls remains common, particularly when it comes to sexual reproductive health laws. In nearly a quarter of countries around the world, women and adolescents are legally required to obtain consent from a third party such as a husband or parent to access contraceptive services. Legal systems are also failing to address technology facilitated gender-based violence. Despite the global proliferation of this form of violence, it is seldom criminalized or prosecuted. Even where legal frameworks exist, laws are often not implemented or enforced.
Gender Based Violence is one of the world’s most pervasive human rights violations, yet most of these crimes go unpunished when reported. Reasons include underfunded services, obstacles to accessing courts and legal aid and systems that retraumatize or even criminalize survivors. This denies justice to women and girls, especially in crisis settings.
On the 8th of March 2026, INERELA+ rallied with women and girls to demand equal rights and equal justice to enforce, exercise and enjoy those rights. Justice is a right and not a privilege. Therefore, ending all forms of violence, ensuring legal empowerment and access to justice for women and girls in all their diversity are inseparable from the fight to eliminate inequalities. We called for action to dismantle barriers to equal justice, discriminatory laws, weak legal protections, harmful practices and social norms that erode the rights of women and girls. Our message was justice for sexual and reproductive rights must move from legal mandate to lived reality. That means courts and legal services must not be only accessible by women, girls and marginalized people but also accountable to them.
Together we can build a world where every woman and girl lives free from violence.