Time and time and time once more.
“Because he’s my husband, the police wouldn’t arrest him.” “I couldn’t leave because I had no place to go.” “My family said I deserved it.” “I lost my job after speaking out.” “They were soldiers.” “They were powerful men.” “I used to be solely a younger lady.”
If laws are made to protect what society values, what are we telling women and girls when our laws and justice systems fail to protect them?
Without fair and functional justice systems, our human rights are just words on paper. Unfortunately, many women and girls don’t even have that: Globally, women hold just two-thirds of the same legal rights as men. Meaning, laws that protect and guarantee the human rights to safety, freedom, and opportunities are biased against women and girls.
Not a single nation has achieved 100 per cent legal equality.
The newest United Nations Secretary-General’s report exhibits that the gender justice hole is even wider in follow: Weak enforcement of present legal guidelines hardens the boundaries that ladies and ladies already face. And when justice fails ladies, the rule of regulation itself begins to break down.
The time is now: We should act now to course-correct, strengthen ladies and ladies’ entry to justice, and provides energy — not simply promise — to our rights. Thankfully, we already understand how.
