Over the past two years, the number of cases of war-related sexual violence worldwide has increased by 87%. Rape continues to be used as a tool of war.
This is stated in the new report of the United Nations Secretary-General entitled “Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls”, which was released on the eve of International Women’s Day.
According to the organization, no country in the world has yet achieved full equality between women and men: on average, women have only 64% of the legal rights available to men. In many countries, laws still allow discrimination, violence and economic inequality against women.
The report notes that in 54% of countries around the world, rape is still not defined as consensual. As a result, a woman may experience sexual violence but the law does not recognize it as a crime.
Also, in almost three out of four countries, the law allows forced marriage for girls. In 44% of countries, women and men are not guaranteed equal pay for equal work.
The UN emphasizes that this situation creates conditions for discrimination and violence throughout a woman’s life.
“When women and girls are denied justice, the harm goes far beyond the individual case. Trust in society is eroded, institutions lose legitimacy, and the rule of law is weakened,” the report says.
The organization also warns of growing opposition to gender equality in the world and increasing violations of women’s rights. Sexual violence continues to be used as a weapon in wars, and women are increasingly exposed to digital violence, while legislation has not kept pace with technological developments.
The report also notes that in some countries, legislative changes are aimed at restricting women’s rights and suppressing their voices.
At the same time, researchers note some progress. In particular, 87% of countries in the world have already adopted laws to combat domestic violence, and over 40 states have strengthened constitutional guarantees for the protection of women over the past decade.
Despite this, many women do not seek justice due to fear, stigmatization, pressure from the community or distrust of state institutions. Additional obstacles include the high cost of litigation, language barriers, and lack of time.
Previously, the UN also estimated that women in the world do 2.5 times more unpaid work than men. In addition, about 4 million girls undergo female genital mutilation every year.
