UN Women: Women Globally Enjoy 64% of Men's Legal Rights Amid Regressions

UN Women released a report stating that women and girls worldwide enjoy only 64% of the legal rights granted to men, facing significant legal and institutional barriers.

The agency highlighted issues such as rape not being properly recognized as a crime in some places, persistent forced marriages of girls, and women receiving lower pay for equal work. UN Women warned that the rule of law is under growing pressure globally, with democratic spaces shrinking in several countries, leading to visible regressions in women's rights and undermining progress toward gender equality.

In Afghanistan, since the Taliban returned in 2021, women have been barred from most secondary and higher education, many forms of employment, and public life, according to the report. These restrictions have deepened poverty and limited women's and girls' access to education and healthcare.

UNICEF has warned that millions of Afghan girls remain out of school due to ongoing restrictions on female education, describing it as one of the world's most severe gender-based education crises.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have called for stronger international action, stating that Afghanistan's policies limiting women's education, employment, and movement amount to systematic discrimination.

UN Women emphasized that fair laws and effective justice systems benefiting all women and girls strengthen societies, urging governments to bolster legal protections for social stability and economic development.