Statement by the International Development Law Organization (IDLO)
Thank you, Ms. Vice-President.
Laws are the backbone of a human rights economy, shaping the landscape in which rights are recognized, respected, and realized. When laws are just and equitable, they unlock the potential for economic empowerment, particularly for women, and bring about sustainable development.
Yet, around the world, discriminatory laws continue to obstruct women’s access to economic opportunities. Around 3.9 billion women globally face legal barriers affecting their economic participation, thereby hindering the overall goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Women are still unable to sign contracts, register businesses, or open bank accounts without male approval. We continue to be confronted by laws that limit women’s professional choices, and restrict their equal access to employment, inheritance, land rights and natural resources.
I would like to highlight the findings of my colleagues at the World Bank, who have estimated that the global gender gap in expected lifetime earnings amounts to approximately $172 trillion. This is a colossal, missed opportunity for the world economy.
The International Development Law Organization (IDLO) works closely with governments, UN Women and local partners, to conduct comprehensive reviews of legislation in several countries, including Kenya, the Philippines, Sierra Leone and Mali, and propose recommendations and roadmaps for gender-responsive legal reforms.
It is fundamental to emphasize that successful legal reform requires further capacity building of the institutions that will drive these changes, robust support for civil society, especially women’s rights advocates, and enhanced access to justice through both formal and informal systems.
IDLO stands ready to collaborate with partners on this front and we look forward to hearing panelists' insights on how we can further accelerate the elimination of discriminatory laws and catalyze the emergence of a human rights-based economy.