Statement by the Director-General, Ms Jan Beagle
8 March 2024
On International Women’s Day, IDLO stands with the global community to celebrate women and girls worldwide.
The theme of this year calls for immediate action to secure women’s rights and ensure equal access to opportunities for women and girls everywhere.
This is both relevant and timely because, despite progress made, evidence shows that women and girls still endure persistent inequality, discrimination, and violence.
More than 2.5 billion women and girls around the world face discriminatory laws and lack of legal protection.
Globally, 35% of women suffer from violence, with the figure rising to 70% in humanitarian settings.
Studies across the world show that 16 to 58 per cent of women and girls have been targeted by violence online.
At IDLO, we have seen firsthand how the rule of law is essential in advancing both rights and equal opportunity for women and girls, particularly in challenging and complex environments.
The rule of law protects the rights of all people, including of women and girls, and provides the framework for the realization of rights through laws, effective institutions, and judicial and administrative remedies.
Drawing from our work across various regions and countries, I would like to share some key recommendations to advance rights and opportunities for women and girls:
First, we must eliminate laws that discriminate against women. Laws must promote and protect rights, rather than be an impediment to their achievement.
Second, we need to support institutions that work to address the justice needs of women and girls, including for cases of violence against women and girls.
Third, we must safeguard women and girls in digital spaces. As these spaces become more prone to violence and discrimination against women and girls, it is essential to create legal and institutional frameworks to address crimes targeting them online.
Fourth, we must remove impediments to women’s leadership in the justice sector. Women's participation and leadership in the public sector are a critical part of effective governance.
Fifth, we must continue to support women and girls to claim and exercise their rights. This involves supporting initiatives that improve legal literacy and awareness among women and girls, while also providing legal assistance.
As we celebrate the achievements of women and girls, we urge the international community to ensure that their justice needs are at the centre of global development efforts.
This International Women’s Day, IDLO reaffirms its commitment to supporting women and girls worldwide through the rule of law. Investing in women and girls is an investment in a just and sustainable future.
The International Development Law Organization (IDLO) enables governments and empowers people to reform laws and strengthen institutions to promote peace, justice, sustainable development and economic opportunity.