Each year on International Women’s Day, the world reflects on the progress toward gender equality and renews commitments to women’s rights. In the Arab States region these reflections come at the time of deep uncertainty, as the region faces unprecedented escalating conflicts and crises. These challenges contribute to erode hardwon development gains, by deepening social and economic fragility, heightening insecurity and widening existing inequalities.  

In times of crisis, women and girls are often the first to cope with the impact and the last to see relief. Violence, whether domestic, conflictrelated, or driven by discriminatory norms, surges in times of crisis, while essential services become harder to access, fragile protection systems weaken, and legal remedies are often out of reach. Crises expose the depth of inequality but also underscore the urgency of addressing it.  Women’s rights and gender justice cannot wait for calmer times, they must advance precisely in moments of uncertainty, when the foundations of recovery and peaceful future are being built.  

As governments and advocates gather for the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women to assess progress in  strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws and addressing structural barriers , their discussions offer a stark reminder:  while important steps have been taken across the Arab States, the region, like much of the world remains off track.   

Recognizing the complexity of these challenges, UNDP’s work in advancing women’s access to justice in the Arab States is anchored in the Regional Gender Justice Framework which addresses interconnected challenges through  fours pillars of action: reforming laws, strengthening genderresponsive institutions, expanding women’s access to justice, and transforming the social norms that shape how laws are implemented. 

Reforming Laws to advance women’s rights  

Discriminatory legal frameworks remain one of the most persistent barriers to equality. While several Arab States have introduced promising reforms in recent years, many laws still limit women’s rights or fail to protect them adequately. These legal barriers are not abstract and have direct consequences for women’s daily lives. They affect whether women can move freely, access employment and business opportunities, secure documents for their children, inherit property, or access safety and protection when facing violence. Addressing these barriers is therefore a critical entry point for advancing women’s access to rights.  

Across the region, UNDP works with governments and partners to support legal reform processes that align national legislation with international commitments and strengthen protections for women and girls. The Gender Justice and the Law initiative, implemented in partnership with UN Women, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, and United Nations Population Fund, has helped highlight legal gaps and provide evidence to support reform. Recent progress, including amendments to dozens of legal provisions across multiple countries, demonstrates that change is possible when political will, evidence, and sustained advocacy come together.  

Strengthening institutions to deliver justice for women  

But legal reforms alone cannot deliver justice if institutions are not equipped to implement them effectively. Justice and security institutions across the Arab States, while making advances, remain largely maledominated. Women are increasingly entering the judiciary, police, bar associations, and security structures, but remain underrepresented in leadership roles and often face entrenched institutional barriers. These imbalances affect how the justice systems function, from way the cases are processed, to how survivors of violence are treated, and how accessible justice feels. Increasing women’s representation and strengthening gender-responsive institutional policies are therefore essential steps toward more inclusive justice systems. 

UNDP supports justice and security institutions in adopting stronger internal policies and practices that promote gender equality and ensure women’s protection. UNDP works shows how targeted support can shift institutional culture and create pathways for women’s leadership and inclusive service delivery. In Algeria, for instance, collaboration with the Ministry of Justice is expanding opportunities for women judges to assume leadership position recognizing that this leads to inclusive and fairer justice outcomes.. Regionally, UNDP is also supporting the establishment of a Regional Network of Arab Women Judges to foster peer learning, mentorship, and professional exchange across countries 

Expanding women’s access to justice

Even where laws exist and institution’s function, many women still face barriers in accessing justice. Distance from courts, financial constraints, limited legal awareness, and lack of trust in formal systems can all prevent women from seeking legal remedies. UNDP works to strengthen women’s legal literacy and access to legal aid.  

Women’s barriers in access to justice are particularly pronounced in fragile and conflictaffected contexts, where formal institutions may be weakened or inaccessible. In such situations, informal or communitybased mechanisms often play a role in resolving family, property, and inheritance disputes. While these systems can offer accessible pathways for dispute resolution,  they remain deeply influenced by social norms that  may restrict women’s rights. Engaging with these mechanisms is therefore essential for achieving lasting change. By strengthening linkages between formal and informal systems and promoting fairer practices within both, women’s access to justice can expand in the spaces where their lives actually unfold. UNDP works with community leaders, religious authorities, and local justice actors to strengthen awareness of women’s rights and promote more equitable practices within the systems that people rely on most. In Yemen, women-led community justice teams operating within the formal justice system in Aden demonstrate how women’s leadership can reshape justice processes and expand access for others. 

Gender justice is often framed as a long-term aspiration. Yet across the Arab States region, it is increasingly clear that it must be treated as a development priority.  

When women can claim their rights without restriction, societies become more resilient. When institutions reflect the diversity of the populations they serve, public trust grows stronger. And when gender justice becomes a standard rather than an aspiration, the foundations for peace, prosperity, and human dignity are strengthened for everyone. 

On this International Women’s Day, the message is clear: advancing rights, justice, and action for all women and girls is essential for sustainable development and lasting peace.