* Any views expressed in this opinion piece are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation.

 International Commission of Jurists

 

 

Sir/Madam,

 

This week UN Women released its flagship report: Progress of the World’s Women 2011 – 2012: In Pursuit of Justice. On behalf of the International Commission of Jurists, we congratulate UN Women on the report’s focus on women’s access to justice.  

 

When it comes to addressing the systemic and entrenched causes of women’s inequality there is no panacea or silver bullet.  But ensuring women’s access to justice, as In Pursuit of Justice underlines and affirms, is a vitally important step.

 

As lawyers and judges working throughout the world, we have witnessed first-hand the many small and significant ways in which law and the administration of justice affect the daily lives of individual human beings. Ensuring that law and justice systems enshrine and recognize women’s rights, and are relevant and responsive to the lived experiences of women, profoundly changes lives whether through guaranteeing women’s citizenship rights, providing protection from violence or enabling women to claim the property that is rightfully theirs.

 

 Law and justice systems also influence societal attitudes and create broader social change. They provide the building blocks of our societies. Where law and justice systems work for women they create the foundations needed for women's empowerment in all aspects of their lives, foster an environment of respect for dignity and equality, and enable progressive human development in each facet of shared human endeavor.

 

In Pursuit of Justice highlights ten fundamental recommendations for action that can enhance women’s access to justice. Each of the steps identified, from gender sensitive law reform in individual countries, to international investment in women’s legal organizations and women’s access to justice initiatives, including training programmes, is crucial. Of particular urgency is a focus on the role of women in law making and the justice-sector. For example women comprise less than 20% of parliamentarians worldwide. Our progress will remain limited until we place women legislators at the heart of law-reform and address the entrenched barriers and discrimination that persist within key professions. Women must be empowered and enabled to become judges, lawyers, prosecutors, and law-enforcement officials at all levels of service.

 

It is only with these steps that we will truly see justice become a reality.

 

Sincerely,

 

Imrana Jalal, Fiji, Commissioner, International Commission of Jurists & Member of the Advisory Group of Progress of the World’s Women 2011-2012

Michelo Hansungule, Zambia, Commissioner, International Commission of Jurists & Member of the Advisory Group of Progress of the World’s Women 2011-2012

Pedro Nikken, Venezuela, President, International Commission of Jurists

Unity Dow, Botswana, Chairperson of the Executive Committee, International Commission of Jurists  

Wilder Tayler, Uruguay, Secretary-General, International Commission of Jurists