A scene from Rule Breakers, a dramatization of the story of the Afghan Girls Robotics Team.

By Joyce Chimbi and Naureen Hossain
Mar 7 2025 (IPS)

Like the Afghan robotics team, Education Cannot Wait (ECW), the global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises in the United Nations, is breaking the ‘rules’ and continuing to educate young women in that country despite an edict from the Taliban denying girls a secondary school education.

ECW’s Yasmine Sherif, the Executive Director of Education Cannot Wait, tore up a piece of paper as a symbolic representation of the Taliban edict, which she said violated international law and meant that 1.5 million girls were excluded from education. She was speaking at an International Women’s Day press conference at the United Nations.

The film Rule Breakers, and the Afghan Robotics Team it is based on, shows that “you can do anything. So for whatever we hear right now around us and see around the world, ‘We don’t have money. We can’t do this.’ We are saying—watch Rule Breakers. Create a new path.”

Rule Breakers is a dramatic feature film that follows the story of young Afghan women who have broken tradition and stereotypes to pursue their dreams in science and technology. The film, which was released today, ahead of International Women’s Day, is based on the true story of an all-girl robotics team, born and raised in Afghanistan, and the woman who taught them to dream.

ECW, with their partners, was also breaking the ‘rules’ made by the Taliban and had invested USD 30 million in a multi-year, community-based program that is supported by international partners in the most underserved areas.

“Sixty-five percent of those who are receiving education are girls and adolescent girls, so we are breaking the ban. We are breaking the rules because you have to do so if you want to do what is right in this particular context. So we have reached over 100,000 children, and as I said, 65 percent are adolescent girls,” Sherif said.

She encouraged funders to join in the rule-breaking in a climate where funding was scarce.

Yasmine Sherif, the Executive Director of Education Cannot Wait, addresses a press conference at the United Nations.

“There are rule breakers everywhere that believe that you still have to help the world. And I’m saying, please help us. Help the Afghan girls to get their education, because I’m sure that everyone agrees that this is a fantastic way of doing something.”

The movie, a harrowing tale and a clarion call to return Afghanistan’s girls to the safety and hope of a quality education, releases today in the United States, Canada, South Africa and Sri Lanka, and Sherif says the world should use International Women’s Day to push for the ending of the ban on girls’ secondary education in Afghanistan.

“On International Women’s Day, we are joining nations around the world to call for the end of the cruel and destructive ban on girls’ secondary education. It is time to rebuild Afghanistan based on the vast potential of her most precious natural resource: the resilient and strong Afghan girls and boys. Keep alive their hope through education and let them develop and be productive for the country,” says Sherif.

Rule Breakers is a PG-rated, family-friendly film—directed by Oscar-winner Bill Guttentag—that highlights the unique transformative power of education and raises awareness about the crucial importance of the right to education for girls in Afghanistan, in other crises and emergency settings globally, and the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education for all girls around the world.

Elaha Mahboob, co-producer and writer of Rule Breakers, addresses a press conference at the United Nations.

Elaha Mahboob, co-producer and writer of Rule Breakers, told the press conference that the film brought out nuances in Afghan women’s lives that are not often considered.

“Usually when we talk about Afghan girls and Afghan women, it is either around tragedy or we see an Afghan woman as merely a victim of conflict. Which is, you know, part of the story, but it is not the full picture or full story of what life has been like for women, or what life has been like in the past twenty years in Afghanistan,” Mahboob said.

Yasmine Sherif (left), Elaha Mahboob (center), and Roya Mahboob (right). Roya Mahboob is a tech entrepreneur who established the non-profit Digital Citizen Fund, which founded the Afghan girls’ robotics team, whom the movie is about. Credit: Naureen Hossain/IPS

“For me, it was really important we show a side of Afghanistan that we have never seen in the media or any movies. That there was progress; there were so many courageous women and men that were trying to build a future in Afghanistan. And even though you will see in the movie that there were so many [societal] challenges, like expectations and limitations for these girls, they didn’t sit back and they never gave up on their dreams. They were actually actively working toward their dreams.”

Set in Afghanistan, where learning for young women is often considered rebellion, Rule Breakers brings to life the incredible story of the Afghan Girls Robotics Team, showcasing the resilience of girls in STEM and, more so, that ambitious young girls and women in crises and emergency situations should neither be forgotten nor left behind in their pursuit of STEM. It is a story of courage, resilience, and the power of education that, importantly, seeks to inspire and keep the dream of an education alive for all children everywhere.

The Afghan Girls Robotics Team, also known as the “Afghan Dreamers,” was founded in 2017 by Roya Mahboob, a young woman from Herat, Afghanistan, who became a leading force in the country for STEM education for girls. These girls were told their dreams were impossible and that there was no place for women and girls in science, technology, and innovation.

The young women dared to dream and refused to be silenced. Overcoming staggering obstacles, Roya and her team trained in engineering and robotics and traveled the world to compete in international high school robotics competitions.

Rule Breakers is opening at cinemas in the United States, Canada, South Africa and Sri Lanka today.

As a sign of things to come, during the COVID-19 pandemic and under enormous difficulties, they successfully built a ventilator in three months. Somaya Faruqi, portrayed as Tara in the film, was the former captain of the team. Only 19 years old at the time of the Taliban takeover in 2021, Faruqi’s dream to become a mechanical engineer was already taking shape.

Now an engineering scholarship student in the United States, Faruqi is also an Education Cannot Wait (ECW) Global Champion, spearheading the launch of ECW’s global advocacy campaign—#AfghanGirlsVoices.

“Rule Breakers provides the world a glimpse at the reality facing millions of Afghan girls and women today who are living under Taliban rule. They are being denied their human rights to education, their freedom and their dignity. Our voices will not be silenced,” Faruqi said.

The #AfghanGirlsVoices campaign uses moving illustrations by a young Afghan female artist and determined testimonies from Afghan girls to amplify the voices of those left behind demanding their right to education. As the global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises, ECW supports and protects holistic learning outcomes.

The film stars Ali Fazal and Nikohl Boosheri. The supporting cast includes Noorin Gulamgaus, Amber Afzalzi, Nina Hosseinzaheh, Sara Rowe and Miriam Siraj.

“The story of ‘Rule Breakers’ is more than just a film—it’s a testament to the power of education, technology and resilience. The Afghan Girls Robotics Team’s journey represents the courage of young women who refuse to accept limitations placed upon them, using science and innovation as their tools of resistance,” said Elaha Mahboob, Writer and Executive Producer of Rule Breakers.

“As someone who has worked to create opportunities for Afghan women in technology, I wanted to bring this story to life to inspire the next generation of changemakers and to show the world what is possible when young women are given access to education and opportunity.”

Education Cannot Wait’s #AfghanGirlsVoices campaign has reached 184 million online individuals, 4.1 billion potential audience members, and 4,100 mentions to date. Credit: ECW

The ECW works with global champions like Faruqi in its mission to ensure children affected by armed conflict, climate-induced disasters, and forced displacement can access the safety, hope, and opportunity that only a quality education can provide.

Sherif reminded funders to contribute.

“To all strategic public partners, donors, and private sectors—please, please, break the rules of your own minds and say, ‘There is money; we can do this! They are breaking the rules and bans in Afghanistan to make sure every girl gets an education irrespective of that ban.” And Education Cannot Wait is the vehicle, and we have great partners on the ground. It’s happening. It’s not what we will do—it’s happening right now.”

Around the world, a staggering 234 million children caught in crises are in dire need of support to access quality education, an estimated increase of 35 million over the past three years. Forcibly displaced children, girls and children with disabilities are among the most affected.

Three years after the de facto authorities took power, Afghanistan stands out as the only country in the world where girls and women are officially forbidden to access education beyond Grade 6. Nearly 1.4 million Afghan girls have been deliberately deprived of schooling. Access to primary education has also fallen sharply, with 1.1 million fewer girls and boys attending school.

Rule Breakers offers a powerful story for the global community to unite in support of Afghan girls and with all children affected by crises who have been left behind in the education system. It is a story of hope, resilience, strength and achievements. A story that can resonate for all these 234 million children not to be forgotten. A story that brings to life the promise of a quality education for all and the potential for every child to be pulled out of the depth of darkness and be set on a path of lifelong learning and earning opportunity.

#AfghanGirlsVoices has rallied support from 50+ global leaders and prominent voices, including bestselling authors, artists, Afghan grassroots organizations, UN and government officials, civil society organizations, human rights advocates, youth activists, and more.

IPS UN Bureau Report

Follow @IPSNewsUNBureau
  

Women at the CSW session at the UN headquarters. Credit: UN Women/Ryan Brown
 
The annual UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) meets in March each year to address the widespread inequalities, violence and discrimination women continue to face all around the world. The sixty-ninth session of the CSW will take place in New York from 10 to 21 March 2025.
 
Meanwhile, this year’s International Women’s Day, March 8, will be celebrated under the theme, 'Accelerate Action': a worldwide call to acknowledge strategies, resources, and activities that positively impact women's advancement, and to support and elevate their implementation.

By Shihana Mohamed
NEW YORK, Mar 6 2025 (IPS)

The United Nations has chosen “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.” as the theme for International Women’s Day on March 8, 2025. This theme emphasizes the importance of equal rights, power, and opportunities for all women and girls, urging action to create a feminist future where no one is left behind.

The UN has long been a champion of gender equality, advocating for women’s rights and empowerment across the globe. However, despite its strong stance on gender issues, the UN has yet to elect a female Secretary-General in its nearly 80-year history.

This paradox highlights significant issues regarding the organization’s internal dynamics and the broader challenges of achieving gender parity in global leadership. It emphasizes the need for continued efforts to remove systemic barriers that prevent women from attaining top leadership positions.

Entrenched Selection Process

The UN Secretary-General is appointed by the General Assembly, but only upon the recommendation of the Security Council, in accordance with Article 97 of the UN Charter. The selection process is both complex and politically charged.

The Security Council, where the five permanent members — China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States — hold major influence, also has the power to veto candidates. This structure has historically favored individuals with strong political backing and extensive diplomatic experience, most of whom have been men.

Of the five permanent UN Security Council members, only France and the United Kingdom have had a female head of state or government, while China, Russia, and the United States have not. This contributes to an estimated 40% probability of selecting a female UN Secretary-General in 2026.

To be chosen as the Secretary-General, a candidate must secure at least nine votes (60%) from the Security Council’s members, with no vetoes from the permanent members. Of the current ten non-permanent members of the Security Council, only Denmark, Pakistan, and the Republic of Korea have had a female head of state. Without any vetoes from permanent members, the chances of selecting a female Secretary-General are about 33%.

As of November 2024, only 30 women were serving as Heads of State and/or Government in 28 countries, reflecting a significant gender disparity in global leadership. This represents a small fraction of the 193 member states of the UN General Assembly. Based on current trends, there is only about a 15% chance of selecting a female UN Secretary-General.

Historical Precedents

All nine UN Secretaries-General to date have been men, reflecting a historical pattern where candidates with strong political backing and alignment with the interests of the permanent members of the Security Council have been favored.

The historical dominance of men in the UN’s highest office creates a challenging legacy to overcome. This precedent can shape perceptions and biases, making it more difficult for female candidates to be seen as viable options.

Based on historical precedents of selecting only men, the possibility of having a woman as the next Secretary-General is close to zero.

Gender Disparity in Political Leadership

Men hold the majority of positions of power and influence worldwide. This is because global power predominantly has a male face.

Historically, leadership roles have been shaped by masculine norms and values, which continue to influence the structures and practices of power today. For example, international politics often mirrors masculine traits such as dominance, conflict, and hegemony.

Globally, women remain under-represented in political and diplomatic roles. As of January 1, 2024, women represented 23.3% of Cabinet members heading ministries and leading policy areas. Only 15 countries have women holding 50% or more of the Cabinet Minister positions in leading policy areas.

As of January 2025, women represent approximately 28.2% of the U.S. Congress, despite comprising 51% of the U.S. population.

This global under-representation of women extends to the pool of candidates for UN Secretary-General, where political and diplomatic experience is key. This significantly lowers the chances of a female candidate, with the likelihood estimated to be around 20%.

Geopolitical Interests

The geopolitical interests of the Security Council’s permanent members heavily influence the selection process, with their veto power often used to block candidates who do not align with their priorities.

The need for consensus among these powerful nations often results in the selection of candidates who align with their geopolitical interests, rather than prioritizing gender equality. These dynamics can overshadow the push for gender equality, leading to the selection of male candidates who are perceived to better serve the strategic interests of these nations.

The interplay of international politics and gender considerations creates a challenging environment for female candidates.

Regional Rotations

Historically, the office of the Secretary-General has been held by individuals from various regions, including Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Western Europe. This practice aims to balance regional influence within the UN and promote leadership diversity.

Regional rotation plays an important, though informal, role in selecting the UN Secretary-General, as candidates typically need support from their regional groups to gain wider acceptance.

However, the final selection is still subject to the approval of the Security Council, where any of the five permanent members can veto the choice.

The practice of regional rotation has not yet resulted in the selection of a female Secretary-General. In 2016, there was a significant push to select the first female Secretary-General, with several female candidates from Eastern Europe being considered. However, António Guterres from Portugal was finally selected.

Lack of Concrete Actions and Commitment

In November 2024, during the debate on revitalization of the work at the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly, delegates overwhelmingly urged the appointment of a female Secretary-General, supported by a joint statement by 78 Member States.

In February 2025, during the thematic debate at the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Revitalization of the General Assembly, around 90 Member States called for greater women’s representation in the UN leadership, including in the selection of the next Secretary-General.

Although many Member States have expressed support for a female Secretary-General, the lack of concrete steps to reform the selection process means that this support remains largely symbolic. Without specific actions and commitments, the chances of achieving this outcome remain slim.

Growing Advocacy

Advocacy for appointing a female Secretary-General as the UN’s 10th Secretary-General in 2026 is gaining momentum. Various organizations and influential figures are calling for gender equality in the UN’s highest office.

This advocacy underscores the need to address the historic gender imbalance and ensure that the UN genuinely represents and champions gender equality. Breaking this glass ceiling will be a significant step towards true gender equality, both within and outside the organization.

The advocacy campaign for a female Secretary-General needs not only strong individual candidates but also a concerted effort to address systemic barriers that prevent women from reaching top leadership positions. Without substantial reforms and concrete actions, this goal remains distant.

Conclusion

Electing a female Secretary-General would send a powerful message about the UN’s commitment to gender parity and set a precedent for gender equality in global governance.

While it is challenging to assign a precise probability of having a female Secretary-General for the next term, a reasonable estimate is around 20-30%. This takes into account the historical lack of female Secretaries-General, balanced by the increasing advocacy for a female Secretary-General and potential shifts in political support.

Women have yet to achieve the rights, power, and opportunities needed to hold the UN’s highest office.

Shihana Mohamed, a Sri Lankan national, is a founding member and Coordinator of the United Nations Asia Network for Diversity and Inclusion (UN-ANDI) and a US Public Voices Fellow with The OpEd Project and Equality Now on Advancing the Rights of Women and Girls. She is a dedicated human rights activist and a strong advocate of gender equality and advancement of women.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/shihana-mohamed-68556b15/

IPS UN Bureau

Follow @IPSNewsUNBureau
  

International Women's Day March 8 2025: This year it will be celebrated under the theme, 'Accelerate Action': a worldwide call to acknowledge strategies, resources, and activities that positively impact women's advancement, and to support and elevate their implementation.

By Jesselina Rana
NEW YORK, Mar 5 2025 (IPS)

In 2025, the United Nations will celebrate 80 years of shaping global policies, fostering peace, and driving international development. Yet, in those eight decades, not a single woman has held the position of Secretary-General.

This glaring absence speaks volumes; the institution that champions gender equality on the world stage cannot seem to practice what it preaches.

As the UN prepares to host the 69th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) in New York, this dichotomy is impossible to ignore. While the world gathers to assess progress on gender equality, the UN itself remains stuck in a cycle of male dominance.

There are no gender quotas for national delegations, no real push to increase women’s representation, and no collective effort to break the all-male stronghold at the highest leadership level.

The UN’s gender imbalance mirrors the entrenched inequalities within its member states. This disparity was painfully clear at the 79th UN General Assembly, where women comprised less than 10% of speakers during the General Debate. Only 19 women took the podium—a mere five as Heads of State and three as Heads of Government. Meanwhile, 175 men dominated the conversation, including 67 Heads of Government and 47 Heads of State.

These numbers are not just statistics—they reflect a deeper, more troubling truth: women continue to be excluded from the highest levels of decision making.

The obstacles to women’s leadership are not just about individual ambition. They are tied to larger systems of repression and silencing. According to CIVICUS’ flagship research, 70% of the world’s population lives in countries where civic space is restricted or closed.

In these conditions, women’s rights groups face constant threats as governments wield restrictive laws to suppress dissent under the pretext of countering terrorism, online crime, or disinformation. Women human rights defenders, particularly those fighting for climate action, gender equality, and LGBTQIA+ rights, face increasing persecution.

These restrictions make it harder for civil society to demand transparent, accountable and gender representative institutions. Without open civic space, women—especially those from marginalized communities—are shut out of decision-making processes and denied the opportunity to shape stronger, more inclusive institutions and policies. It is no surprise that countries with repressed civic space also tend to have low gender equality outcomes.

CSW69, intended to review the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration, comes at a pivotal moment, just ahead of the UN’s 80th anniversary. However, this review is overshadowed by the fact that the chair of CSW69 has a dismal human rights record, particularly on women’s rights.

The event is being hosted in a country that has actively regressed on gender equality, both nationally and internationally—withdrawal from the Human Rights Council and the Paris Agreement, re-imposing the global gag rule to cut abortion access funding, and promoting the Geneva Consensus Declaration, an anti-reproductive rights and anti-LGBTQ+ political statement.

Moreover, it has pressured UN agencies to align with its regressive stance on diversity, equity, and inclusion, fostering a climate of fear and self-censorship. This chilling effect has led global north CSOs to retract terms like ‘feminism’ from their website and advocacy platforms, while EU governments cut funding for gender equality initiatives.

CSW69 must not be just a moment for reflection—but a moment for action.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres himself called the gender imbalance “unacceptable” in his opening speech at the General Assembly. Yet, rhetoric alone will not change reality. The systemic barriers extend far beyond the top position. GWLvoices, a collective of global women leaders, found that since 1945, only 13% of elected leaders in multilateral organizations have been women.

Civil society is not staying silent. The 1 for 8 Billion advocacy campaign, with CIVICUS as a steering committee member, is pushing for transformative reforms. It builds on the success of the earlier 1 for 7 Billion campaign, which in 2016 successfully advocated for a more transparent and accountable selection process for the Secretary-General.

That campaign led to key reforms, including open candidate hearings and greater public scrutiny of the selection process—an important step toward breaking the culture of backroom deals.

The 1 for 8 Billion campaign calls on Member States to nominate feminist women candidates and demands full transparency in the Secretary-General selection process. The campaign insists on public updates, the publication of straw poll results, and the disclosure of campaign funding. It also urges candidates to make explicit commitments to uphold the UN Charter and reject political bargaining.

The UN was founded on principles of human dignity, equality, and justice. Yet, these ideals ring hollow when the institution itself fails to elevate women to its highest office. As the world faces intersecting crises—from climate change and rising authoritarianism to gender apartheid and genocide—we need a leader who understands the urgency of inclusion and the power of diverse voices.

A feminist woman Secretary-General would do more than break a symbolic barrier—she would center the lived experiences of half the world’s population, which have been excluded from global decision-making for nearly a century. As the UN approaches its 80th anniversary, it must choose to lead by example. The time for a feminist woman Secretary-General is not in the future—it is now.

Jesselina Rana is UN Advisor, CIVICUS, in New York.

IPS UN Bureau

Follow @IPSNewsUNBureau
  

S.Mona Sinha, Equality Now, at the Inter-Parliamentary Union. Credit: Joel Sheakoski
 
International Women's Day March 8 2025: This year it will be celebrated under the theme, 'Accelerate Action': a worldwide call to acknowledge strategies, resources, and activities that positively impact women's advancement, and to support and elevate their implementation.12

By Antonia Kirkland and Tara Carey
NEW YORK, Mar 4 2025 (IPS)

A new global report analyzing sex discrimination in laws reveals that while some commendable gains have been achieved in strengthening legal protections for women and girls over the past five years, progress remains slow, uneven, and increasingly under threat from a growing backlash against women’s rights.

Research by Equality Now identifies how women and girls continue to experience systemic and intersecting discrimination in laws, policies, and cultural practices, exposing them to multiple forms of harm, sometimes with little or no legal protection.

Alarmingly, in some places, women’s legal rights have deteriorated significantly, with hard-won protections weakened or overturned through regressive legislative changes, judicial rulings, and withdrawal of funding.

The Beijing Platform

The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (“Beijing Platform”) is a ground-breaking global framework for advancing women’s rights. Adopted in 1995 by 189 countries at the UN Fourth World Conference on Women, it outlines commitments to deliver gender equality in all aspects of life. Crucially, countries pledged to “revoke any remaining laws that discriminate on the basis of sex.”

Equality Now’s report, Words & Deeds: Holding Governments Accountable In The Beijing+30 Review Process (6th Edition), finds that three decades on, women and girls continue to face discrimination in the law, with not one country achieving full legal equality.

Laws and practices that constrain women’s and girls’ rights are obstructing progress on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, especially Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality, putting the world off track to meet these critical targets.

Report co-author Antonia Kirkland explains, “Women and girls deserve full protection of their civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights under the Beijing Platform and other international human rights commitments. This requires repealing all sex-discriminatory legislation, enshrining gender equality in constitutions, and introducing and enforcing laws that fully protect the rights of women and girls in all their diversity.”

Rollback on women’s legal rights

Some governments are allowing sex and gender-discriminatory religious and customary laws and practices, while religious, cultural, and nationalist justifications are increasingly being harnessed to undermine and revoke women’s rights.

For example, in Afghanistan, draconian restrictions have comprehensively banned women and girls from participating in public life, education, work, and leisure. The situation is also dire in Iran, where women have experienced sustained crackdowns, and those opposing sex-discriminatory laws have been subjected to arrest, detention, torture, and death.

Lawmakers in Bolivia and Uruguay are considering regressive bills to weaken protections for sexual violence survivors. While in The Gambia, a bill to repeal the law banning female genital mutilation threatened to undo years of progress. Thankfully, strong opposition successfully prevented its passing.

In Russia, ‘promoting’ LGBTQ+ relationships was banned in 2022 among all adults, and in late 2024, under the rubric of “anti-propaganda”, legislation was adopted to prohibit the promotion of a ‘child-free lifestyle.’ Kyrgyzstan and Georgia have adopted similar laws curtailing LGBTQ+ rights.

In Argentina, there have been severe budget cuts to policies to address gender-based violence, and the Ministry of Women has been abolished, significantly hindering the State’s capacity to safeguard women.

Over the last 30 years, more than 60 countries have liberalized their abortion laws. However, sexual and reproductive rights are facing sustained attacks. Examples include Poland, where one of the few grounds permitted for abortion access – fetal ‘defect’ or incurable disease – was removed in 2021.

In the U.S., the Supreme Court ruled in 2022 that the U.S. Constitution does not provide the right to abortion. By January 2025, abortion was criminalized in 14 states, and there are efforts to ban travel to other states to access abortion services.

The Dominican Republic is one of five countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to impose a complete abortion ban. Their senate is close to passing a bill continuing this prohibition and lowering penalties for marital sexual violence, labeling it ‘non-consensual sexual activity’ rather than rape.

Explicitly sex-discriminatory laws

Countries such as Sudan and Yemen grant male family members wide-ranging authority over female relatives and legally require wives to be obedient. In Saudi Arabia, women must obey their husbands in a ‘reasonable manner,’ and husbands have a ‘marital right to sexual intercourse.’ If a wife refuses to have sex or travel with her husband without a ‘legitimate excuse,’ this “disobedience” can result in her losing her right to spousal financial support.

Husbands can unilaterally divorce wives without condition, but wives must apply to the court for a fault-based divorce and prove fault within strict criteria. According to the World Bank, Saudi Arabia is just one of 45 countries with different divorce rules for women and men.

Marital rape is also allowed in the Bahamas and India, while in Kuwait and Libya, a rapist can escape punishment by marrying his victim.

Various countries have laws curtailing wives’ access to bank accounts, loans, and even the ability to benefit from their own labor in family businesses. For example, a husband in Cameroon controls the administration of all his wife’s personal property and can sell, dispose of, and mortgage their common property without a wife’s cooperation. Wives in Chile face similar discrimination.

The World Bank reports that 139 countries still lack adequate legislation prohibiting child marriage. One case is the U.S., which has no federal law against child marriage, and 37 states still allow it. California permits exceptions for marrying minors with no minimum age, while states like Mississippi mirror countries such as Bangladesh, Mali, Pakistan, and Tanzania in authorizing girls to be married younger than boys.

Poverty exacerbated by the climate crisis and forced migration is putting girls at greater risk of child marriage, with parents viewing it as a coping mechanism to alleviate financial strain and ‘shield daughters from sexual violence’ – despite child marriage facilitating non-consensual sex with a minor. For instance, Ethiopia suffered a severe drought in 2022, and in one year, saw child marriage rates double.

On a positive note, Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Sierra Leone, and Zambia have all recently introduced laws banning child marriage under 18, without exception.

Globally, sex-discriminatory laws and policies are constraining women’s full economic and social participation, trapping millions in poverty and dependency, and increasing their vulnerability to mistreatment. In many countries, women are denied equal access to employment, fair wages, property ownership, household income, and inheritance.

This contributes to women’s overrepresentation in insecure, low-wage jobs, and their shouldering the bulk of paid and unpaid care work.

In countries such as Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar, and Russia, women are prohibited from working in particular jobs. Progress since 2020 includes similar employment restrictions being removed in Azerbaijan, Jordan, and Oman.

Also needing reform are sexist nationality laws, like in Bahrain, Brunei, Malaysia, Monaco, Togo, the U.S. and others. When mothers and fathers are not granted equal rights to pass their nationality to their children, it creates severe legal and social challenges, including statelessness.

The risk of child and forced marriage is heightened, it creates child custody problems, and wives may remain in abusive marriages out of fear of losing their legal status.

Kirkland concludes, “Eliminating sex and gender-based discrimination in the law is a fundamental responsibility of governments. Equality Now calls on every country to urgently review and amend or repeal its sex-discriminatory laws, prevent removal of legal rights, and establish specific constitutional or legal guarantees of equality for all women and girls.”

Antonia Kirkland is Global Lead for Legal Equality and Access to Justice; Tara Carey is Global Head of Media.

Equality Now is an international human rights organization dedicated to protecting and promoting the rights of all women and girls worldwide. Its work is organized around four main program areas: Achieving Legal Equality, Ending Sexual Violence, Ending Harmful Practices, and Ending Sexual Exploitation, with a cross-cutting focus on the unique challenges facing adolescent girls.

For more details go to www.equalitynow.org, Bluesky @equalitynow.bsky.social, Facebook @equalitynoworg, LinkedIn Equality Now.

IPS UN Bureau

Follow @IPSNewsUNBureau