Women’s access to justice in Europe and Central Asia, at the crossroads of reform and implementation

On the eve of the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), over 120 representatives from justice institutions and gender equality bodies across Eastern Europe, the Southern Caucasus, the Western Balkans, and Türkiye gathered to take stock and accelerate action so women and girls can fully access justice across the region.

In recent years, many countries in Europe and Central Asia have improved their gender equality legislation. Justice reforms, aimed at improving independence, accountability and quality, have also advanced, particularly in the Western Balkans, Moldova, and Ukraine, driven in part by their European Union accession efforts. State legal aid systems are now established across the region, with most countries adopting dedicated legal aid legislation. States that are parties to the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence have made notable strides.

Despite progress, critical gaps in ensuring access to justice for women and girls remain. Several countries still lack standalone non-discrimination laws, and justice systems are often hindered by gender stereotypes. These findings are outlined in the new report “Women's Access to Justice in Europe and Central Asia,” which also informed the high-level preparatory meeting held on 10 February in partnership with the Government of Serbia. The event supported Member States ahead of CSW70, taking place from 9 to 19 March under the priority theme “Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, and addressing structural barriers.”

“Access to justice is not an abstract principle; it is a fundamental enabler of all rights, guaranteed under international law. Without it, women cannot exercise legal protections, seek remedies, or participate fully in political, economic, and civic life. Globally, women still have only 64 per cent of the legal rights enjoyed by men. No country has yet achieved full legal equality,” stated Elisa Fernandez Sáenz, UN Women Europe and Central Asia Regional Deputy Director.

Tatjana Macura, Minister without portfolio in charge of gender equality, prevention of violence against women and economic and political empowerment of women from Serbia, said that justice must be accessible to all women and girls without discrimination. “This requires coordinated and collective action, grounded in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and supported by women’s increased participation in science, politics, security, and public life. Systemic change is possible with strong political will and effective coordination among national actors,” she noted.

Süreyya Erkan, Director General on the Status of Women at Türkiye’s Ministry of Family and Social Services, emphasized that women's access to justice is a fundamental pillar of good governance and sustainable development. “Our approach to removing barriers to women’s access to justice is based on a comprehensive framework that combines strong legislation, effective institutional services, the use of technological tools, and policies aimedat strengthening coordination among all relevant institutions,” stated Süreyya Erkan.

Still, challenges persist. Economic insecurity, rural isolation and the high cost of legal services disproportionately affect women with limited income, women in informal employment, and those from vulnerable groups, reducing their ability to seek remedies or protection.

Robert Gajda, Albania’s Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination, noted that many women, especially those from vulnerable groups, continue to feel insecure and unprotected. “Formal access to justice is not enough. This issue stems from a lack of trust in public authorities and courts. Many laws have been adopted, but implementation is lacking. Women in rural areas, Roma women, women with disabilities, and women with limited economic resources are disproportionately affected. One of the state’s priorities must be to ensure proper implementation, including social and economic support systems that help rebuild trust in institutions,” he concluded.

The report also identifies slow investigations, inconsistent protection measures, lenient sentencing, and persistent discrimination against survivors. Many continue to experience secondary victimization, while responses from legal, psychological, health, and social services are often shaped by patriarchal norms and gender stereotypes. Limited coordination among services further reduces effective protection and support for survivors.

In this context, Angelina Zaporojan-Pîrgari, Executive Director of the Women’s Law Center in the Republic of Moldova and First Vice-President of GREVIO, outlined priorities to ensure women can access justice in practice. “We must improve access to legal information, including in minority languages; continue training justice professionals on responding to domestic violence, not only from a legal perspective but also by addressing gender stereotypes; and protect women’s organizations and specialized service providers, which are often the first point of contact for survivors,” she concluded.  

Following the meeting, a document outlining key progress, persistent challenges, and critical priority actions to strengthen women’s access to justice across the region ahead of CSW70 was developed.