“Women hold only 64% of the legal rights men do globally,” emphasized Ms. Amina Bouayach, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH), at the opening of a national conference on Wednesday, March 11, held under the theme “Equitable Justice: Pathways to Empowering Women and Girls to Access Justice.”

She noted that despite legal and institutional progress and numerous achievements in advancing the rights of women and girls, significant gaps persist. Thirty years after the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, women continue to face inequalities in enjoying their rights. She emphasized that the principle of equality before the law, long recognized as a universal human rights standard, has yet to be fully realized in practice.

In this context, Ms. Bouayach highlighted the importance of marking International Women's Day on March 8, considering it an opportunity to renew the commitment to advancing the rights of all women and girls, strengthen advocacy and protection mechanisms, and address the obstacles that continue to hinder full equality.

The CNDH Chairperson explained that the Council’s advocacy this year, at both national and regional levels, focuses on equitable justice, “which goes beyond legal texts… it is about ensuring that justice systems guarantee equal access, protect rights, prevent impunity, and empower victims to obtain redress.”

She also pointed out that the barriers women and girls face in accessing justice go beyond legal challenges. Structural, social, economic, and territorial challenges must also be addressed. The CNDH therefore calls for a comprehensive approach that makes empowering women and girls to access justice both an institutional and societal priority.

• Effective access to justice

• Equality and the fight against discrimination

• Combating violence in all its forms, including digital violence, which remains widespread and underreported

• Breaking the silence and encouraging reporting on violence against women and girls

These are the core priorities of CNDH’s national and regional initiative in March 2026, in commemoration of International Women's Day.