UN body for more efforts to deliver justice for women

London, Jul 6: A report by a new UN agency dedicated to gender equality has called on member-states to make more efforts to ensure that women's legal entitlements are not confined to paper but translate into equality and justice.

In its first report titled ''Progress of the world''s women: In pursuit of justice'', the UN Women outlines 10 recommendations to make justice systems across the world work for women.

UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon said in the report's foreword: "Without justice, women are disenfranchised, disempowered and denied their rightful place. But with sound legal and justice systems, women can flourish and contribute to the advancement of society as a whole, including by helping to improve those very same systems for future generations daughters and sons alike".

The report, which was released here today, notes that the past century has seen a transformation in women's legal rights, with countries in every region expanding the scope of women's legal entitlements, but for most of the world's women, it adds, the "laws that exist on paper do not translate to equality and justice".

The recommendations include extending support to women's legal organisations, implementing gender-sensitive law reform, putting women on the frontline of law enforcement, and increase women's access to courts and truth commissions during and after conflict.

PTI