5th June 2025
This side event will illustrate that equality in law for women and girls benefits everyone in society and is a key element to addressing broader challenges such as economic inequality and conflict. It will then show that change is possible by highlighting the progress made by some UN Member States in repealing or amending sex discriminatory laws. It will explore the barriers others face in doing the same; examine the tools, approaches, and allies that can help overcome these obstacles; and inspire concrete steps and commitments to accelerate the achievement of equality in law for women and girls and the fulfilment of the vision of the Beijing Platform for Action, the SDGs, and the Pact for the Future.
Policymakers and civil society
Thursday, 17 July 2025, 1:15 pm – 2:30 pm
UNHQ, Conference Room F
This in-person event will open with a screening of a short “newsreel”-style film, narrated by a prominent journalist, about what the future would look like if equality in law for women and girls, specifically as a result of law reform in various areas of their lives, were a reality – and what the positive impacts for the wider society would be. This will be followed by brief welcome remarks, followed by remarks from a selection of Member State representatives highlighting successes in the elimination and reform of discriminatory laws, and a short high-level, talk-show-style panel of speakers. The event will reflect the urgent need for States to prioritize repealing or amending all discriminatory laws, whether codified, religious, or customary, and will highlight practical tools and strategies for overcoming barriers to reform.
Cosponsors of the event are Equality Now, International Development Law Organization, Global Campaign for Equal Nationality Rights, Global Campaign for Equality in Family Law, and UN Women
