UN Women and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime are calling for urgent action to make equitable justice a transformative force for women and girls.

The appeal is contained in a joint statement issued after the commemoration of International Women’s Day 2026.

In a regional op-ed titled “Making Equitable Justice a Driver of Transformation for Women and Girls in West and Central Africa,” the UN organizations warn that persistent barriers to justice continue to undermine progress.

They caution that these barriers fuel violence, impunity, and instability across the region if not urgently addressed.