CSW70: Latin America and the Caribbean in consolidating access to justice

^{Mariela Labozzetta, Head of the Specialized Prosecution Unit for Violence against Women (UFEM) of the Argentine Public Prosecutor's Office. Credit: UN Women / Demian Marchi}  

In this context, access to justice is essential to ensure that state officials effectively enforce the law. For UN Women, ensuring an effective judicial response is a prerequisite for achieving substantive equality and guaranteeing the right of all women and girls to live a life free from violence. But how can this be achieved? 

Responding to this challenge requires more than isolated reforms: it requires a comprehensive strategy that commits state institutions to effectively guaranteeing access to justice. Laws are necessary, but they are not enough. Without investigations conducted in accordance with appropriate standards, without judicial officials trained in gender perspectives, and without sustained budgets, recognized rights remain on paper.

This vision requires an intersectional approach that recognizes the diversity of women—indigenous, Afro-descendant, rural, and those involved in human mobility—to overcome the linguistic, geographical, and socioeconomic barriers that prevent them from fully exercising their rights. In this process, strengthening women's movements is essential. Access to technical and strategic information enhances their capacity for local advocacy, a key factor in mobilizing timely state responses through initiatives such as the ACTUEMOS alliance (a UN Women and European Union initiative). 

Strengthening regulatory frameworks and responses to digital violence 

UN Women works to strengthen regulatory frameworks as a prerequisite for access to justice. Although all countries have laws against gender-based violence and fourteen of them have comprehensive protection frameworks, the changing dynamics of violence require constant updating. 

In this context, the adoption in December 2025 of the Inter-American Model Law to Prevent, Punish, and Eradicate Digital Violence, approved by MESECVI with technical support from UN Women, represents a regional milestone. This legislation provides justice systems with the technical capabilities to investigate emerging digital crimes. It establishes a roadmap for assigning responsibilities to internet intermediaries, thereby ensuring digital environments are free of violence.

Technical standards and combating impunity

The fight against impunity in cases of extreme violence is a strategic priority. The Latin American Protocol for the Investigation of Violent Deaths of Women for Gender Reasons (Femicide/Feminicide) constitutes the regional standard for justice systems to apply enhanced due diligence.

Similarly, the Ibero-American Model Protocol for Investigating Cases of Sexual Violence (2024) and the Guidelines for Action in Cases of Organized Crime and Violence against Women, developed in conjunction with the AIAMP's Specialized Gender Network, provide technical guidelines for strengthening investigations and ensuring effective judicial responses. 

Strategic recommendations for government action 

Ahead of CSW70, UN Women proposes that countries in the region prioritize the following lines of action: 

• Regulatory frameworks: Advance the harmonization of national laws with international standards to close legal gaps.
• Protection services: Strengthen the provision of comprehensive care services to ensure that they are timely, accessible, and financially sustainable.
• Training of operators: Promote ongoing training programs for the justice and security system to eradicate gender stereotypes and prevent revictimization.
• Information systems: Optimize interoperable, disaggregated statistical records to inform evidence-based public policies.
• Regional cooperation: Encourage the exchange of good practices and mutual technical assistance to strengthen institutional capacities. 

Ensuring access to justice for all women and girls is a legal obligation and an essential pillar of the rule of law. UN Women reaffirms its commitment to accompanying the region to ensure that the path to justice is robust, effective, and accessible to all.