Portrait of António Guterres
Politician · concept
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António Guterres on Women

Advocate for legal equality (strong)

TL;DR

António Guterres asserts that justice for women demands full legal equality and the active defense of hard-won rights.

Key Points

  • He stated that in more than 40 countries, marital rape is still not recognized as a crime as of March 2026.

  • He highlighted that worldwide, women hold only 64 per cent of the legal rights enjoyed by men.

  • He addressed civil society leaders on March 10, 2026, concerning the need for justice for women and girls.

Summary

António Guterres is a strong advocate for women's rights, emphasizing that justice for women and girls must be a cornerstone of the world the United Nations seeks to build. He highlights that women worldwide possess only 64 per cent of the legal rights enjoyed by men, a discrimination that affects every aspect of their lives, including property ownership, divorce, and employment. His position stresses that when women are not equal under the law, they are not truly equal, calling for a commitment to making justice a reality for them everywhere.

He notes a worrying contemporary trend where hard-won advances are being reversed amid rising authoritarianism and political instability, specifically citing rollbacks in areas like fairer work protections and sexual and reproductive rights. He calls for unity to meet the goals of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Beijing+30 Action Agenda by actively fighting against discriminatory laws and practices. His stance implies that defending existing progress is as crucial as achieving new rights to ensure dignity, opportunity, and freedom for all women.

Frequently Asked Questions

António Guterres holds a strong, positive position, advocating for the full legal equality of women and girls globally. He consistently speaks out against legal discrimination and the rollback of hard-won rights.

The Secretary-General has stated that women globally possess only 64 per cent of the legal rights afforded to men. He argues that without equality under the law, true equality cannot exist.

Yes, António Guterres has acknowledged a dangerous new trend where advances for women are being reversed amidst rising authoritarianism. He calls for united action to defend these progress areas, including work protections and reproductive rights.