Justice must extend to all women

Globally, women today hold only 64% of the legal rights that men enjoy. Justice systems must ensure that rights can be exercised safely, equally and effectively. This is the call of International Women's Day 2026: Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls, in all their diversity.

Thailand has shown a sustained commitment to equality before the law. Constitutional guarantees of non-discrimination, the Gender Equality Act, national human rights plans and gender-responsive budgeting provide strong foundations. Progress on marriage equality and expanded legal identity for stateless persons reflects continued reform.

But justice is not measured by laws alone.

It is measured by whether a woman facing violence feels safe enough to speak, and whether institutions respond with fairness and dignity when she does. It is reflected in women's participation in political and economic life, and in access to education, healthcare and essential services.

Ultimately, it is measured by whether society stands not as a bystander, but as an active partner in advancing gender equality.

Thailand has made meaningful progress. Survivors of violence have increasing access to support services, and national strategies recognise gender equality as central to sustainable development. Yet gaps remain. Migrant women workers, women human rights defenders, and those living at the margins of formal systems face higher risks of exclusion and abuse.

Thailand's nationwide network of one-stop crisis centres (OSCC) for domestic violence offers a concrete example of support in practice. Each year, over 30,000 cases of violence against women are reported to the OSCC, yet only about 5,000 cases are recorded by the police, and 1,500 cases result in an arrest.

This reflects a global reality: fewer than 40% of women who experience violence seek help, and fewer than 10% report to the authorities. The challenge is not only legal. It is about trust:

trust that when a woman speaks, she will be believed and protected.

Justice must therefore be accessible, trusted, and responsive if women and girls are to exercise their rights with confidence.

Thailand's rapid digital development presents both opportunity and risk. Digital tools can expand access to legal information, but the digital divide, particularly affecting poorer women in rural areas, deepens inequality. Online abuse, scams and harassment disproportionately target women and girls. Ensuring safety in digital spaces is essential so that technology empowers rather than exposes.

Access to justice also requires cooperation. Government, civil society and communities all play vital roles in ensuring that justice institutions are inclusive, transparent and effective. Thailand's engagement at regional and international levels reflects its ongoing commitment to fairness and the rule of law.

That commitment is reflected this year in a partnership in Bangkok. The Embassy of Sweden is co-hosting the 2026 Ambassador for a Day initiative with the United Nations, bringing more than 40 Youth Shadows into dialogue with women leaders from diplomatic missions, Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UN. The theme, "Ensuring Access to Justice for Women and Girls", is not symbolic. The young leaders remind us that justice must evolve with society, and that access must be real for everyone, not only guaranteed in principle.

Sweden's long-standing commitment to gender equality and accountability aligns closely with Thailand's efforts. Sweden is recognised for its policies on gender equality and a legal framework that promotes equal access to justice, including anti-discrimination laws.

However, Sweden is not perfect when it comes to gender equality and access to justice. There are still cases when, for example, immigrants and marginalised women face barriers that limit their ability to seek protection and fair treatment.

Experiences across countries show that justice is never complete. Laws must adapt. Systems must be reformed.

Values need to evolve. A police officer must believe victims of violence. A public official has to treat a complaint seriously. And institutions need to respond with fairness.

The UN works alongside Thailand and other member states to strengthen these systems, supporting survivor-centred services, building institutional capacity and helping ensure that when a woman seeks justice, she finds protection, fairness and trust.

Because justice is a cornerstone of the human rights system. It underpins dignity and sustains inclusive, prosperous societies.

Closing power gaps, ending legal discrimination, eliminating violence, building trust in institutions, removing digital bias, investing in women and girls, and ensuring women's full participation in decision-making are not separate goals. Together, as the UN Secretary-General emphasises, they form a blueprint for equality.

This International Women's Day, we recognise Thailand's progress and reaffirm our shared commitment to ensuring that rights are not only guaranteed but realised.

Rights. Justice. Action. For all women and girls.

Anna Hammargren is the Ambassador of Sweden to Thailand. Michaela Friberg-Storey is the designated representative of the UN Secretary-General and UN Resident Coordinator in Thailand.

Written by Anna Hammargren and Michaela Friberg-Storey

Originally published by the Bangkok Post