January 15, 2026Publications, staff newsExecutive Director Salma Waheedi Contributes Expert Analysis on Access to Justice to UN Women Ahead of CSW70
Ahead of the United Nations’ 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), Salma Waheedi, Executive Director of the Program on Law and Society in the Muslim World at Harvard Law School, participated in the UN Women Expert Group Meeting convened in preparation for the session. She contributed an expert paper entitled “Justice for Survivors of Gender-Based Violence in the Arab Region: Access to Information and Legal Support Networks,” published as part of the official preparatory materials by UN Women.
The Expert Group Meeting brought together leading experts and organizations to review the latest research on the priority theme of ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, take stock of key trends, data, and best practices, and identify gaps in policy responses. Participants developed practical, action-oriented recommendations to inform the UN Secretary-General’s report on the theme and contribute to the draft Agreed Conclusions, which will be negotiated and adopted by Member States during the Commission’s March session.
The paper offered evidence-based analysis and actionable recommendations to support access to justice for survivors of gender-based violence in the Arab region, highlighting key obstacles to legal aid and integrated support services and proposing measures to address these gaps.
The 70th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, to be held at United Nations Headquarters in New York in March 2026, will focus on ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls and reviewing women’s full and effective participation in public life. Waheedi’s paper, together with other expert contributions, provided evidence and recommendations to inform discussions and support the Commission’s deliberations, helping to guide global efforts to strengthen access to justice and advance the rights of women and girls.
Waheedi’s paper was cited by the UN Secretary General in his 2026 report to the UN Economic and Social Council entitled Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices, and addressing structural barriers.