Remarks by UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell at the CSW 70 Education for Justice Side Event: Reimagine Justice for Girls

NEW YORK, 12 March 2026 - "Welcome to UNICEF house and everyone online.

"I do want to specifically thank the Spanish Cooperation Agency for Development, the Permanent Missions of Belgium and the Philippines, the Global Working Group on SDG 16 Justice for Children and the Pathfinders for Peace, Just, and Inclusive Societies for convening this important discussion.

"Across the world, millions of girls know what injustice feels like.

"They experience violence that goes unreported, they are forced into marriages, and they are denied education, protection, and the opportunity to shape their own futures.

"Far too often, when girls' rights are violated, the systems meant to protect them remain out of reach.

"Access to justice is what turns rights on paper into rights in practice. It allows children, especially girls, to claim their rights, to prevent violations, and to restore what has been taken away from them.

"But many children don't know their rights, let alone how to claim them. They rarely receive the information they need to understand judicial processes, or other available remedies.

"That's why strengthening access to justice for women and girls, the focus of this year's Commission on the Status of Women, is really a critical subject. And that's why today's conversation on reimagining justice for girls is so important.

"When justice systems work for children, the impact can be transformative.

"In Ghana, for example, UNICEF has supported specialized child-friendly courts, along with training for justice professionals. These efforts are helping to ensure that girls who experience violence can report safely and pursue justice with dignity.

"In India, a landmark 2024 Supreme Court judgment mandated comprehensive measures to eliminate child marriage, drawing on the evidence of what works to protect girls.

"And in Kenya, UNICEF has worked with community leaders and grassroots organizations to reform customary justice systems. This is supporting the elimination of female genital mutilation, while helping girls access child-friendly remedies within their own communities.

"These examples demonstrate how justice systems can help protect children, prevent violations, and ensure accountability when rights are denied. Yet for far too many children, justice systems remain so difficult to navigate.

"Justice institutions often lack the capacity, the resources, and the training needed to respond effectively to children, especially to girls.

"Legal processes can be complex, intimidating, and very costly. Courts may be far from their communities. Legal infrastructure is often limited, particularly in rural, and hard-to-reach areas.

"Coordination between justice systems, child protection services, and other social services, including health, education, and social protection, is often weak.

"As a result, survivors of violence, abuse, and exploitation often face significant delays in receiving justice. Many lack the legal, psychological, and social support needed to rebuild their lives.

"Justice systems are also shaped by the inequalities that exist in the societies. Gender bias can influence how cases are reported, how they're investigated, and how they're prosecuted. Violence against girls may be minimized or dismissed. Customs and norms may discourage survivors from speaking out.

"And in some contexts, discriminatory laws and practices continue to undermine girls' rights. This means that girls often face a double burden of discrimination based on both their age, and their gender.

"Girls may fear stigma, retaliation, or rejection if they report abuse. They may lack the financial means or freedom to travel to police stations or courts. And they may encounter justice systems that are not sensitive to their needs.

"Without support, many girls are simply unable to pursue justice or rebuild their lives after violations occur.

"For girls living with disabilities, girls on the move, and girls affected by poverty, conflict, humanitarian crises or climate-related displacement, these barriers to justice are even greater.

"This is why access to justice is central to UNICEF's work. It is a priority in our new Strategic Plan, in our Gender Equality Action Plan, and in our Reimagine Justice for Children Agenda.

"This agenda seeks to strengthen accountability for children's rights, while ensuring that justice systems are truly accessible. It also recognizes that advancing justice requires action from all of us: from governments, institutions, communities, and individuals alike.

"At the heart of this agenda is a commitment to ensuring that every child, including every girl, can:

• know and claim their rights;

• can access free legal aid, representation and services;

• can be diverted from formal justice systems when they come into conflict with the law;

• to be protected from detention;

• to receive justice when they experience violence, abuse, or exploitation;

• and to access alternative dispute-resolution mechanisms, and child friendly courts.

"These priorities are interconnected and together, they guide national advocacy, and programming to build justice systems that truly work for children.

"We are encouraged that these priorities are gaining traction globally, as reflected in the Secretary-General's vision for the rule of law, and the European Parliament's resolution on children deprived of liberty.

"UNICEF is also proud to have supported consultations for the forthcoming General Comment of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on access to justice. This recognizes the importance of addressing the specific challenges girls face.

"Today's discussion provides another important opportunity to move this work forward.

"This side event brings together experts in child rights and equality, legal practitioners, civil society, academia, grassroots organizations, and girls with lived experience.

"Together, we are calling for stronger action and greater investment to ensure that justice systems truly work for children and for girls. UNICEF remains firmly committed to working with partners around the world to make this vision a reality.

"Because rights without the ability to enforce them are really no rights at all.

"Thank you very much."

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