Justice for women and girls is key to equality – Gender Minister at UN forum
Ghana’s Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has urged stronger global efforts to ensure women and girls have genuine access to justice, emphasizing that gender equality cannot be realized without legal systems that effectively safeguard their rights.
Speaking at the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) at the United Nations headquarters in New York on March 8, coinciding with International Women’s Day, Minister Lartey highlighted that justice for women and girls is central to sustainable development and human rights initiatives.
“Ensuring justice for women and girls is both a legal obligation and a key foundation for achieving equality, human rights, peace, and sustainable development,” she said during the general discussion of the high-level meeting.
Dr. Lartey outlined several legislative and policy measures Ghana has recently introduced to promote gender equality and strengthen protections for women and girls. These include the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024, the National Gender Policy (2025–2034), the Social Protection Act, 2025, the Cybersecurity Act, 2020, the Land Act, 2020, and the Environmental Protection Act, 2025.
She explained that Ghana is investing in gender-responsive justice systems by training judicial officers, law enforcement personnel, social service providers, and paralegals to improve the handling of cases involving women and girls.
Government agencies are also expanding community outreach programs to educate women and girls about their legal rights and the avenues available for seeking redress.
On the issue of gender-based violence, the minister noted that Ghana has set up specialised units within the Ghana Police Service and established gender desks at both national and local levels to support victims and strengthen case management.
She added that collaboration between the judiciary, social welfare institutions, and civil society organisations has been intensified to enhance the reporting, investigation, and prosecution of offences against women.
Despite these efforts, Dr. Lartey acknowledged that many women and girls still face social, economic, and structural barriers to accessing justice. She stressed that overcoming these challenges requires ongoing political commitment and stronger cooperation between governments and international partners.
Dr. Lartey concluded by reaffirming Ghana’s dedication to creating a more inclusive and equitable justice system, pledging continued collaboration with global partners to dismantle discriminatory laws and challenge harmful social norms that limit opportunities for women and girls.
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