States must guarantee equality and full protection of women's rights, IACHR says.

March 7, 2025

Washington, DC—On International Women's Day and in the framework of the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) calls on States to accelerate compliance with their domestic and international commitments to end all forms of discrimination against women, girls and adolescents. To this end, it urges States to strengthen regulatory, institutional and public policy frameworks to advance substantive equality and protect women’s rights.

The countries of the Americas and the Caribbean have adopted various legislative, institutional, public policy and other measures to achieve gender equality. This has led to progress in some key areas, such as access to education and increased political participation. According to data from the United Nations system, on average, 70% of girls and adolescents complete secondary education and, with 35.3%, this is the region with the highest representation of women in parliamentary positions. In addition, specialized bodies have been created high-level in various states to direct gender equality policies, and services for the care and protection of victims of gender violence have been expanded.

But inequality persists and limits the rights of women, girls and adolescents to security, development and peace. Disparities in access to health services, the prevalence of gender-based violence and the impunity that accompanies it continue to limit women's equal participation in society. Likewise, occupational segregation and the sexual division of labor accentuate the feminization of poverty. According to data for 2022 from ECLAC and UN Women, in Latin America and the Caribbean there are 120 women living in extreme poverty for every 100 men in a similar situation, and it is estimated that by 2030 there will be 20 million women, girls and adolescents in the region living in extreme poverty.

In some countries, regressive State measures are evident. Some examples of these measures are those that weaken institutions dedicated to implementing gender equality policies; laws that under the appearance of neutrality, or that prioritize the protection of the family, result in the unequal protection of women’s rights; and explicit disregard for the structural and systematic nature of violence against women. Weakened institutions and policies are even more serious for women who face multiple forms of discrimination and exclusion due to factors such as ethno-racial origin, disability, social origin, economic status, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression.

The IACHR reminds the States that, in accordance with the American Declaration and Convention, the elimination of all forms of discrimination is a fundamental obligation to guarantee the full exercise of all rights. It emphasizes that gender equality, democracy, and the rule of law are closely interrelated and mutually reinforcing.

In the Inter-American sphere, the Convention of Belém Do Pará recognizes the right of all women to fully exercise their civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, free from all forms of discrimination and violence. States Parties to the Convention undertook to adopt legislation, policies and other measures necessary to make these rights effective.

Aware that the objectives of the Beijing Declaration have not yet been achieved, the IACHR urges the States of the region to redouble their efforts to achieve equality and protection of women's rights. In particular, it calls for the strengthening of follow-up, supervision and accountability mechanisms with respect to the implementation of legislation and public policies, in collaboration with organizations and advocates for gender equality.

The IACHR is a principal, autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS), whose mandate derives from the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The Inter-American Commission is mandated to promote the observance of human rights in the region and to act as a consultative body to the OAS in this area. The IACHR is composed of seven independent members who are elected by the OAS General Assembly in their personal capacity and do not represent their countries of origin or residence.

No. 049/25

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