At a recent meeting discussing women’s rights, UN High Commissioner Volker Türk praised the strides made by the global women’s movement. However, he highlighted the necessity of ongoing discussions on violence against women, which underscore the slow and precarious nature of progress in this area.

Türk focused particularly on economic violence, where women are subjected to control by being denied access to money or resources. He noted that one in three women worldwide has experienced various forms of violence—physical, sexual, emotional, or economic—at least once in their lives.

He emphasized that economic violence can be as damaging as physical violence but often remains unnoticed. It occurs within homes or due to unfair laws that restrict women’s access to financial opportunities such as loans, jobs, or property ownership.

Critically, Türk criticized global efforts to achieve gender equality, citing that nearly four billion women face legal barriers that hinder their economic participation. He also pointed out persistent wage gaps where women typically earn less than men for equivalent work.

Türk called for significant reforms in laws and policies to effectively combat economic violence. He advocated for laws that ensure gender equality in all aspects of life and stressed the importance of enforcing these laws rigorously. Additionally, Türk urged for improved support systems and legal recourse for women affected by economic violence, with a strong emphasis on holding perpetrators accountable.

During the meeting, other speakers from advocacy groups also highlighted how economic violence undermines women’s rights. Esther Waweru from Equality Now emphasized that outdated beliefs about gender roles in families and societies perpetuate economic violence. She pointed out that billions of women worldwide lack legal protections against economic abuse, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation.

Waweru called on countries to enact laws that criminalize economic violence against women and ensure equal rights within marriages, including equal access to shared resources.

In conclusion, Türk and other speakers stressed the urgent need for systemic reforms to protect women from economic violence and to promote equal rights and opportunities for women globally.

Re-reported from the article originally published in UN NEWS.