According to the report by UN Women and ECLAC, more than 3,800 women were victims of femicide in 2024, and around 1 in 5 girls is married before age 18 — a practice linked to violence, school dropout, and lost opportunities. Acceso to Justice for girls and adolescents requires urgente attention.
In Latin America and the Caribbean, many women and girls still struggle to see justice become real rather than theoretical. According to the report by UN Women and ECLAC, more than 3,800 women were victims of femicide in 2024, and around 1 in 5 girls is married before age 18 — a practice linked to violence, school dropout, and lost opportunities
Spaces like the Regional Forum “Access to Justice and the Retention of Women and Girls in the Justice System,” organized by International Justice Mission, are crucial. Our Regional Protection Advisor, Lyda Guarin, joined the panel to discuss the persistent challenges girls face and stressed the need for justice responses that are rooted in communities.
Save the Children also outlined that access to justice must be more than a courtroom process. It means safe reporting, effective protection, and support services that help women and girls navigate long and intimidating procedures. Yet economic, social, and institutional barriers often keep justice out of reach, especially for girls and women.
Justice also starts long before a formal complaint. It begins in families and neighborhoods — with early detection, trust, and the power to act when warning signs appear. At Save the Children, we know change is possible. Last year, Bolivia banned child marriage under 18, closing a loophole that previously allowed 16- and 17-year-olds to marry with parental consent.
This achievement was possible by listening to and raising the voices of children in decision-making spaces, ensuring they are heard and included in decisions affecting their lives.
Local organizations, schools, and women’s and children’s networks are often the first safe spaces girls encounter. They help identify risks, support safe reporting, and walk families through complex systems.
Closing the gap between rights on paper and justice in reality requires stronger institutions, the elimination of discriminatory practices, and justice systems that are truly inclusive. But it also requires connected communities that protect girls before, during, and after interactions with formal justice systems.
Rights alone are not enough. Women and girls must be able to exercise and defend them every day — starting where they live, learn, and grow: in their communities.
