At Equality Now, we are guided by a simple yet profound belief: that every woman and girl deserves to live a life free from violence and discrimination, and in a world where we all have the opportunity to thrive economically, socially, and politically. It's a belief that has fueled our work for over three decades, driving us to challenge injustice, advocate for legal and policy reforms, and amplify the voices of those who have been marginalized and silenced.

As I look at the current state of the world – rising levels of conflict within and between nations, bitterly fought elections in the world’s largest democracies, and ongoing humanitarian fallout from a devastating pandemic and a global climate emergency – I see coming into ever sharper focus the faultline that is pulling society apart: gender inequality.

Globally, pervasive systematic and structural inequality leaves women and girls everywhere at higher risk of becoming victims of sexual violence and exploitation, and disproportionately more likely to be harmed by regressive cultural norms and practices such as child marriage. Meanwhile, laws that discriminate on the basis of sex and/or gender continue to violate the human rights of women and girls, while feeding conflict and violence, and limiting access by half of the world’s population to education, employment, and property ownership.

It is clear that legal equality for women and girls is the foundation of a just, sustainable and prosperous future for everyone. That is why – as our 2023 Impact Report demonstrates – Equality Now is committed to achieving enduring equality through our unique combination of legal expertise, targeted advocacy, collaboration across our global network, and strategic resourcing.

During 2023: 

• We improved access to justice for 39.2 million women and girls worldwide, by using our exemplary legal skill and acumen to help change 14 laws in 12 countries.

• We significantly developed our global reach and influence, while also remaining deeply rooted within the places and communities we serve.

• We worked as an active member of 29 international and regional coalitions, alongside over 3,000 other individuals and organizations around the world.

• We continued to galvanize the global women’s rights movement by resourcing and supporting the work of our partners in every part of the world.

The examples highlighted in the pages of our 2023 Impact Report represent just a fraction of the impact we have achieved during 2023. We know that change is not only possible – it’s happening. 

The examples highlighted in the pages of our 2023 Impact Report represent just a fraction of the impact we have achieved during 2023. We know that change is not only possible – it’s happening. 

As we look ahead, we will continue to be guided by our vision despite all the challenges we face; we will continue to deliver justice through some of the most pioneering, progressive and far-reaching legal challenges of our time; and we will continue to work with activists and survivors to amplify marginalized voices across the political, economic, and cultural spheres.

Of course, none of this would be possible without the unflinching commitment of the many supporters and partners who continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with us at Equality Now, along with the hundreds of government representatives, policymakers, legal professionals and activists whose tireless dedication is helping us to transform the lives of women and girls everywhere. I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank each and every one of you for your support as we turn our shared vision into a lived reality for millions of people.

Together, we are stronger. Together, we can ensure that every woman and girl is able to live a life free from violence and discrimination, both today and tomorrow. Together, we can create a better, fairer, future – for everyone.

Thank you.