Gender-Discriminatory Laws Review
Review of statutory and customary-related legal issues affecting women's rights, equality and participation.
Where this project sits in the reform process
Current recorded stage: Stakeholder Validation. The pathway above is an indicative public view of the reform cycle; individual projects may follow different sequences.
Overview
The Law Reform Commission has worked with national and international partners on identifying discriminatory legal provisions and priority areas for reform, including marriage, inheritance, property, harmful practices, child marriage and women's political participation.
Project scope
- Area of law
- Human Rights & Gender Justice
- Geographic scope
- National
- People affected
- Women; girls; families; communities; public institutions
- Commenced
- 1 January 2025
- Public participation
- See published consultations and project updates
Issue, objectives and review questions
The issueWhy reform is being consideredDiscriminatory or inconsistent legal provisions can limit equality, access to justice and the effective protection of rights.
Discriminatory or inconsistent legal provisions can limit equality, access to justice and the effective protection of rights.
ObjectivesWhat the reform seeks to achieveIdentify discriminatory provisions; support technically sound reform options; strengthen gender responsive law reform; and advance equal…
Identify discriminatory provisions; support technically sound reform options; strengthen gender-responsive law reform; and advance equal protection and participation.
Key questionsQuestions guiding the reviewWhich statutory and customary related provisions create unequal outcomes? What reforms are required to align the legal framework with…
Which statutory and customary-related provisions create unequal outcomes? What reforms are required to align the legal framework with constitutional and human-rights obligations?
Project outcome
A national assessment and validation process identified priority legal issues for follow-up reform and legislative engagement.
Verified outcome update: UN Women reports that the national assessment of gender-discriminatory laws was completed and nationally validated, and that the final report and synopsis were completed and cleared, positioning follow-up engagement with the Legislature and relevant committees on priority reforms.
