Equality Now

For women and girls around the world who face violence and discrimination, the law can be a powerful tool for change. Equality Now was founded on the belief that legal equality is the cornerstone of a just world for everyone. Customers of our advocacy—the women and girls whose lives are impacted by discriminatory laws—face immense challenges. These can range from the horror of sexual violence and exploitation to harmful practices like child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM). In many places, the legal system that should protect them instead perpetuates injustice, offering impunity to perpetrators and denying survivors the justice they deserve. That's why our global network of lawyers, activists, and supporters works tirelessly to hold governments accountable for their international obligations to prohibit all forms of violence and discrimination against women.

Our approach is multi-faceted, designed to create lasting, systemic change. We know that our clients, the individuals and grassroots organizations on the front lines, are the true experts in their communities. We partner with them, amplifying their voices and providing the legal expertise needed to challenge discriminatory laws and practices. Whether it's reforming laws that shield perpetrators, advocating for a minimum marriage age of 18, or ensuring that constitutions explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sex and gender, our work is driven by the needs of those we serve. Since our founding in 1992, we have played a pivotal role in the reform of over 120 discriminatory laws worldwide. This has a tangible impact on the lives of millions of women and girls, creating a ripple effect that benefits their communities and nations for generations to come. We believe that by working together, we can dismantle the legal and systemic barriers to gender equality and build a future where every woman and girl can achieve her full potential in a world that is safe and just.