Understanding, assessing and achieving equality before the law in the Commonwealth: A practical handbook for change agents with historical records, statistical data and case studies

This practical handbook developed by UN Women, the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, and the World Bank Group supports legal reform for gender equality across the 56 member states of the Commonwealth. Despite progress, more than 3.7 billion women and girls globally still live in countries where laws do not fully protect their rights. This publication responds to that challenge by offering a clear roadmap for change.

The handbook traces the historical evolution of legal systems, from pre-colonial customary and religious laws to colonial-era British legal traditions and modern constitutions, and examines how these systems have shaped the legal status of women. It highlights international human rights obligations, especially under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), and presents data-driven insights using Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicators and the World Bank’s Women, Business and the Law metrics.

Designed for lawmakers, judges, policy influencers, and advocates, the handbook provides tools for assessing discriminatory laws, case studies of successful reforms, and recommendations for achieving de jure equality. It also includes comparative data on women’s political representation, nationality rights, family law, and employment protections.

This publication is a vital resource for anyone working to make the law equal for women and girls. It empowers change agents with historical context, legal analysis, and actionable strategies to close gender gaps in legislation and accelerate progress toward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.