Transforming Justice Institutions from Within: Gender Equality Seal Insights from CSW70

On 10 March, during the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), public institutions from Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and beyond gathered at the Bahá’í International Community UN Office in New York for the side event “Transforming justice institutions for gender equality: Results and accountability through the Gender Equality Seal.” 

The session explored how the UNDP Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions, supported by UNDP, helps justice institutions drive measurable reforms, strengthen internal accountability, and advance gender-responsive public services. 

The event opened with the urgency of strengthening justice institutions in an era of heightened polarization and democratic backsliding. UNDP Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean Michelle Muschett reminded participants that: 

“Justice institutions are gateways to rights—but to be effective, they must be timely, fair, and gender-responsive.” 

Raquel Lagunas, Director of the Gender Team at UNDP, highlighted the global reach of the Seal: more than 110 public institutions across 32 countries—including ministries of justice, public defenders, judicial institutions, and oversight bodies—are using it to strengthen governance, improve service delivery, track institutional gaps, and embed survivor centered approaches. 

Experiences from across regions 

Brazil: Cross-institutional transformation inside justice systems 

Brazil offered two perspectives—both demonstrating how the Seal has mobilized internal reform. 

Rafaella Mikos Passos, Special Advisor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Public Defender of the Union, underscored how the Seal revealed internal gaps and provided tools to address them: 

“The Seal has revealed concrete improvements we need to implement—better governance structures, stronger information systems, and more integrated responses for women who need us most.” 

From the General Advocacy of the Union (AGU), Claudia Trindade, Special Advisor for Diversity and Inclusion, reflected on how the Seal catalyzed governance and cultural change inside a traditionally male dominated institution. She explained that leadership commitment was the first decisive factor, noting that:

“Our institution needed scientific guidance and structured methodology to move forward—because cultural change requires daily work, procedures, and the commitment of all teams. The Seal was the guidance we needed” 

Her testimony highlighted how the Seal helped AGU integrategender equality and inclusive practices into strategic planning, internal procedures, and the daily work of public servants. 

Malawi: A structured pathway toward gender-responsive oversight

The Malawi Human Rights Commission presented its experience as a newer participant in the Seal. Executive Secretary Habiba Osman stressed its practical value: 

“We saw the Seal not as a symbolic gesture, but as a practical, structured pathway toward a more gender-responsive institution capable of driving change.” 

Through the Seal, Malawi strengthened gender-responsive electoral monitoring, improved case management, enhanced detention facility oversight, and made safeguarding policies more comprehensive. 

Cape Verde: Strengthening institutional coordination 

From Cabo Verde, Marisa Carvalho, President of the Institute for Gender Equality and Equity, described how the Seal is helping the Ministry of Finance—and the wider public sector—translate commitments into institutional practice. As she noted: 

“The Seal offers a practical, guiding framework that helps public institutions turn commitments into daily institutional practice.” 

She emphasized how the Seal has fostered stronger interministerial coordination and accelerated reforms that strengthen the national gender machinery.

Dominican Republic: Achieving the Gold Seal through sustained commitment 

The Dominican Republic’s Supreme Court of Justice shared its journey to obtaining the Gold Seal in 2023. Magistrate Vanessa Acosta highlighted innovations such as a gender and justice observatory, forensic interview centers, and gender-sensitive judicial protocols. 

“When we share what works, it spreads… and it strengthens the commitment of all of us.” 

Why this matters — and the road ahead 

Across institutions and regions, speakers emphasized that transforming justice systems is a long-term endeavor that requires leadership, accountability, and sustained commitment. In this regard, the Gender Equality Seal provides: 

• A structured, evidence-based roadmap for reform 

• Standards and benchmarks that ensure accountability 

• Tools for strengthening planning, budgeting, and service delivery 

• A global platform for peer learning and South-South cooperation

In the faceof global pushback on gender equality, the Seal equips institutions with the resilience and clarity needed to stay the course. As several speakers highlighted, the Seal is not “a checklist,” but rather a journey of continuous improvement. 

UNDP reaffirmed its commitment to accompany justice institutions on this journey—scaling what works, supporting institutional transformation, and ensuring justice systems deliver fairly and effectively for all.