Anglican Leader Demands Christians Stop Ignoring the Barriers Women Face Worldwide

Anglican Leader Urges Christians to Fight for Women's Justice on International Women's Day

Mandy Marshall, the Director for Gender Justice at the Anglican Alliance, has called on Christians worldwide not to "ignore the barriers" women face in accessing justice, as the world marked International Women's Day on March 8, 2026.

Marshall, who is also representing the Anglican Communion at the 70th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) at United Nations headquarters in New York, emphasized that believers have a direct responsibility to stand up for women facing injustice around the globe.

We cannot ignore the barriers women face to justice, even when laws exist.

Mandy Marshall, Director for Gender Justice, Anglican Alliance

This year's International Women's Day theme, "Balancing the Scales," focuses on women's equal access to justice and human rights. The theme reflects the UN Commission on the Status of Women's call to eliminate discriminatory laws and structural barriers that prevent women and girls from achieving full equality.

According to UN research, women possess only 64% of the legal rights that men have globally. In 70% of countries surveyed, women faced greater barriers to justice than men. The data also revealed that 54% of countries lack consent based legal definitions of rape, and 72% of countries still permit child marriage in all or some circumstances.

Marshall stated that at a time when women's rights around the world are being pushed back and threatened, it is critical to ensure women's rights are human rights, enshrined and protected in law.

The Anglican delegation at CSW70 includes representatives from Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Canada, Barbados, South Africa, and England. The delegation also features young adults as part of a growing "Young Adult Advocacy Programme" developed by the Advocacy and UN Team at the Anglican Communion Office.

Christians Called to Defend Women's Rights at UN Summit

The Revd Dr Laura Marie Piotrowicz, Rector at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Canada, is attending CSW70 as volunteer co chair of "Ecumenical Women," a coalition of churches which collaborates on worship, events, and advocacy at the United Nations in New York.

Marshall called on Christians to ensure that women achieve "full, meaningful equality, especially before the law" and urged believers to advocate within their communities for structural change. The Anglican Alliance has also launched a Gender Justice campaign to support this work across the global Communion.

The Crusader's Opinion

Let us be clear about something. When we read that 72% of countries still permit child marriage, that is not a "women's issue." That is a moral catastrophe. When we learn that women hold only 64% of the legal rights of men worldwide, that is not a policy debate. That is an assault on human dignity, on the image of God stamped into every woman and girl on this planet.

Christians should be leading this charge, not following it. Scripture tells us there is neither male nor female in Christ Jesus. If the Church cannot defend the equal dignity and legal protection of women, then we have surrendered our moral authority to institutions that do not even acknowledge the God who created them. Stand up. Speak out. The world is watching whether we mean what we preach.

Take Action

• Support the Anglican Alliance Gender Justice campaign: Donate to the Gender Justice Campaign
• Contact your local church leadership and ask what your congregation is doing to advocate for women's rights and protections in your community
• Support persecuted Christian women globally through The Shepherd's Shield (www.TheShepherdsShield.org)
• Learn more about CSW70 and how churches are advocating at the UN: Anglican Alliance Gender Justice
• Support Open Doors in their work protecting Christian women in hostile regions: Open Doors USA