What is the Commission on the Status of Women?

Every month, we have an article about the Commission on the Status of women (CSW). This month, we have several. Why? Because the 70th annual UN CSW is coming up, and, as it is every year, NFBPWC is part of it.

Our UN CSW 70 parallel event takes place on Monday, March 16th from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM EDT in the Salvation Army auditorium. You can attend in person or virtually.

According to the UN CSW webpage, the CSW is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality, the rights and the empowerment of women. A functional commission of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), established by ECOSOC resolution 11(II) on June 21, 1946.

The CSW is instrumental in promoting women’s and girls' rights, documenting the reality of their lives throughout the world, and shaping global standards on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

In 1996, resolution 1996/6 expanded the Commission’s mandate and decided that it should take a leading role in monitoring and reviewing progress and problems in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and in mainstreaming a gender perspective in UN activities.

During the Commission’s annual two-week session, representatives of UN Member States, civil society organizations such as NFBPWC, and UN entities gather at UN headquarters in New York. They discuss progress and gaps in the implementation of the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the key global policy document on gender equality, and the 23rd special session of the General Assembly, which was held in 2000 (Beijing+5), as well as any emerging issues that affect gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

Member States agree on further actions to accelerate progress and promote women’s and girls' enjoyment of their rights in political, economic, and social fields. The outcomes and recommendations of each session are forwarded to ECOSOC for follow-up.

Justice for Women: Join us In-Person or Virtually

Justice for Women: Resistance, Survival, and Action – Ensuring and Strengthening Access to Justice for All Women and Girls will bring survivor-centered justice conversations to the heart of CSW 70, and NFBPWC members are warmly invited to attend.

Co-hosted by Pacific Women’s Watch New Zealand and the International Federation of Business and Professional Women (IFBPW) and chaired by BPW leader Dr. Sujata Tiwari, this event aligns directly with CSW 70’s priority theme: Ensuring and Strengthening Access to Justice for All Women and Girls.

Why Attend?

This panel goes beyond policy language to spotlight the real experiences of women who have sought justice for gender-based violence and encountered community silence, institutional bias, and judicial failure.

Panelists from multiple regions will share:

Who Will Be Speaking?

The panel brings together women leaders and advocates from the Asia-Pacific, Africa, Aotearoa/New Zealand, and South America, including:

Moderated by Nermin K. Ahmad, Secretary of NFBPWC (2024–2026), the discussion will be survivor-centered, solutions-focused, and action-oriented.

Attend in-person or join from anywhere! In New York for CSW?

We encourage you to join us in person at the Salvation Army Auditorium.

Not traveling to NYC?

You are equally welcome to participate virtually, hear the discussion, and engage from wherever you are.

No prior UN experience is required.

This event is designed to be accessible, informative, and welcoming, especially for BPW members who are new to CSW or UN advocacy.

Be Part of the Conversation

The event will conclude with a clear call to action, and recommendations from the panel will be shared with UN Women and CSW delegates. Your participation—whether in the room or online—helps amplify survivor voices and strengthens the call for justice that works for women and girls. We hope you will join us—

The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) remains the foremost global convening on gender equality, bringing together governments, civil society, and advocates from around the world to shape policy, share best practices, and drive collective action. Participation—both in-person and online—is not only possible but strongly encouraged.

As we approach CSW, members are invited to engage in the following key moments and capacity-building opportunities hosted by NGO CSW:

• February 17: CSW Participant Training A preparatory session designed to help participants navigate CSW processes, understand advocacy entry points, and engage effectively.
• February 27: CSW Orientation. An overview of CSW structure, priorities, and opportunities for civil society engagement, ideal for both first-time and returning participants.
• March 8: Virtual Consultation Day. A fully-virtual opportunity to engage with

global advocates, exchange strategies, and contribute to policy discussions from anywhere in the world.

To register for these events go to:

https://ngocsw.org/events/

The official CSW outcome document will outline global commitments and policy priorities on gender equality and women’s empowerment. It can be found on the UN Women website.

CSW is a critical space for advancing gender equality at the global level, and meaningful participation does not require travel. Online engagement allows advocates to learn, connect, and influence outcomes while amplifying diverse voices across regions and communities.

Members are encouraged to take advantage of these opportunities to stay informed, build advocacy capacity, and contribute to global gender-equality efforts.

Submitted by Emily VanVleck