March is Women’s History Month. Not sure how we could celebrate that without remembering that BPW’s relationship with the United Nations is truly foundational.

Business and Professional Women was among the earliest nongovernment or-ganizations (NGOs) to secure consultative status with the United Nations. In doing so, they ensured the voices of working women were present in international con-versations about human rights, economic participation, and equality. Long before virtual participation was possible and long before global communications moved at the speed of light, BPW leaders engaged with the UN system.

They advocated.

They monitored policy.

BPW understood early on that global poli-cy shapes laws, economic opportunities, and the advancement of women. They knew it was critical that women have a seat at the discussions so that the reali-ties of women’s economic standings would be considered.

And most important of all, they contribut-ed the perspective of women in business and professions around the world.

It was intentional and vital.

And in 1945, before there was CSW.

Eleanor Roosevelt, Chair of the UN Commission on Human Rights from 1946 to 1952.

Before there were gender equality resolutions.

Before there were annual and global recognitions.

There were women who refused to let the new United Nations be built without them.

Women like Eleanor Roosevelt, Chair of the UN Commission on Human Rights from 1946 to 1952. She was a key drafter of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948). She ensured the language reflected rights for women, not just men.

Hansa Jivraj Mehta was an Indian dele-gate to the UN Commission on Human Rights. She fought for the wording transi-tion from “All men are born free and equal” to “All HUMANS are …”

She understood the value of structure and the power of chang-ing just one word.

These are only two of the many women who fought for our place at the Unit-ed Nations. Something we are

United Nations Call to Action for March:

• Visit the UN Women website: https:// www.unwomen.org/en
• Explore one topic, program, or report. I suggest:
• • https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do
  • https://www.unwomen.org/en/ annual-report/2025
• Share one thing you’ve learned with an-other woman.

United Nations
Unchair@nfbpwc.org

Stay Connected with the UN by bookmarking these sites

• United Nations Main Website https://www.un.org
• UN News https://news.un.org
• UN WebTV (live & on-demand) https://media.un.org/en/webtvhttps://media.un.org/en/webtv
• UN Women https://www.unwomen.org
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) https://sdgs.un.org/goals
• United Nations on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/unitednations

To learn more or to get involved with NFBPWC’s United Nations efforts email: unchair@nfbpwc.org.