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GGIN’s CSW69 Spotlight
Contributed by Coalition for the UN We Need, Global Governance Innovation Network, Global Women Leaders: Voices for Change and Inclusion
Posted 10 March 2025
The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) marks a pivotal moment as the world reflects 30 years since the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (Beijing +30), adopted in 1995 as the most progressive blueprint for advancing women's rights. This year, UN Women and civil society organizations will spotlight achievements, challenges, and actions needed to accelerate gender equality globally. Block your calendars and watch this space for registration links very soon!
How Can the Leadership of Women and Girls Help Save Our Cities and Planet?
⭐️ Summit of the Future Action Day Side Event
📆📍March 12, 10:00-12:00 EDT | Millennium Hilton New York (Diplomat Ballroom, New York, NY 10017)
This event on gender-inclusive climate action brings together global leaders, UN agencies, and grassroots activists to drive meaningful change. Hosted by HE Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Nigeria's Minister of Women's Affairs, the program features keynote remarks from HE María Fernanda Espinosa, former President of the UN General Assembly, alongside insights from UN Women and UNICEF. The panel will explore how international frameworks like CEDAW, the SDGs, and the Beijing Platform for Action can be leveraged for local action, fostering women's leadership, youth activism, and cross-sector alliances to address the climate crisis. With distinguished speakers from UN-Habitat, REFELA, GNWP, and the CEDAW Committee, this event will highlight solutions to advance women's leadership, peace, and security in urban spaces. The session will conclude with an interactive Q&A and a signing ceremony, launching the Nigeria Cities for CEDAW coalition.
Save Our Cities And Our Planet Through the Leadership of Women and Girls
📆📍March 17, 10:30-12:00 pm EDT | The Church Center (10th floor, 777 UN Plaza, NY)
The NGO CSW Forum is organized by and for global civil society, non-governmental organizations, and feminists to connect them with the official United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UN CSW) process. With hundreds of events, the NGO CSW Forum informs, engages, and inspires grassroots efforts and gender equality advocacy around the world. While the NGO CSW Forum runs parallel to and complements the UN CSW, it is a separate process with separate organizers.
Bilateral with Dubravka Šimonović
📆📍March 6, 09:00-10:00 am EDT | Virtual
Join the Coalition for the UN We Need, featuring Dubravka Šimonović, Croatian jurist and former UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, in conversation with C4UN Analyst Ishaan Shah. As we mark 30 years since the Beijing Declaration, this discussion will explore the reform of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) and the evolving challenges in global gender advocacy. With decades of expertise in international human rights, Šimonović will share insights on strengthening CSW's impact and accelerating progress toward gender equality.
Flagship Report Launch: Women in Multilateralism (WIM) 2025
📆📍March 10, 05:00 pm EDT | Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice (320 East 43rd Street New York, NY 10017)
Join GWL Voices for the launch of the Women in Multilateralism Report 2025, a critical analysis of gender representation in global leadership. This flagship report reveals how the exclusion of women from top positions undermines the legitimacy and effectiveness of multilateral institutions. Experts and members of GWL Voices will discuss key findings, spotlight organizations championing gender-equal governance, and examine upcoming leadership elections as opportunities for reform. With a special focus on women in global health leadership and a historic assessment of women Permanent Representatives to the UN, this discussion is essential for anyone committed to gender parity in international decision-making.
30 Years of Women's Political Participation. Towards Pull Parity Side Event
⭐️ Official CSW Side Event
📆📍March 10, 11:30-12:45 pm EDT | Conference Room 2, UNHQ New York
Join the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) for a powerful side event reflecting on 30 years of progress and challenges in women’s political participation since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Hosted by the Permanent Mission of Slovenia to the UN and Club de Madrid, this high-level discussion will bring together global leaders, policymakers, and civil society voices to examine key strategies, including gender quotas, combating violence against women in politics, and fostering inclusive governance. With insights from Michelle Bachelet, Ana Redondo, and other distinguished speakers, this event will explore bold, forward-thinking solutions to accelerate gender parity in decision-making and counter rising pushback against gender equality.
Elevating girls' and women's leadership: A cross-generational dialogue between GWL Voices and WAGGGS- Bringing Beijing to life
📆📍March 11, 12:30 pm EDT | Salvation Army (221 E 52nd street, NY)
Join GWL Voices and WAGGGS at CSW 2025 for a powerful intergenerational discussion on the state of women's leadership and representation worldwide. As we mark Beijing+30, this session will examine the persistent barriers preventing women and girls from stepping into leadership roles and explore the urgent need for structural change. With only 26 countries led by women and 122 million girls still out of school, the conversation will focus on building a sustainable pipeline for female leadership and countering pushback against women's participation in decision-making.
Women in Politics: Obstacles and challenges to gender parity in subnational governments in Latin America 30 years on from Beijing.
📆📍March 11, 08:30 am EDT | One Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza 885 2nd Ave #40, NY.
Join GWL Voices, UN Women LAC, and global partners for a critical discussion on women's leadership in local governance, with a focus on Latin America. With only 5% of mayors being women, this session will explore strategies to increase women's meaningful participation in decision-making and tackle barriers to political leadership at the subnational level.
Multistakeholder Partnerships – Leveraging Generation Equality to Advance Recommitment, Accountability, and Resourcing of the Beijing Platform for Action
⭐️ Official CSW Side Event
📆📍March 10, 04:45-06:00 pm EDT | ECOSOC chamber in the UN Headquarters in NYC or online
The 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69), taking place in March 2025, will highlight the transformative power of the Generation Equality initiative. This multi-stakeholder partnership, born from the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action, has advanced nearly 2000 policies and committed over $50 billion towards gender equality. The event will spotlight collective efforts and achievements, reinforce the importance of accountability and leadership, and renew commitments towards the Beijing+30 Action Agenda, driving progress for women and girls amidst global challenges. View Concept here.
Women, Poverty and Progress: A Roundtable Discussion
📆📍March 11, 01:30-03:00 pm EDT | 866 UN Plaza, Suite 120 and on Zoom
Join global partners for a critical panel discussion on women and poverty at the 69th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) in 2025. The roundtable will cover vital topics such as gender-based violence, human rights, language rights, mental health frameworks, and access to justice to foster collaboration and develop actionable strategies to address these pressing issues.
In Full Partnership: Women's advancement as a prerequisite for peaceful societies
📆📍March 12, 01:15-02:45 pm EDT | 866 UN Plaza, Suite 120 and online with Zoom link
This discussion will highlight the importance of women's advancement as a cornerstone for peaceful societies. Reflecting on the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action, it emphasizes the need for continued progress toward gender equality, recognizing that societal transformation is essential to overcoming patriarchal norms and fostering inclusivity. They plan to showcase the role of grassroots initiatives in advancing women's rights and promoting a culture of equality and collaboration at all levels of society, ultimately contributing to global peace and prosperity.
Global Terrorism Trends in 2025: Data-Driven Strategies for Prevention and Response
📆📍March 11, 03:00-4:30 pm EDT | AfP's offices (1800 Massachusetts Ave NW, Suite 401, Washington DC 20036) or attend virtually via Zoom
Join the Alliance for Peacebuilding and the Institute for Economics and Peace for the hybrid launch of the 2025 Global Terrorism Index (GTI). This comprehensive report examines terrorism trends across 163 countries, providing crucial insights into its impact on global stability and the need for evidence-based strategies to mitigate its effects.
CSW69 Global Youth Dialogue
📆📍March 09, 02:00-6:30 pm EDT | Location will be shared with registrants
This dialogue will equip youth advocates with strategies to influence CSW69 discussions and drive accountability in the implementation of the Beijing+30 Action Agenda.
A 60-Minute Dialogue with Youth Delegates
📆📍March 11, 08:30-9:30 am EDT | This is invite-only for youth on government delegations.
An interactive discussion reflecting on CSW revitalization and the meaningful engagement of youth delegates in intergovernmental processes.
For All Women and Girls: Rights, Empowerment, and Accountability
📆📍March 11, 01:30-2:15 pm EDT | UN Secretariat CR-4
*This will only be open to those with an ECOSOC grounds pass
A young feminist dialogue with UN Women, focusing on youth advocacy, localized experiences, and strategies for holding duty bearers accountable.
Aligning the BPfA and the Pact for the Future – Closing the Gap Between Aspiration and Action
📆📍March 12, 04:45-6:00 pm EDT | CR-2
This session will explore practical mechanisms to enhance youth engagement across the UN system and close the gap between commitments and action.
Rights, Equality, and Empowerment for All Girls
📆📍March 13, 04:00-5:15 pm EDT
📲 For any questions, contact [email protected] and CC [email protected]
A safe space for adolescent girls to reflect on SDG 5, highlight key challenges, and share advocacy priorities with UN agencies.
High-Level Interactive Dialogue: Beijing+30 – A Dialogue with Youth Representatives
📆📍March 14, 03:00-6:00 pm EDT | CR-4
A high-level convening where youth leaders, policymakers, and experts will assess progress since the adoption of the Beijing Platform for Action and strategize on advancing gender equality.
Building Trust through Intergenerational Solidarity
📆📍March 18, 01:30-2:15 pm EDT | CR-4
A cross-generational dialogue aimed at strengthening feminist movements and bridging gaps between young and veteran activists.
Email [email protected] if you are hosting an event on the sidelines of CSW69 and would like it to be considered for the GGIN spotlight list.
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