International Women's Day

This side event of the Commission on the Status of Women directly supports the Commission's focus on Justice by addressing digital exclusion in healthcare as a structural barrier to women's equality and women's right to health. Related Sites and Documents:  Concept Note . Watch Justice in the Digital Age: Advancing Women's Right to Health in Digitally Excluded Contexts (CSW70 Side Event)! Economic and Social Council

The Seventieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) will take place from 9 to 19 March 2026 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. 1) Introduction of draft proposals, Action on draft proposalsStatements in connection with the draft agreed conclusions Follow-up to Economic and Social Council resolutions and decisions Action on any other outstanding issuesProvisional agenda for the seventy-first session of the Commission Adoption of the report of the Commission on its seventieth session 2) Closure of the seventieth session 3) Opening of the Seventy-first sessionOpening of the seventy-first session of the Commission on the Status of Women Election of the Bureau of the seventy-first session Priority theme: Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, and addressing structural barriers Review theme: Women's full and e...

Addressing Structural Barriers, Water Justice: Implications for Science-Based Solutions Approach on Water and Sanitation Equity for Women and Girls (CSW70 Side Event) Related Documents:  Concept Note . Watch Addressing Structural Barriers, Water Justice: Implications for Science-Based Solutions Approach on Water and Sanitation Equity for Women and Girls (CSW70 Side Event)! Economic and Social Council

The discussion will explore how equitable land tenure, inclusive agricultural policies, and strengthened legal systems can expand access to justice, reinforce food sovereignty, and reduce vulnerability to economic insecurity and violence. Women and girls, particularly in rural communities, sustain agricultural and food systems worldwide, yet many remain excluded from secure land rights, legal recognition, and meaningful participation in decisions that shape their livelihoods .Convened during the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), Seeds of Justice: Agriculture, Legal Equity, and the Protection of Women and Girls will take place on 18 March 2026 from 4:45-6:00 PM in Conference Room 8. The discussion will explore how equitable land tenure, inclusive agricultural policies, and strengthened legal systems can expand access to justice, reinforce food sovereignty, and reduce vulnerability to economic insecurity and violenc e. Bringing together ministers, policy le...

 The Seventieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) will take place from 9 to 19 March 2026 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Following the closed meeting on "Communications concerning the status of women - Consideration of the report of the Working Group on Communications on the Status of Women"General discussion (resumed) Priority theme: Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, and addressing structural barriers Review theme: Women's full and effective participation and decision making in public life, as well as the elimination of violence, for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls (agreed conclusions of the sixty-fifth session) The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gen...

Experts will discuss the policy & scientific gaps which have left women behind and the efforts underway to ensure that women can make informed choices and, crucially, that real choices are available to them. Women have a right to the highest attainable standard of health, which serves as a key enabler for their participation in the social and economic life of their communities. Unfortunately, for far too many women around the world, quality healthcare remains out of reach. This is particularly true in the area of hormonal health. Moreover, many doctors struggle to diagnose and treat the underlying disorders behind their symptoms. Decades of under-investment and lack of research have left many healthcare providers reliant on hormonal birth control as the primary treatment for endocrine and reproductive issues. This approach may alleviate some discomfort but fails to restore healthy hormonal activity, leaving the underlying causes untreated, and may have harmful side effects, inclu...

The Seventieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) will take place from 9 to 19 March 2026 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Following the closed meeting on "Communications concerning the status of women - Consideration of the report of the Working Group on Communications on the Status of Women"General discussion (resumed) Priority theme: Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, and addressing structural barriers Review theme: Women's full and effective participation and decision making in public life, as well as the elimination of violence, for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls (agreed conclusions of the sixty-fifth session) The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of ge...

  Advancing Gender Equality through Inclusive Leadership and Positive Masculinity. Related Sites and Documents:  Programme . Watch Advancing Gender Equality through Inclusive Leadership and Positive Masculinity! Side Events

  The Seventieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) will take place from 9 to 19 March 2026 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. General discussion (continued) Priority theme: Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, and addressing structural barriers Review theme: Women's full and effective participation and decision making in public life, as well as the elimination of violence, for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls (agreed conclusions of the sixty-fifth session) The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. A functional commission of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), it was established by Council resolution 11(II) of 21 June 1946. ...

CSW70 side event organized by the government of Brazil. Gender Justice: Access to Justice, Effective Institutions and Structural Transformation (CSW70 Side Event) Economic and Social Council

    The Seventieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) will take place from 9 to 19 March 2026 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. General discussion (resumed) Priority theme: Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, and addressing structural barriers Review theme: Women's full and effective participation and decision making in public life, as well as the elimination of violence, for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls (agreed conclusions of the sixty-fifth session) The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. A functional commission of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), it was established by Council resolution 11(II) of 21 June 19...

This CSW70 side event organized by the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Morocco to the UN will bring together policymakers, UN System, and representatives from across the African continent to discuss and showcase the pivotal role of women in driving sustainable food systems and ensuring food security in Africa. Related Sites and Documents:  Concept note . Watch Women at the Heart of Africa's Food Security Transformation (CSW70 Side Event)! Side Events

This event will examine the connections between care systems, climate justice, and just transition policies. It will draw on emerging research from the Climate and Care Initiative and highlight innovative approaches that position care as essential social infrastructure for climate adaptation and inclusive development. Climate change intensifies existing inequalities and increases unpaid care burdens, particularly for women and marginalized communities in the Global South. At the same time, care systems play a vital role in sustaining livelihoods, enabling recovery, and strengthening climate resilience. The discussion will also contribute to global policy debates by exploring how climate finance and policy frameworks can better integrate care systems to advance gender equality and resilient societies. Related Sites and Documents:  Event Page  &  Concept Note . Watch Care and Climate: How Care Systems Shape Access to Justice in a Just Transition (CSW70 Side Event) Econ...

   The Seventieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) will take place from 9 to 19 March 2026 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Interactive dialogue among youth representatives on the priority theme: Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, and addressing structural barriers Priority theme: Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, and addressing structural barriers Review theme: Women's full and effective participation and decision making in public life, as well as the elimination of violence, for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls (agreed conclusions of the sixty-fifth session) The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW...

This high-level event will examine the key challenges, effective approaches, and political and financial investments needed to advance access to justice for all women and girls. Related Sites and Documents:  Concept Note . Watch access to Justice for Women and Girls: Strategies, Pathways and Good Practice (CSW70 Side Event) Side Events

Older women face different challenges than younger women, but their needs and voices are often missing from conversations about gender equality. Beyond headlines about global aging lies a more nuanced truth: women are shaping the story of old age in many parts of the world. Today, women outlive men in all the world's developed and developing regions. They also age differently than men, partly due to a lifetime of gender inequality—unequal access to pensions through less formal labor market engagement, limited land rights, structural barriers in access to higher education and more. This CSW70 side event will: Explore how older women contribute significantly to their families, communities, and countries, and why their social well-being, productive activity and health is everybody's gain. Explain how policymakers can complement women's efforts to age in healthy, dignified, and prosperous conditions, focusing on eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, and ad...

CSW70 side event organized by the government of Brazil. Watch the Economic Empowerment of Afro-Descendant Women: Justice and Sustainable Development (CSW70 Side Event)! Side Events

Introduction to the Core Principles for Meaningful Youth Participation, developed under Pact for the Future Action 37(d) to guide inclusive, safe and representative youth engagement in intergovernmental processes and UN work. The UN Youth Office, together with young people, the Executive Office of the Secretary-General, UN Women, UNFPA, European Union, Permanent Mission of Malawi to the UN and Permanent Mission of Portugal to the UN will host an event introducing the Core Principles for Meaningful Youth Participation in Intergovernmental Processes and UN Work. Mandated by Action 37(d) of the Pact for the Future, the Core Principles were developed at the request of the Secretary-General, in consultation with Member States and young people, to advance meaningful, representative, inclusive and safe youth engagement across relevant intergovernmental processes and throughout the work of the United Nations. The Principles aim to strengthen and systematize youth participation while respecti...

The Seventieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) will take place from 9 to 19 March 2026 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Interactive expert panel on priority theme: Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, and addressing structural barriers Priority theme: Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, and addressing structural barriers Review theme: Women's full and effective participation and decision making in public life, as well as the elimination of violence, for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls (agreed conclusions of the sixty-fifth session) The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is the principal global intergover...

The side-event convenes an intergenerational space to explore the life course dimensions of justice, understanding barriers, identify promising practices, and generate actionable recommendations for global policy and national reform.This side-event will convene young girls' groups, girl advocates, older women advocates and older women's associations, Member States, civil society partners, and UN agencies in a shared intergenerational space to explore the life course dimensions of justice, understanding barriers, identify promising practices, and generate actionable recommendations for global policy and national reform. This event is part of Youth Forum at CSW. The side-event aims to facilitate an intergenerational dialogue that highlight age specific barriers to accessing justice for young girls and older women using data, case studies, and lived experience; share strategies and approaches to address these barriers drawing from policies and practices; and generate clear and act...

EQUALS 2.0 at CSW70: Women's Participation in Digital Public Life: From Commitments to Systems that Deliver. The event is organized under the EQUALS Partnership for Gender Equality in the Digital Age with the support of the Government of the United Kingdom and piloted by ITU, UN Women, Women Worldwide Web and UNICEF. The session will explore how the digital world is reshaping women's participation in public life, from online spaces where debates take place to the technologies that influence visibility and decision-making. It will highlight practical approaches to ensure women can participate safely, build digital skills and leadership, and help shape emerging technologies such as AI.Speakers will include representatives from the Permanent Mission of UK to the United Nations in New York, Australian Human Rights Commission, ITU, UN Women, Microsoft, UNICEF, and local and international civil society actors. Related Sites and Documents:  Website . Watch Women's Participation ...

   The Seventieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) will take place from 9 to 19 March 2026 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Ministerial segment (continued) > Voluntary presentations by Member States on the review theme (continued): Women's full and effective participation and decision making in public life, as well as the elimination of violence, for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls The morning and afternoon opening dialogues will help frame the discussion and set the stage for an interactive ministerial dialogue where Member States will have the opportunity to share persistent challenges, best practices, lessons learned, and suggestions for the way forward around the identified priority concerns on ending violence against women and girls. Priority theme: Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discrim...

This CSW70 side-event will focus on the topic of intergenerational engagement to support and increase the participation of young women in public life, leadership roles and politics. The in-person CSW70 side event organized Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), UN Women, International IDEA, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) will bring WYDE Women's Leadership partners as well as representatives from the EU together with members of parliament, local governments, women's movements, civil society organizations, experts and women leaders, including from youth groups, with the objectives to: Highlight the impacts and needs to bring more young women into politics Learn from the successful experiences and best practices of intergenerational exchanges, alliances and mentoring Present the iKNOW Politics Young Women's Empowerment portal, a tool that promotes young women's access to leadership and representation It will present an opportunity to hear first-hand about the succe...

    Watch the Young Women Leading Change: Shaping the Future of Peace and Governance (CSW Side Event) Meetings & Events

The Seventieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) will take place from 9 to 19 March 2026 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Ministerial segment (continued) > Voluntary presentations by Member States on the review theme: Women's full and effective participation and decision making in public life, as well as the elimination of violence, for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls The morning and afternoon opening dialogues will help frame the discussion and set the stage for an interactive ministerial dialogue where Member States will have the opportunity to share persistent challenges, best practices, lessons learned, and suggestions for the way forward around the identified priority concerns on ending violence against women and girls. Priority theme: Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, polici...

   The side event entitled "Breaking Biases, Building Equality" seeks to address the challenges of the importance of guaranteeing access to justice for all women and girls by eliminating discriminatory laws and practice address and transform the deep-rooted social and cultural norms that limit women's rights and economic autonomy. The legal, social, and cultural norms that govern the world continue to be major obstacles to achieving real gender equality in political, economic, social, and family participation. In fact, 40% of the world's women and girls live in countries with "high" or "very high" levels of discrimination, according to the OECD (SIGI 2023). In the public and private spheres, women face stereotypes that act as invisible brakes on access to credit, technology, or property rights, which make equality with their male peers difficult. Legal barriers exacerbate this situation. According to UN Women, in 155 out of 173 countries, there are...

This CSW70 Side Event to promote the leadership, agency, and lived experiences of women and girls in the governance, design, and service delivery of assistive technology to ensure effective and equitable solutions, recognizing women and girls as agents of change. This event will officially launch the ATscale and UN Women joint policy brief, Unlocking HER potential: Gender equality through equitable access to assistive technology, aimed at accelerating progress towards gender equality and meaningful participation of women and girls in all aspects of life, in alignment with the CSW70 Review Theme. The session will: Share the key messages and evidence from the policy brief, highlighting how assistive technology is a fundamental enabler of human rights and a prerequisite for women's participation, leadership, and decision-making across public, economic, and digital life. Highlight how systemic barriers and persistent gaps in access to assistive technology reflect structural discrimin...

This event will facilitate a rich exchange of experience and knowledge sharing between stakeholders, highlighting innovations in community mobilization, resource convergence, and gender-responsive programming. Watch Women led development and south south cooperation - success stories from IBSA fund (CSW70 Side Event)! Economic and Social Council

The Seventieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) will take place from 9 to 19 March 2026 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Ministerial segment (continued) > High-level meeting - Violence against women and girls A 25-minute opening dialogue involving Ministers from 5 Member States representing the five UN regional groups. Ministers will share experiences, lessons learned, latest evidence and successful strategies to address violence against women and girls, including prevention and response. The morning and afternoon opening dialogues will help frame the discussion and set the stage for an interactive ministerial dialogue where Member States will have the opportunity to share persistent challenges, best practices, lessons learned, and suggestions for the way forward around the identified priority concerns on ending violence against women and girls. Priority theme: Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by prom...

Access to justice for women, both as actors within the judicial system and as rights‑holders, is a critical issue for gender equality and human rights and a priority for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Related Documents:  Concept Note . Watch Justice and Women in Algeria: From Parity to the Promotion of Leadership (CSW70 Side Event)! Economic and Social Council

   Side event of the Commission on the Status of Women entitled "From Youth Priorities to Local Action: Advancing Young Women's Access to Justice in Agrifood Systems" This year, in celebration of the International Year of the Woman Farmer, and in the context of CSW70, a number of WFF National Youth Chapters[1] have localized the Youth Recommendations by developing country-level action plans that respond to structural, social, and legal barriers faced by young women in agrifood systems, including barriers related to land rights and access to justice. Within this framework, the side event at the margins of CSW70 will provide a platform for young women leaders from these National Youth Chapters to present their locally grounded implementation plans and reflect on how youth-led action can contribute to advancing access to justice and gender equality in agrifood systems. The roundtable discussion will bring together young women leaders, Member States, civil society organizatio...

   This side event aims to provide a forum for reflection, dialogue and awareness-raising on the risks of violence and exploitation in the context of surrogacy, particularly for women in vulnerable situations, and children, while promoting a shared understanding of States' obligations to prevent violence, coercion and exploitation in all contexts. Related Documents:  Concept Note . Protecting Women and Children: Combating Violence and Exploitation in Surrogacy (CSW70 Side Event) Meetings & Events

Reclaiming CSW Resolution 68/1 through sustaining investments in women, girls and HIV to achieve the equality and justice agenda When Funding Retreats, Rights Recede: The Gendered Cost of Under-Investing in HIV (CSW70 Side Event)! Economic and Social Council

This side-event will explore how societies can adapt to diverse population shifts—ranging from rapid growth to ageing and decline—by prioritizing human rights and gender equality. The session will emphasize that demographic resilience is built on a foundation of access to justice, as part of an enabling environment to ensure women and girls can exercise their reproductive autonomy and claim their rights throughout their lives. This discussion will underscore that empowering women and safeguarding their rights is not only a moral imperative but also a practical strategy for social stability, economic growth, and effective governance. Related Sites and Documents:  Concept Note . Watch Demographic Resilience and Access to Justice: Securing Rights and Choices in a Changing World (CSW70 Side Event)! Economic and Social Council

Established in response to the alarming levels in domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Group of Friends for Eliminating Violence against Women and Girls celebrates its fifth anniversary this year. The Group convenes in a global context that has fundamentally changed in the past five years. An upsurge in conflict, growing resource constraints, a pushback on gender equality, shrinking civil society space, and new threats emerging in the digital sphere all risk undermining the hard-earned advances of the past decades. The fifth anniversary of the Group of Friends provides an opportunity to take stock of progress, reaffirm political commitments, and galvanise renewed action to prevent and end all forms of violence against women and girls (VAWG). The event will showcase successful approaches and provide a forum for exchanging best practices. In addition, the discussion will demonstrate how investments in policies and programs to eliminate VAWG catalyse transformative impact f...

In a world flooded with information, the stories that move people to care—and act—are the ones that cut through the noise. Join us for a dynamic conversation exploring how storytelling can amplify social impact, build authentic connections, and turn complex issues into narratives that inspire change. Watch the cutting through the Noise! Meetings & Events

The Seventieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) will take place from 9 to 19 March 2026 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Ministerial segment (continued) > High-level meeting - Violence against women and girls Opening Statement by the Chair Statement by the UN Women Executive Director. A 25-minute opening dialogue involving Ministers from 5 Member States representing the five UN regional groups. Ministers will share experiences, lessons learned, latest evidence and successful strategies to address violence against women and girls, including prevention and response. The morning and afternoon opening dialogues will help frame the discussion and set the stage for an interactive ministerial dialogue where Member States will have the opportunity to share persistent challenges, best practices, lessons learned, and suggestions for the way forward around the identified priority concerns on ending violence against women and girls. Priority theme: Ensuring an...

In the panel discussion, we explore how to increase women's seats at all decision-making processes so that our participation would bear fruit that people can feel and appreciate the fact that we live in society where rule of law exists for all. Watch the Women Must Be at the Table: A Simple Suggestion to Improve Meaningful Access to Justice for All Women (CSW70 Side Event)! Economic and Social Council

This side event situates violence against Afghan women and girls, including restrictions on legal status, bodily autonomy, and access to health and reproductive care, within international legal and accountability frameworks. Related Sites and Documents:  Concept Note . Watch Ensuring Access to Justice for Afghan Women and Girls: Documentation, Accountability, Protection, and the Rule of Law (CSW70 Side Event)! Side Events

The elimination of discriminatory legislation, social norms and practices is key to promoting gender equality. The CEDAW Convention (1979) serves as a transformative legal framework that obliges Member States to move beyond formal equality and achieve substantive equality by dismantling structural barriers. The panel discussion aims to: Amplify the intersection of women, diplomacy and human rights and the role of Article 8 and CEDAW General Recommendation 40 on equal and inclusive Disseminate key findings from UN Women's policy paper on Women in the Diplomatic Corps: Assessing Normative Frameworks, Structural Barriers and Policy Recommendations Share promising practices across geographical regions of how legal and institutional reforms can be transformative for women's international representation and participation in the affairs of international organizations. Promote the elimination of discriminatory laws in four major areas as an enabler for women's equal participation...