CSW68: 11-22 March 2024
- Priority theme: Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective.
- Review theme: Social protection systems, access to public services and sustainable infrastructure for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls (agreed conclusions of the sixty-third session).
What is CSW?
The CSW is the largest annual gathering on women’s rights worldwide, and is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. The CSW is instrumental in promoting women’s rights, documenting the reality of women’s lives throughout the world, and shaping global standards on gender equality and the empowerment of women.
What happens at CSW?
During the Commission’s annual two-week session, thousands of representatives of UN Member States, global civil society organizations 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 held in 2000 (Beijing+5), as well as emerging issues that affect gender equality and the empowerment of women. Member States agree on further actions to accelerate progress and promote women’s enjoyment of their rights in political, economic and social fields. The outcomes and recommendations of each session are forwarded to ECOSOC for follow-up.
Official representatives from member states and civil society can attend the formal CSW meetings and the accompanying side events on women’s issues which are sponsored by member states. During the two-week session, NGOCSW, the civil society arm of CSW presents the NGOCSW Forum where hundreds of sessions, known as parallel events are open for all interested parties to attend. Where member states and NGOs register official representatives for CSW, registration for the NGOCSW Forum can be found at ngocsw.org.
Why should I attend CSW?
Attendance at CSW is important as it gives participants the opportunity to: have a voice in exploring solutions to myriad problems facing women of the world; receive a phenomenal educational experience regarding critical issues affecting women worldwide by attending side and parallel events; network with like-minded attendees from all over the globe.
Read Zonta International’s statement to the CSW