The sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68) will take place from 11 to 22 March in New York. It brings together representatives of UN Member States, civil society organizations and UN entities discuss progress and commit to further action.
The priority theme for the 2024 session is 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.
Below is a list of the official and unofficial side events, sessions and activities being hosted by CanWaCH members and partners! Have an event to add? Please contact us at [email protected] to tell us about your event and attendance. All times are in local time.
8:30 a.m.: The Cornerstone of Gender Equality: Women’s Health and Welfare.
Fondation Paul Gérin-Lajoie is co-organizing two events at the NGO Forum.
Time TBD: Canadian Reception at the Permanent Mission of Canada to the UN
8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.: The Importance of Care in Achieving Gender Equality: Early Childhood Development (ECD), Parenting Services, and Policies
The event is co-sponsored by and will feature a keynote panel with representatives from the Governments of Australia, Burkina Faso and Poland, as well as ChildFund Alliance, Children Believe, Equimundo, and ACEV. There will also be messages from child leaders, recounting how their participation in the organizers’ programs has impacted their lives as well as that of their families and communities.
In-person registration Virtual registration
10:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.: Crimes Against Humanity in Afghanistan with a Gender Lens: Strengthening Global Coordination.
This event is co-sponsored by the UN Permanent Missions of Afghanistan and Malta together with civil society partners. Canada’s Feminist Forum for Afghanistan is also a part of the organizations hosting this event.
In-person and Virtual registration
10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Women Rising From Poverty: Strategies, Transformative Educational Projects, Empowering Initiatives.
CFUW is hosting an in-person NGOCSW/NY parallel event.
3 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.: Indigenous Women’s Voices on the barriers and opportunities towards their inclusive socio-economic development (CR#6 of the UNGA Building)
Canada’s Signature Side-Event. Minister Ien and Minister Hajdu will give opening and closing remarks.
10 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.: Achieving Women’s Economic Empowerment – Innovative Models to Addressing Unpaid Care Work
Permanent Mission of Senegal, Co-Sponsors: Global Affairs Canada, UNWOMEN, Government of Senegal, World Renew, ACT Alliance, and the Ontario Council for International Cooperation
12:30 p.m.: Child Marriage: Deep Dive
Joint event by World Vision Canada, Save the Children Canada, Islamic Relief Canada and Global Affairs Canada. The event explores the intersections of SRHR, SGBV and CEFMU while sharing in a TED-Talk style discussion groups.
9 a.m. to 10 a.m. NY/ 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Senegal and Togo/ 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Benin and France/ 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. CAT: Breaking the barriers: access to services for women with disabilities in West Africa
This event focuses on creating ways for innovation in access to civil status, public health and justice services, and social protection. A variety of topics will be discussed, some including women’s entrepreneurship and sexual harassment of young people with disabilities in educational institutes. Hosted by Humanity and Inclusion.
2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.: Challenge to Empowerment: Experiences and Replicable Strategies of Refugee Women.
Find out how the successful initiatives in their supportive communities propelled refugee women from poverty to employment and towards gender equity. Hear about strategies employed by supporters to help refugee women achieve success.
9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.: CSW68 Side Event: Unveiling the Power of Gender Transformative Nutrition
This interactive discussion will address how investing in nutrition requires a gender lens and how this links to food systems, social protection, and education. It will examine the important role women and girls play in the nutritional status of their communities. Join us as we explore how nutrition, gender equality, and empowered interact and affect diverse communities and the programming and investments needed in policy and financial solutions to address this.
3:00 p.m.: Caring in Crisis: Exploring the Impacts of Climate Change on Care Responsibilities and Poverty.
Side-event hosted by Global Alliance for Care – in person and virtual options for attendance.
9 a.m. to 10 a.m. NY/ 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Senegal and Togo/ 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Benin and France/ 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. CAT: Intersectional perspectives on climate change and poverty reduction in Africa
This event will have speakers that will address the urgent and persistent challenges faced by women with intersecting identities. An intersectional indigenous perspective from Kenya will be discussed and the exploration of budgeting in Uganda, improving access to financial aid for rural women with disabilities in Senegal and positive results on eliminating poverty. Hosted by Humanity and Inclusion.
