The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) annual two-week session marks the UN’s largest annual gathering on gender equality and women’s empowerment. It brings together governments, civil society organizations, experts and activists from across the world to discuss progress, identify challenges, review policies and set global standards around a priority focus.
As the global community marks the thirtieth anniversary of the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action this year, the 69th session (CSW69) sought to review progress made on the key global policy document’s implementation. It was held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 10 to 21 March 2025.
CanWaCH was pleased to join the session and support the attendance of youth and delegates from organizations across our membership. Throughout the first week of the session, the CanWaCH delegation meaningfully participated in important discussions, engaged in learning through impactful events and shared insights with their networks.
Below are some of their key takeaways!
Posts have been condensed. Links to the full posts have been included below each excerpt.
From Grand Central to the East River, it feels like NYC is 80% women right now. Amid the honking and construction noise, you hear them — sharing knowledge in every language, laughing often. They all look incredibly powerful, dressed in traditional attire (like the breathtaking delegation from the Pacific islands I saw on Monday), in their sharpest power looks (I might be guilty of this), or in everyday wear (like the grassroots warriors I deeply admire). When we pass each other, there’s a nod, a recognition — like when you see another person of colour on a ski slope. It’s not just familiarity; it’s feminist energy creating an unspoken safe space.
This is the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) — the world’s largest gathering on women and gender equality. It happens at the UN, a place meant to belong to everyone, yet seen by so few, especially marginalized women.
Many sacrifice greatly to be here. Some risk their safety, others spend a fortune, and many feel like outsiders — despite the overwhelming sisterhood. For many reasons, starting with the jargon, the Western-centric culture, and the ever-present anti-rights movements, lurking even when unseen.
And yet, I’m sure those women are the ones I’ll think about when I’ll look back on this week. Because they’re the ones who connect us to the real world. Those who take the mic at events to demand accountability – like Brianna Wilson, an Indigenous activist who asked Canadian decisionmakers pointblank today how they were going to protect her from being scared to exist.
These testimonies are raw, sometimes heartbreaking, but essential. They cut through abstraction, reveal reality, and force the world to listen.
At #CSW69, the transformative potential of technology and AI for gender equality took center stage, offering both promise and caution as we mark 30 years since the Beijing Declaration.
I was captivated by examples of life-saving innovations: drone technology delivering blood supplies to mothers hemorrhaging in remote areas, AI-powered early warning systems designed specifically to reach women farmers facing climate disruption, and digital health platforms providing nutrition guidance to pregnant women in resource-constrained settings.
The dialogue around tech was nuanced: while celebrating innovation, participants acknowledged the persistent digital gender gap and the risks of AI perpetuating existing biases. “We must ensure technology is designed with women, not just for them,” emphasized one tech developer working on maternal health solutions.
The consensus was clear: technology alone cannot solve gender inequality, but when developed through co-creation, supported by flexible long-term funding, and deployed with attention to existing power imbalances, it can be a powerful accelerator toward the gender-equal world envisioned in Beijing 30 years ago.
This week I had the privilege of attending #CSW69, the 69th annual session of the Commission on the Status of Women, at UN headquarters in New York, as part of the delegation from the Canadian Partnership for Women and Children’s Health (CanWaCH).
As every year, a Political Declaration was adopted. Women Deliver has published a brilliant analysis of this declaration, which I invite you to read! One major setback was the removal of language on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). SRHR are at the heart of many Médecins du Monde projects, including our incredible RESPECT project.
Although I have a number of reservations about this type of event, I enjoyed my experience.
Firstly, thanks to my delegation colleagues, inspiring and dedicated women. Well done CanWaCH for this quality selection and for giving me the opportunity to meet and talk with them!
Secondly, I was able to experience the mobilization of feminists from all over the world, committed activists who fight every day. We’re not alone, and it feels really good to be reminded that we’re stronger than what we’ve seen on the news over the last few months.
But the most beautiful and powerful encounter was with Hélène (fictitious name to protect her identity), a young educator-pair from Central Africa. Her testimony, sincerity, humour, kindness and commitment touched me deeply. Her call to continue the fight to ensure that young people have access to clear and truthful information about SRHR at school, to involve parents so that honest dialogue can take place for all, to break down taboos, and to ensure that these discussions take place in local languages – and not just in the official languages of the country, which are often not mastered by the population as a whole.
I can’t help but think of all my colleagues in the field, who are passionately leading this fight. Thank you for your commitment.
Yesterday at CSW69 with the CanWaCH delegation was a powerful exploration of how we can move beyond rhetoric and take concrete action toward gender equality. The sessions I attended all emphasized the need for better data, stronger security, and meaningful youth engagement — all critical to ensuring that the commitments we make lead to real, tangible change.
🛡️ UNDSS/Security and Safety Service Re-Affirmation Exhibition
Safety is a prerequisite for participation. This exhibition was a crucial reminder of the invisible labor that goes into ensuring safe spaces for women in advocacy, activism, and leadership. In many parts of the world, simply advocating for women’s rights can be dangerous. Strengthening security measures and reaffirming commitments to safety ensures that women—especially those on the frontlines—can continue their work without fear.
🌍 Aligning the Beijing Platform for Action and the Pact for the Future: Closing the Gap
A major theme of CSW69 has been the gap between global commitments and real progress. This session reinforced that while frameworks like the Beijing Platform for Action and the Pact for the Future set important goals, it is up to all of us to hold governments and institutions accountable.
Key takeaways from this discussion:
✅ Youth are not just the future—they are the NOW. Young people must be included in decision-making at every level.
✅ We need to shift from policy promises to implementation. The work doesn’t stop at declarations; it continues in funding, grassroots action, and systemic reform.
✅ Intergenerational collaboration is key. Progress happens when youth, policymakers, and civil society work together rather than in silos.
As we continue forward, the question remains: How do we ensure that the conversations happening at CSW69 lead to sustained impact? Because advocacy doesn’t end at awareness — it begins there.
In a moment of great global – and domestic – change, I was struck this week by how vital it is to spend time with friends both old and new as we dedicate ourselves to ensuring the #health and wellbeing of #women, #children, and their communities.
I found myself most drawn this week to the roundtables, group meetings, and intimate conversations over coffee or a meal. In these exchanges, we had a chance to explore some big questions and talk tactics, and also find the solidarity and humour and courage that each of us desperately need right now.
As someone who is both passionate about the importance of #evidence and skeptical of its sole sufficiency to change hearts and minds, I noticed that every single session I attended highlighted the need for more data, disaggregated data, better #data. I agree that the need has never been greater for evaluative thinking… and I also think we need to reexamine the role that evidence plays in the current context and how different folks relate to it if we are to maximize our resources in this constrained reality.
The other theme that emerged unfailingly in every conversation, every side event, and every moving keynote address? The power of partnership. Perhaps it’s not surprising then that this massive global gathering was most powerful, at least for me, in its intimate moments of connection. Oppressive forces and harmful anti-rights movements thrive when we are divided, confused, defensive, and reactionary. More than ever, we need coalitions, networks, alliances – all professional terms for good friends who share a commitment to not just pushing back, but pushing through to something better. I have never been prouder to work in an organization with #partnership in our name and mandate.
Published:
March 25, 2025
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