CanWaCH delegation at CSW69: Five questions with Christina Ricci

The largest annual global gathering on gender equality and women’s empowerment, CSW69 brought together governments, civil society organizations, experts and activists from March 10 to 21. CanWaCH was pleased to join the session and support the attendance of youth and delegates from organizations across our membership. The following Q&A is part of a series of interviews with members of the CanWaCH delegation. Read all of the delegation’s insights on Write to Thrive.

If you had to describe CSW69 in three words, what would they be?

• Intersectional.
• Forward-looking.
• Purposeful.

Why did you want to attend CSW69? What drew you to being part of the CanWaCH delegation?

Attending CSW69 represented an opportunity to engage with global discussions on gender equality at a critical juncture, the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration. I was particularly drawn to examining how data influences policy and implementation of these decades-old commitments. The CanWaCH delegation particularly appealed to me because of their focus on women’s and children’s health within international development frameworks. 

I valued the chance to learn from Canadian organizations working at this intersection while connecting with a diverse network of advocates from around the world. The delegation offered a structured pathway to connect with both Canadian and international stakeholders working on women’s health, Indigenous rights, and development. I was interested in learning about the relationship between international commitments and domestic implementation, including for Indigenous women in Canada. CSW69 provided a valuable opportunity to explore how data-driven approaches can help fulfill promises made in the Beijing Platform for Action.

If you had one quote from a panel or session you could stick on the back of your computer or phone, what would it be?

“Gender data isn’t just about counting women; it’s about making women count.”

What was a moment at CSW69 that made you stop and think differently about an issue?

During a hands-on data visualization workshop, the facilitator demonstrated how differently results can emerge when women are interviewed separately versus as part of household surveys. This methodological consideration revealed important insights about data collection approaches. As an epidemiologist, I had intellectually understood the concept of potential biases in data collection, but seeing the differences visually represented gave me a new perspective on how we measure health outcomes. Another striking example was learning that women comprise only 22% of Alzheimer’s study participants despite representing two-thirds of patients. These examples highlighted how epidemiological methods directly impact the evidence base that informs program delivery. It reinforced that methodological choices in data collection aren’t merely academic concerns but have concrete implications for how resources are allocated and which populations ultimately benefit from health programs. 

Did you face any challenges during the session?

Navigating CSW69 presented several logistical hurdles that required careful planning. The sheer volume of simultaneous sessions — from technology and AI panels to Indigenous women’s rights discussions to data workshops — meant making difficult choices about which vital conversations to join. Events were scattered throughout the city, and registration for popular sessions often filled quickly, creating additional barriers to participation in preferred discussions. Beyond these organizational challenges, I noticed a pattern in many presentations where speakers effectively articulated what should be done to advance gender equality and women’s health, but there was often a noticeable gap in practical guidance on implementation. I found myself frequently hearing compelling calls to action followed by limited concrete steps on how professionals could operationalize these recommendations. This sometimes created a sense of disconnection between aspirational goals and actionable pathways. Despite these challenges, the conference was well-organized regarding accessibility and did a commendable job of including diverse voices, particularly those directly affected by the issues being discussed. I feel more prepared now for navigating these aspects should I attend again in the future.

Connect with Christina on LinkedIn here.