CanWaCH Urges Meaningful Engagement with CSW64 Postponement

Like our members and partners, the Canadian Partnership for Women and Children’s Health (CanWaCH) is very concerned about and closely following COVID-19 updates. Amid this evolving situation and as CanWaCH has been gearing up attend the 64th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women next week in order to represent the views of our members, UN Member States have been asked to consider an option to shorten and scale-down the CSW64. 

CanWaCH is understanding of the need to address the evolving situation but concerned with the potential impact a scaled-down format would have for our membership and civil society more broadly to engage meaningfully in CSW, one of the most important international moments to advance the rights and health of women and girls around the world. 

CanWaCH echoes calls for the United Nations to postpone, rather than shorten or curtail, CSW64 until later in 2020.  It is essential that CSW64 involve rich and meaningful conversations and robust engagement in the process by all stakeholders. This is especially vital in 2020 with the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action, which is deserving of concerted attention and action of a CSW with the broadest possible attendance of governments and civil society. 

CanWaCH will continue to update our members and partners as the situation continues to develop. In order to facilitate coordination and connection between members planning to be active around CSW, we are issuing a request to our members and partners to update us on your evolving plans around CSW, as well as questions or concerns about CSW64 by email as soon as possible.