Two important commissions have just been completed at the United Nations, and we are about to experience and live the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
It was really exciting weeks where women including religious women from all over the world, gathered to share ideas and solutions.
During the opening session of CSW69 at the United Nations Headquarters, Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the women leaders in the room, including many Sisters, saying, “In the face of immense obstacles, you strive to make our societies more just, more fair, more representative – and as a result, more resilient and more prosperous for everyone.”
Given the multiple global crises—armed conflicts, climate change, economic instability, and persistent gender-based violence—CSW served as a space where civil society and member states pushed for more substantial commitments to women’s rights and systemic change. CSW69 showed that more than ever, we are facing the rollback of women’s rights in many parts of the world—whether through restricted access to education, or employment, Women continue to bear the brunt of economic downturns, especially in the Global South.
The central outcome of CSW69 was the adoption of a political declaration reaffirming global commitments to gender equality. This declaration underscores the significance of the Beijing Declaration as a critical tool and emphasizes the necessity for intensified action, enhanced implementation, and international enforcement to achieve gender equality. European Commission, and the main outcome of the 69th session. The declaration also highlights the importance of engaging men and boys as strategic partners in promoting gender equality. It calls for accelerated efforts in several key areas:
• Enhancing women’s access to credit and entrepreneurship opportunities.
• Reducing unpaid care and domestic work burdens.
• Closing the gender digital divide.
• Ensuring access to quality education.
• Preventing violence against women and girls.
Despite these commitments, the session acknowledged ongoing challenges, including a global backlash against women’s rights and the resurgence of patriarchal attitudes. UN Secretary-General António Guterres noted that women’s rights are under siege, with reversals in hard-earned gains and new forms of oppression emerging.
As Daughter of Charity NGO representative for my Community, my engagement brings a moral and ethical dimension to the conversation. Faith-based organizations had a strong role in advocating for dignity, equity, and justice, particularly in addressing migration, social protection, and sustainable development. Many parallel events described the efforts religious congregations are involved in.
CSW69 was an advocacy moment where I believe, collective voices influenced global decision-making.
