The 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), taking place from March 9-19, is centered on the priority theme of ‘access to justice and equal participation in social protection systems, in promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.’ This includes fostering inclusive legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, and addressing structural barriers that prevent women from claiming their rights.
The Issue of Power
At the session’s opening, Secretary-General António Guterres stated that despite decades of progress, inequality remains deeply entrenched. “We still live in a male-dominated world and a male-dominated culture,” Guterres said, emphasizing that gender equality is, and always has been, “an issue of power.” He noted that women globally possess only 64 percent of the legal rights that men have, and that justice remains “a distant dream for millions of women and girls.” Discriminatory laws and patriarchal norms continue to limit opportunities, while conflict, climate change, and rising inequality intensify challenges. Guterres asserted, “Justice for women and girls must be the cornerstone of the world we want to build.”.
Change is Possible
Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women, warned that progress towards equality is advancing too slowly, cautioning that it could take centuries to close the global gap in legal protections for women and girls. Bahous highlighted that Member States and partners gathered at the Commission represent “the most powerful constituencies,” stating, “This power is enough to make a difference, enough to transform lives.” Bahous pointed to the upcoming UN Secretary-General elections next year, noting that Member States will soon make another historic choice. “This year, delegates will choose a new Secretary-General. We, at UN Women, will be proud to serve and work with a female Secretary-General,” she added.
Advancing Women’s Rights Since 1946
Established in 1946, the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is the principal UN intergovernmental body dedicated to promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. Each year, it convenes governments and civil society representatives to assess global progress, shape international standards, and agree on policy recommendations to advance women’s rights. The institution has played a pivotal role in developing landmark frameworks, such as the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted in 1995, which remains the most comprehensive global agenda for achieving gender equality.
Why is Progress Still Insufficient?
General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock stated that the world no longer needs to debate the importance of women’s rights but should instead discuss why progress remains incomplete. “After 70 sessions of this Commission on the Status of Women and 30 years since the Beijing Declaration, we no longer need to debate why women’s rights are important. The question is: why are we still not achieving results?” Baerbock asked. She pointed out that globally, women hold only about two-thirds of the legal rights afforded to men, and many countries still lack laws mandating equal pay for equal work or protecting girls from early marriage.
Justice Must Work for Every Woman and Every Girl
Lok Bahadur Thapa, President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), echoed concerns about the slow pace of progress towards gender equality, stressing that legal reforms alone are insufficient. “Equality is not achieved by the mere adoption of laws. It is achieved when justice systems work in practice, for every woman and every girl,” Thapa said. He noted that the Commission plays a central role within the UN system, bringing together governments, civil society, and international partners to advance gender equality and inform broader development efforts, including future global reviews of progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF).
Outcome Document Adopted
Later in the day, the Commission adopted an outcome document, ‘Agreed Conclusions,’ on access to justice for women and girls. The text was approved by a vote of 37 in favor, 1 against (United States), and 6 abstentions, departing from the Commission’s traditional practice of adopting such conclusions by consensus. Before the vote, the United States proposed eight amendments to the document, arguing it contained “ambiguous language promoting gender ideology” and references to sexual and reproductive health that could imply abortion rights, and requested the talks be postponed or withdrawn. The proposed amendments were rejected. Maritza Chan Valverde, the Commission’s President from Costa Rica, stated that extensive consultations had been held to reflect the diversity of views among Member States. “We believe the text represents the most balanced outcome achievable at this stage,” she said.
What’s Next?
As the session continues, delegates are expected to discuss concrete steps to strengthen legal protections for women and girls and ensure that justice systems are accessible, responsive, and inclusive. The risks for the Secretary-General could not be clearer. Guterres reiterated, “Justice for women and girls must be the cornerstone of the world we want to build,” urging governments and societies to close the persistent gaps that continue to limit inequality globally.
