World leaders have once again emphasised their dedication to achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls globally.
This pledge was notably reinforced during the closing ceremony of the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) in New York.
The event marked the culmination of two weeks filled with in-depth discussions, cooperation, and a collective vision for a more inclusive and equitable future for all women and girls.
A Renewed Pledge for Women’s Empowerment
This reaffirmation highlights the urgent need for collective action to dismantle barriers hindering women’s empowerment.
Leaders recommitted to the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, emphasizing its continued relevance in the pursuit of gender equality.
To turn these commitments into reality, comprehensive measures have been adopted to eradicate poverty and promote women’s economic empowerment, tackle gender-based violence by addressing root causes and fostering a culture of respect and equality and amplify women’s leadership in decision-making processes at all levels.
Equal Opportunities
Recognising the indispensable role of women and girls in societies, leaders emphasised the need for equal access to education, healthcare, and social protection systems to ensure their well-being and advancement.
They also called for increased investment in STEM education to bridge the digital divide and empower women through technology and harnessing innovation to accelerate gender equality and close persistent gaps.
Resolution
A key resolution was a global pledge to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls, as leaders stressed the need for Legal and Policy Reforms to combat gender-based violence, Awareness Campaigns to shift societal norms and Stronger support systems for survivors.
Gender-Responsive Policies & Strengthened Institutions
World leaders vowed to develop and implement Gender-Responsive Policies and Programmes, emphasising the importance of international cooperation and multi-stakeholder partnerships.
To sustain momentum, they pledged to mobilize resources to support the implementation of the Beijing Declaration, and strengthen national gender equality institutions to drive long-term change.
To enhance data collection and analysis, ensuring gender-disaggregated data guides policy decisions, a call was made to strengthen national statistics offices to improve data collection, analysis, and dissemination of gender-related statistics.
UN Women & Global Partnerships The pivotal role of UN Women in promoting gender equality was acknowledged, with a call for sustained support and collaboration.
The UN system has been urged to continue gender mainstreaming in all policies and foster multi-stakeholder partnerships to accelerate progress.
Women in Leadership: A Bold Step Forward
Member States were encouraged to nominate women for UN leadership positions to ensure increased representation in global decision-making.
Against this backdrop, Rwanda will represent African States at CSW70/71.
A strong consensus also emerged for a female UN Secretary-General in 2026.
Civil Society’s Role
The crucial role of civil society in advancing gender equality was also acknowledged as their advocacy for policies and programmes supporting women’s empowerment remains a driving force for change.
Nigeria’s Standpoint
Nigeria’s representative, Ambassador Bola Asaju, voiced concerns about the absence of girls and families in the Political Declaration, the lack of explicit male and female representation in gender discourse, and the mention of abortion. Burkina Faso aligned with this stance.
Another major concern was the withdrawal of the United States’ endorsement of the SDGs, Agenda 2030, and climate change commitments, raising critical questions about the potential impact on global initiatives and international collaboration.
Milestones in Women’s Leadership
UN Women Executive Director, Sima Bahous, celebrated recent milestones in global women’s leadership, including; Namibia inaugurating its first female president, Tunisia swearing in its first female Prime Minister and the International Olympic Committee appointing its first Female President—an African woman.
She emphasised the need for education especially in STEM, social protection, and data-driven progress, urging nations to align their aspirations with the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
A Call to Action
In his closing remarks, CSW69 Chair Abdul Aziz bin Mohammed Al-Wasil of Saudi Arabia called on all stakeholders to support the implementation of the session’s outcomes. He highlighted progress in expanding girls’ education, strengthening gender equality frameworks and advancing the empowerment of all women and girls globally.
Speaking after the closing session, Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, charged the delegates and Nigerian women to brace up for positive impacts.
“With hearts resolved, we journey home, to ensure that these promises are set in stone. We pledge to lift, to shield, to rise, to guard the girl-child’s hopeful eyes. To stand for elders, for those in need, for justice, for peace, in word and deed.”
She reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the six priority action areas:
1. A Digital Revolution – Let technology empower, let innovation shine, and let our women embrace happiness. (#TheHappyWomansApp)
2. Freedom from Poverty – A future where no one is left behind.
3. Zero Violence – A world where safety is a right, not a dream.
4. Equal Power – Women’s voices shaping the grandest scheme.
5. Peace and Security – A haven for all, where love holds sway.
6. Climate Justice – Protecting tomorrow, starting today.
As Nigeria prepares to commemorate 30 years of the establishment of its National Gender Machinery, the Minister emphasized that these commitments must be followed through with genuine actions and sustained progress.
“Together we rise, we build, we strive,for justice, for progress; we keep our Renewed Hope Agenda alive!”
CSW69 in Numbers: A Historic Gathering
According to UN Women data, CSW69 hosted: 13,000 participants,186 member States including Nigeria, 3 Deputy Prime Ministers and 5,840 side events.
As the curtains close on CSW69, the world watches with renewed hope how the commitments made here would translate into action in policies, programs, and in bettering the the everyday lives of women and girls across the globe.
Meanwhile the First Meeting of the CSW70 has held witn Costa Rica elected as the Chair for CSW70, Ukraine elected to serve in the Commission communication Working Group and Rwanda elected to represent African States in the CSW 70/71 sessions.
As the journey continues; the time for action is now.
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