The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment as it commenced its 70th session.
The newly elected Chair, Maritza Chan-Valverde of Costa Rica, pledged to work collaboratively with global leaders to drive impactful policies and initiatives.
Addressing world leaders in New York, Chan-Valverde emphasised the need for collaboration and mutual respect, stating that while women and girls need the United Nations, it is equally true that the United Nations needs them. She called for the full and accelerated implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, proposing the election of a woman as the next UN Secretary-General to drive meaningful change.
Chan-Valverde highlighted that 80 years of male leadership in the UN was intentional and urged for gender equality at the highest levels of leadership.
The Commission also elected Flavia Umulisa from Rwanda and Samah Dbouk from Lebanon as Vice-Chairs for the 70th session, with Andreea Mocanu from Romania and Noah Oehri from Liechtenstein elected for both the 70th and 71st sessions. Ukraine was appointed to serve on the Working Group on Communications, with further elections postponed to a later date.
Political Declaration
At the conclusion of CSW69, delegates adopted a political declaration marking the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, which recognized 2025 as a crucial year for global action towards the full implementation of the Beijing Declaration.
The declaration reaffirmed the importance of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls for sustainable development. However, concerns were raised about the slow and uneven progress in achieving these goals across countries.
The declaration stressed that full implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women is critical for achieving gender equality. Despite these commitments, delegates acknowledged that no country had fully achieved gender equality, and progress remained slow.
National Statements
In their national statements, delegates voiced their concerns and positions on various issues. The U.S. representative, Jonathan Shrier, expressed reservations about the declaration, particularly its language surrounding gender, which he argued did not align with the U.S.’s stance on biological sex.
Shrier also rejected the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including its associated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Meanwhile, representatives from the European Union, Tonga, and Belarus called for more ambitious actions and recognised the need for further progress, particularly concerning the empowerment of women and girls in conflict zones and addressing climate change.
The representative from Tunisia called for women to lead, noting the significant milestone of a woman heading Tunisia’s government. Egypt’s delegate expressed concerns about the omission of women’s roles in family and society.
NIGERIA’S STATEMENT
Nigeria’s Representative Ambassador Bola Asaju, submitted that the declaration would be adopted according to Nigeria’s national priorities, within its social and religious context.
Her seven point statement read thus;
1. I wish to appreciate your Excellency’s leadership of the just concluded process as well as congratulate all delegations, the commission and the entire membership of the UN ECOSOC on the Successful adoption of the Political Declaration.
2. However, my delegation wishes to state categorically for the record that the commitments and implementation of this Political declaration remains not only voluntary but also the sovereign right of States.
3. Mr. Chair, while Nigeria, appreciates references to protecting the human rights and fundamental freedoms of women and girls, Maternal health and addressing developmental concerns, we regret that the declaration failed to address the current global dangers posed by sex-selective practices, including prenatal sex selection and female infanticide as outlined in the Beljing Declaration and Platform for Action. Moreover, the vital role played by the family in supporting the well-being of women and girls was not also acknowledged in the document neither were there references to the key issues on women as mothers and the societal importance of motherhood and family.
3. My delegation is not in a position to support ambiguous and intersectional references in OP8 which simplifies persons to identity categories and construes discrimination in a manner that is incompatible with our international human rights obligation.
4. Stating unequivocally, Gender, in any of its occurrences in this political declaration can only be interpreted in my national context as the natural and biological construct of male and female.
5. Mr. Chair, we note with concern, the reference to Menstrual health in OP15(f) and rejects any interpretation of the term as encompassing methods of fertility regulation that would include abortion, use of abortifacients or other interventions that are inconsistent with our national and regional laws, constitutional framework or treaty obligation.
6. My delegation also notes that by reason of their age and maturity, children cannot exercise their rights. With regards to references to girls’ full, equal and meaningful participation, in OP15(m), we understand children’s exercise of their rights as being subject to the appropriate direction and guidance of their parents or legal guardians, consistent with our obligations under applicable international human rights law, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and relevant domestic laws.
7. While we welcome the adoption of the Political Declaration of the CSW69th Session, Nigeria wishes to reiterate its position to interpret and implement the provisions of the declaration in line with its national and regional Laws and development priorities and in total conformity with various religious and ethical values and cultural backgrounds of its people.
Women, Peace, and Security
The Commission adopted a resolution focused on the release of women and children taken hostage in armed conflicts, stressing the need for all parties to conflict to respect international humanitarian law.
Representatives from Israel and Egypt, condemned the illegal acts of hostage-taking, with a special focus on the plight of Gaza and Palestinian women and children.
The resolution underscored the need for international solidarity with women and girls suffering in conflict zones.
Future Commitments and Concerns
The Commission also adopted a multi-year program of work to guide its future sessions and further the cause of women’s empowerment globally.
UN-Women Executive Director Sima Sami Bahous expressed sadness over the situation in Gaza, emphasizing that women’s rights are human rights and expressing solidarity with women in conflict zones.
Saudi Arabia’s Abdulaziz M. Alwasil, chair of CSW69, noted that while progress had been made, it was fragile and slow, urging continued efforts for the next five years.
Overview
CSW69, held from March 10 to 21, saw over 13,000 participants from 186 Member States, including Nigeria.
This session marked significant anniversaries: 30 years since the Beijing Declaration, 25 years since Security Council Resolution 1325, five years until the 2030 SDGs, and 15 years since the establishment of UN Women.
Despite diverse views, the global commitment to advancing women’s rights and gender equality remained clear.
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