District 1 United Nations Committee Chair:
__, Zonta Club of ___ USA
The CSW is the largest annual gathering on women’s rights worldwide, and is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. The CSW is instrumental in promoting women’s rights, documenting the reality of women’s lives throughout the world, and shaping global standards on gender equality and the empowerment of women.
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the blueprint created by the CSW to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They address the global challenges we face, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, and peace and justice. The Goals interconnect and in order to leave no one behind, it ís important that we achieve each Goal and target by 2030. UN.org has an excellent overview of the SDGs – click on any specific Goal on the page to learn more about each issue.
Zonta International is focusing efforts on GOAL 5: GENDER EQUALITY
Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. Unfortunately, at the current time, 1 in 5 women and girls between the ages of 15-49 have reported experiencing physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner within a 12-month period and 49 countries currently have no laws protecting women from domestic violence.
CSW 71 (2027)
The seventy-first session of the Commission on the Status of Women will take place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 8 to 19 March 2027. Representatives of Member States, UN entities, and ECOSOC-accredited non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from all regions of the world are invited to attend the session. Themes Priority theme: Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Review theme: Achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of climate change, environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programmes Critical area of concern or cross-cutting issue: Poverty and the economic empowerment of women
CSW 70 (2026)
The 70th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) concluded in March 2026 with the adoption of Agreed Conclusions focused on ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls. Amid sharp geopolitical and ideological divisions, the final text passed via a recorded vote of 37 in favor, 1 against (the United States), and 6 abstentions rather than the traditional consensus. [1, 2, 3, 4] Priority Theme & Core Legal Mandates Access to Justice: Emphasized broad judicial reforms to eliminate discriminatory laws, structural barriers, and equitable legal practices. [1, 2, 3] Community Recognition: Formally recognized community justice workers and paralegals inside national legal frameworks to expand grassroots reach. [1, 2] CEDAW Commitments: Urged member states to ratify and fully implement the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. [1] Digital Justice & Emerging Threats AI & Technology Governance: Established new […]
CSW 68 Wrap-up
The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), is a global policy-making body dedicated exclusively to promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women. The Commission was established by an ECOSOC resolution in 1946 with a mandate to prepare recommendations on promoting women’s rights in the political, economic, civil, social and educational fields. The Commission also makes recommendations to the Council on urgent problems requiring immediate attention in the field of women’s rights. Below are reports from Dr. Mary Ann Rubis (Quaboag Valley Club), Audrey Millgate (Northampton Area Club) and other Zontians who attended the CSW68 forum. Mary Ann Rubis ~ Impressions from the Commission on the Status of Women 68 This year marked my 12th anniversary attending this annual event, all in person, with the exception of 2021’s virtual session due to COVID. My week in New […]