In focus: UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
Date:
The 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68), the UN’s largest annual gathering on gender equality and women’s empowerment, will take place this year from 11 – 22 March under the theme, “Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective”.
With a focus on accelerating progress by addressing poverty, strengthening institutions, and financing initiatives through a gender perspective, CSW68 is set to be a pivotal moment in advancing gender equality and empowering all women and girls.
Check this space for updates and join the conversation using the hashtag #CSW68.
Regional updates
Stories
Cambodia
Sri Lanka
Thailand
Explainers
Official meetings
At CSW68, governments, civil society organizations, experts and activists from across the world will come together to agree on actions and investments that can end women’s poverty and advance gender equality. Check out the official events here.
Asia-Pacific side events
11 March
Pakistan, UN Women
11 Mar, 10:00 AM - 11:15 AM
Conference Room C (max. capacity: 53), Conference Building
Indonesia
11 Mar, 01:15 PM - 02:30 PM
Conference Room D (max. capacity: 53), Conference Building
Government of Mongolia and Asian Development Bank
11 Mar, 01:15 PM - 02:30 PM
Conference Room 8 (max. capacity: 96), General Assembly Building
Contact: [ Click to reveal ]; [ Click to reveal ]
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12 March
Afghanistan Mission
12 Mar, 10:00 AM - 11:15 AM
Conference Room 1 (max. capacity: 571), Conference Building
Contact: [ Click to reveal ]
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Australia
12 Mar, 01:15 PM - 02:30 PM
Conference Room 6 (max. capacity: 123), General Assembly Building
Indonesia, Morocco, State of Qatar, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and UNWOMEN
12 Mar, 01:15 PM - 02:30 PM
Conference Room 8 (max. capacity: 96), General Assembly Building
Denmark
12 Mar, 01:15 PM - 02:30 PM
Conference Room D (max. capacity: 53), Conference Building
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Fiji
12 Mar, 04:30 PM - 05:30 PM
Millenium Hotel UN Plaza, One UN Plaza, New York , NY 10017
13 March
Finland, Qatar, Italy & UN Women
13 Mar, 11:30 AM - 12:45 PM
Conference Room 12 (max. capacity: 129), General Assembly Building
Contact: [ Click to reveal ]
The theme of CSW86 aims to address the persisting issue of poverty with a focus on gender equality, women’s economic empowerment and then full participation of women and girls in the society, with the aim of leaving no one behind. For any society to flourish, women and girls’ active participation in societies and economies is central, and governments are committed to respect the universal and indivisible human rights of all persons. Right to education remains key to achieving a prosperous future, both for individuals and the society as a whole, and this includes the right to education of women and girls.
In the world’s most pressing women’s rights crisis, it is critical that women’s rights, leadership and gender equality are at the core of the international community’s engagement vis-à-vis Afghanistan. The independent assessment on Afghanistan (2023) and UNSC resolution 2721 (2023) create a framework to work towards an Afghanistan that fulfills the needs and rights of all people. The event brings together Ministers responsible for gender equality, UN Women representatives, and most importantly, Afghan women leaders to discuss the future direction of Afghanistan, and women’s leadership, including through economic empowerment.
The aim of is to learn and hear directly from diverse Afghan women and to engage different stakeholders to find pathways for the international community and organizations to improve women’s leadership,, recognizing that poverty eradication in Afghanistan will not be possible without the return of women’s rights and gender equality. The panel discussion will give insights to the questions such as: what are the implications of restrictions in access to education in short and long term; what is the current situation of women led small and medium size enterprises as well as their future and potential; and how can the international community best support women’s active role in economic growth, education and participation in society in Afghanistan.
Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations,
Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations
13 Mar, 11:30 AM - 12:45 PM
Trusteeship Chamber (max. capacity: 673), Conference Building
Contact: [ Click to reveal ]
UN ESCAP
13 Mar, 01:15 PM - 02:30 PM
Conference Room D (max. capacity: 53), Conference Building
Contact: Sara Diaz Moriones (sara.diazmoriones@un.org)
Women’s financial inclusion and entrepreneurship can further women’s economic empowerment when structural changes are made to address perpetual patriarchal systems that hold women back.
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Global Forum of Communities Discriminate on Work and Descent (GFoD), UN Women. Permanent Mission of Nepal to the UN
13 Mar, 01:15 PM - 02:30 PM
Conference Room F (max. capacity: 42), General Assembly Building
Contact: Johannes Butscher, johannes@globalforumCDWD.org
- To register and more information please click here
- CSW68 side event poster
The Permanent Mission of India to the UN, NY
13 Mar, 01:15 PM - 02:30 PM
Conference Room 1 (max. capacity: 571), Conference Building
Fòs Feminista, the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the UN, the GEF Action Coalition on Bodily Autonomy and SRHR, and the GEF Action Coalition on Feminists Movements and Leadership
13 Mar, 03:00 PM - 04:15 PM
Conference Room D (max. capacity: 53), Conference Building
Contact: AVega@fosfeminista.org
Islamic Republic of Iran
13 Mar, 03:00 PM - 04:15 PM
ECOSOC Chamber (max. capacity: 581), Conference Building
Fiji
13 Mar, 03:30 PM - 04:40 PM
Millenium Hotel UN Plaza, One UN Plaza, New York , NY 10017
Singapore and Indonesia
13 Mar, 04:45 PM - 06:00 PM
Conference Room 6 (max. capacity: 123), General Assembly Building
Join us to discuss the interdependence between gender equality and family development, and its importance for socio-economic growth and inclusive development.
14 March
Singapore
14 Mar, 10:00 AM - 11:15 AM
Conference Room D (max. capacity: 53), Conference Building
Led by Singapore's CSOs, this side-event will focus on Singapore's partnership approach to women's development, with an emphasis on the importance of mindset shifts and breaking stereotypes to empower women in the workplace, home and community. We will explore the importance of fostering inclusive and progressive workplaces where women have fair opportunities to succeed. As women's development is a whole-of-society effort, the family institution plays an instrumental part in shaping mindsets and breaking stereotypes on gender roles and expectations. This side-event will also discuss the importance of sharing caregiving responsibilities and encouraging men to take on a more active caregiving role within the family, which will also allow women to progress further in the workplace. It will also cover the role of the family in supporting girls to pursue their interest in STEM education and careers.
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The Government of Indonesia
14 Mar, 01:15 PM - 02:30 PM
Conference Room C (max. capacity: 53), Conference Building
Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See, Permanent Mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the United Nations, Santa Marta Group
14 Mar, 01:15 PM - 02:30 PM
Conference Room 6 (max. capacity: 123), General Assembly Building
15 March
Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations, Japan Women’s Watch, International Women’s Year Liaison Group and The National Women's Committee of the United Nations NGOs
15 Mar, 08:00 AM - 09:30 AM
Online
Contact: office@jaww.info
CSW68 Women's Multidimensional Poverty Challenges and Grassroots Response HL Side-Event
PERMANENT MISSION OF PAKISTAN TO THE UN AND ISLAMIC RELIEF WORLDWIDE
15 Mar, 11:30 AM - 12:45 PM
Conference Room 12 (max. capacity: 129), General Assembly Building
18 March
Indonesia
18 Mar, 10:00 AM - 11:15 AM
Conference Room 8 (max. capacity: 96), General Assembly Building
Department of Community Development and Religion (DfCDR) and Wabag Women SME, Papua New Guinea; Ministry for Women Children and Poverty Alleviation and Levuka Market Vendors Association, Fiji; Ministry for Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs
18 Mar, 11:30 AM - 12:45 PM
Conference Room 6 (max. capacity: 123), General Assembly Building
CSW68 Side Event Concept Note Gender Equality in Pacific Market
Republic of Korea
18 Mar, 11:30 AM - 12:45 PM
Conference Room 8 (max. capacity: 96), General Assembly Building
Republic of the Philippines
18 Mar, 01:15 PM - 02:30 PM
Conference Room 12 (max. capacity: 129), General Assembly Building
Contact: Ms. Mayang Ignacio (mayang_ignacio@sagelighthouseideas.com); Mylene Somera (mhsomera@tesda.gov.ph); Nadine Guevarra-De Dios (nypm3com@gmail.com)
Registration link: https://forms.gle/kvtpw9FvHxaHznQX9
Event Flyer (as of 12 Feb 2024)
Registration Link
Concept Note and Provisional Programme (as of 02 Feb)
UNDRR, UNFPA, UN Women, Australia, Norway, the Philippines
18 Mar, 01:15 PM - 02:30 PM
Conference Room 6 (max. capacity: 123), General Assembly Building
Contact: undrr-sendaigap@un.org
This event will launch the Gender Action Plan to support implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (Sendai GAP) and seeks to generate commitments to implement the Sendai GAP from a range of stakeholders, and share and celebrate good practices in gender-responsive disaster risk reduction.
Solomon Islands, IFPSD
18 Mar, 01:15 PM - 02:30 PM
Conference Room D (max. capacity: 53), Conference Building
Contact: info@ifpsd.org
Nepal- LDC Chair, Botswana- LLDC Chair, SIDS Chair, LDC Watch, Asia Pacific Movement on Debt and Development-APMDD , UNOHRLLS
18 Mar, 03:00 PM - 04:15 PM
Conference Room D (max. capacity: 53), Conference Building
Pakistan
18 Mar, 03:00 PM - 04:15 PM
Conference Room 12 (max. capacity: 129), General Assembly Building
International IDEA, Myanmar Women Parliamentarians Network, Permanent Mission of Luxembourg to the UN
18 Mar, 04:45 PM - 06:00 PM
Conference Room 12 (max. capacity: 129), General Assembly Building
Please register via this form: https://forms.office.com/e/QQwVuuctwP
Background: This side event will explore women’s political participation and empowerment in post-coup Myanmar. Building on CSW68 priority theme of accelerating achievement of gender equality and women’s empowerment by strengthening institutions with a gender perspective, the event aims to explore challenges and opportunities for strengthening women’s representation, voice, and agency in Myanmar’s post-coup interim democratic institutions, on union and state level.
Registration will close on Wednesday, 13 March 2024, at 12:00pm.
19 March
The Permanent Mission of India to the UN, NY
19 Mar, 01:15 PM - 02:30 PM
Conference Room 8 (max. capacity: 96), General Assembly Building
Republic of the Philippines
19 Mar, 01:15 PM - 02:30 PM
Conference Room 6 (max. capacity: 123), General Assembly Building
Contact: Mr. Christian Lagdaan (christian.lagdaan@pco.gov.ph); Nadine Guevarra-De Dios (nypm3com@gmail.com)
Registration link: https://forms.gle/5wrcnSTqK5gzXmPX6
20 March
The Permanent Mission of India to the UN, NY
20 Mar, 01:15 PM - 02:30 PM
Conference Room 8 (max. capacity: 96), General Assembly Building
21 March
Hosted by the Government of Timor-Leste, in collaboration with the Government of Chile, g7+ Intergovernmental Body, Institute of Development Studies (IDS), and the World Food Programme (WFP)
21 Mar, 03:00 PM - 04:15 PM
Conference Room 12 (max. capacity: 129), General Assembly Building
Contact: timorleste.unmission@gmail.com
Permanent Mission of Myanmar and GEN
21 Mar, 04:45 PM - 06:00 PM
Conference Room C (max. capacity: 53), Conference Building
Contact: myanmarmission@verizon.net
22 March
Republic of the Philippines
22 Mar, 09:00 PM - 11:59 PM
Registration link (Zoom)
(Virtual)
Contact: Nadine Guevarra-De Dios (nypm3com@gmail.com)
