By MONICA KAYOMBO, Zambia, Lusaka
The 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) started at the United Nations headquarters two days ago, bringing together thousands of diplomats, activists, and development professionals to discuss gender equality.
The conference, which ends on March 19, has agreed on a political outcome document outlining commitments to gender equality worldwide.
According to a press release on UN Women’s website, CSW70 adopted a set of Agreed Conclusions aimed at strengthening access to justice for women and girls and advancing gender equality globally.
The conclusions emphasize that access to justice is a transformative force for women and girls, advancing equality and non-discrimination, protecting against violence and abuse, and strengthening trust in institutions.
Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, Sima Bahous, welcomed the adoption, saying, “I applaud the delegations that have worked tirelessly to reach these Agreed Conclusions. They represent an important commitment to advancing access to justice for women and girls, ending impunity, and building justice systems that work for everyone, equally.”
The Chair of the Commission, Ambassador Martiza Chan of Costa Rica, reflected on the importance of carrying these commitments forward, saying, “We came here to commemorate, and we’re leaving with something harder to carry responsibility.”
The agreement comes as a recent UN report found that no country has achieved full legal equality between women and men. The conclusions call on governments to review and amend discriminatory laws, including those related to child marriage, family law, and property rights.
Key provisions include recognizing community justice workers and paralegals, promoting digital justice and AI governance, and reinforcing national mechanisms to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls.
The CSW70 is the UN’s largest annual gathering on gender equality and women’s rights, taking place from March 9 to 19.
