CSW70 outlines official work plan for two-week session in New York

The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) has outlined programme outlines for its 2026 session, fixed for March 9th to 19th at United Nations Headquarters in New York.

The CSW70’s two-week session includes the opening of the session and ministerial segment on Monday, March 9th, and election of officers and adoption of the provisional agenda and other organisational matters.

According to the timetable obtained by the Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult), the ministerial segment serves as a follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women and to the 23rd special session of the General Assembly, entitled “Women 2000: Gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century".

On Tuesday, March 10th, the sessions will continue with a round table on the priority theme: ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, and addressing structural barriers.

On Wednesday, March 11th, the round table will focus on achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all older women, and on Thursday, March 12th, there will be a high-level meeting on violence against women and girls.

The CSW70 discussion will continue on Friday, March 13th, where a platform will be provided for voluntary presentations by Member States on the review theme: women's full and effective participation and decision-making in public life, as well as the elimination of violence, for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.

On the second week of CSW70, the sessions will start on Monday, March 16th, with an interactive expert panel on the priority theme: Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, and addressing structural barriers.

There would also be interactive dialogue among youth representatives on the priority theme: ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, and addressing structural barriers.

On Tuesday, March 17th, the floor would be opened for general discussions, and on Wednesday, March 18th, discussions would focus on communications concerning the status of women and consideration of the report of the Working Group on Communications on the Status of Women.

On Thursday, March 19th, there would be an introduction and action on draft proposals, statements in connection with the draft agreed conclusions, follow-up to Economic and Social Council resolutions and decisions, and action on any other outstanding issues.

The whole session would conclude with considerations of the provisional agenda for the seventy-first session of the Commission, adoption of the report of the Commission on its seventieth session, and closure of the seventieth session.

CSW70 will address women’s full and effective participation and decision-making in public life, as well as the elimination of violence, for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls (agreed conclusions of the 65th session).

According to the CSW70 document obtained by the Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult), representatives of Member States, UN entities, and Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)-accredited non-governmental organisations from all regions of the world are expected to participate in the two-week session.

The bureau of the commission plays a crucial role in facilitating the preparation for, and in ensuring the successful outcome of, the annual sessions of the commission.

The Bureau for CSW70 comprises the following members: Ms Maritza Chan Valverde (Costa Rica), Chair (Latin American and Caribbean States Group);

Ms Samah Dbouk (Lebanon), Vice-Chair (Asia and Pacific States Group); and Mr Noah Oehri (Liechtenstein), Vice-Chair (Western European and Other States Group).

Others are Ms Andreea Mocanu (Romania), Vice-Chair (Eastern European States Group); and Ms Flavia Umulisa (Rwanda), Vice-Chair (African States Group).

The outcome of the commission's consideration of the priority theme during its 70th session will take the form of agreed conclusions to be negotiated by all Member States.

The active participation of non-governmental organisations is a critical element in the work of CSW.

UN Women exists to advance women’s rights, gender equality, and the empowerment of all women and girls.

It serves as the lead UN entity on gender equality and secretariat of the UN CSW, focusing on laws, institutions, social norms, and services to close the gender gap and build an equal world for all women and girls.

It partners with governments, women’s movements, and the private sector, coupled with coordination of the broader UN, to deliver lasting changes.

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