The 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) is a critical opportunity to reaffirm global commitments to gender equality, civic freedoms, and women’s leadership in multilateral governance. CIVICUS’ latest report, People Power Under Attack, shows a continued decline in civic space, with only 7.2% of the world’s population living in countries with open or relatively open civic space. Women human rights defenders remain highly vulnerable to judicial harassment, gender-based and sexual violence, intimidation, and reprisals for exercising fundamental freedoms.
CIVICUS calls for urgent protection of civic space as a foundation for gender equality and for safeguarding women human rights defenders. The organisation also advocates strengthening women’s meaningful participation in governance and leadership, including reforms within the United Nations such as making the selection process of Secretary-General for the United Nations more transparent, participatory, and gender-responsive. Achieving gender justice requires structural change that ensures women’s voices shape global decision-making.
CIVICUS Representation
CIVICUS will be represented at CSW70 by Mandeep S. Tiwana (Secretary General), Susan Marx (Chief Programmes Officer), and Jesselina Rana (UN Advisor, New York Hub).
Events Calendar
|
Date & Time |
Name of the Event |
Venue & Registration |
CIVICUS’ Role |
Representation |
|
March 9, 4:00 p.m. |
Intersectionality and Protest: A Review of United Nations Standards |
Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung |
Panelist |
Jesselina Rana |
|
March 9, 6:00 p.m. |
JWF CSW70 High-Level Reception 2026 |
By invite |
Participant |
Jesselina Rana |
|
March 10, 10:00 a.m. |
Meeting with the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations |
By invite |
Presentation and discussion |
Jesselina Rana |
|
March 10, 12:30 p.m. |
Financing Women’s Access to Justice: Closing Gaps, Scaling Solutions |
UN Women HQ, Room 1924, 19th Floor |
Attendee |
Jesselina Rana |
|
March 11, 9:30 a.m. |
Justice & Accountability: The Afghan Women & Civil Society Fight Against Taliban Gender-Based Crimes |
Community Room, CUNY School of Law, New York. Registration |
Attendee |
Jesselina Rana |
|
March 12, 1:15 p.m. |
No Justice Without Representation: Women’s Leadership and the UN Secretary-General Selection |
United Nations HQ, Conference Room D |
Attendee and co-organiser through the 1 for 8 billion Campaign |
Jesselina Rana |
|
March 12, 4:30 p.m. |
From Period Poverty to Economic Participation: Women-led Solutions in Humanitarian Crises |
Consulate General of Denmark in New York |
- |
- |
|
March 13, 9:00 a.m. |
CSW70 Push Forward Dialogues |
By invite only |
Participant |
Jesselina Rana |
|
March 16, 11:00 a.m. |
Opening the UN Secretary-General Selection Process: Transparency, Participation, and Leadership |
Registration Required |
Co-organiser and Moderator |
Jesselina Rana, Mandeep Tiwana, Susan Marx |
|
March 20, 11:45 a.m. |
CIVICUS and NYU students |
By Invite Only |
Co-organiser and Moderator |
Jesselina Rana, Mandeep |
Resources:
Read our opinion piece: Why a woman at the helm makes a more credible, effective UN
Join our campaign: 1For8Billion
For more details please contact:
Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown
