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Key points from the Townhall Meeting with the UN Secretary General (CSW67)

 

"Women’s right are in the reverse. I call for a reform of the system." This was the strong opening statement of the UN Secretary General, António Guterres, during the townhall meeting with civil society on March 13th, 2023. During this CSW67 event, the UN General Secretary engaged with civil society to listen to their concerns, demands, and hopes for the future. 

This blog provides a brief overview of the key points raised during the session. 

(Technology Facilitated) Gender Based Violence (TFGBV)
(TF)GBV was a reoccurring theme all throughout CSW67. It was also extensively discussed during the townhall meeting. There was an overall agreement among civil society that (TF)GBV is a serious problem and a core issue of gender inequality. (TF)GBV is carried out in both online and offline setting. Because of the severity of the problem, civil society wholeheartedly agreed that (TF)GBV needs to be a constant agenda point in future CSW sessions.

                                                        UN Secretary General António Guterres

Civil society also called for accountability measures, monitoring, legislation and other regulation mechanisms that should prevent (online) harassment and hold perpetrators of (TF)GBV accountable. Civil society stated that UN member states should initiate and commit to a global treaty about prevention of (TF)GBV. There was an overall call for action-oriented recommendations. The UN Secretary General pointed out that the short term objective is to bring governments, platforms, civil society, the private sector, and scientists together to create a shared understanding about the issue, and to discuss what needs to be done. 

Global Digital Divide

Secondly, civil society plead for free, safe and stable internet world wide and for digital literacy for all. There was a demand to close the digital divide. 

                                                            Civil society participant from Mexico highlights the digital divide and femicide

Security

During the event, Ukraine called for security and prevention of aggression in every county. The UN Secretary General affirmed this by stating that invading another sovereign country is against international law. Ireland called attention to the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan.

Youth Engagement
Civil society expressed its concern about the lack of meaningful participation of youth during CSW67 and in the UN system in general. Morocco rightfully pointed out that it is very upsetting that the CSW67 youth interactive dialog was planned at the same time as the town hall meeting. In addition, CSW67 in New York is also not accessible for young people of the Global South due to visa issues, costs, and problems with acquiring a UN badge. Civil society stated that the UN is failing to include youth in decision-making, and called for a change of the system.


UN Secretary General António Guterres

To conclude, the atmosphere during the townhall meeting was good. Civil society asked good questions and raised important points. People really listened to each other, and supported each other. Civil society showed solidarity with each other. The UN General Director truly engaged with civil society, and he did his best to answer every question. It was an inspiring day!


By Lena Brink, WO=MEN

  • View the entire townhall meeting here. 
  • Check out analysis of the CSW67 and, among others, TFGBV by Karin van der Velde from Rutgers here and by the Women’s Rights Caucus here.
  • Want to see the end result of the CSW67? Here the (unedited) Agreed Conclusions.
  • Check out this blog post about the Youth Dialogue that took place at the same time as this townhall meeting.


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