Holding the line for women’s rights: reflections on a high-stakes CSW

In a world where hard-won progress on women’s rights is increasingly under threat, the 69th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) was more than just a milestone—it was a critical moment for action. As governments and civil society organisations gathered at the United Nations in New York, the urgency of defending gender equality, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and inclusive policies was clearer than ever. Amid mounting political pushback, funding cuts, and rising conservative influence, CSW was both a reflection of these challenges and a call to action.

The geopolitical landscape has shifted dramatically over the past years. Increasingly, extreme-conservative forces are gaining ground in politics and institutions, aiming to roll back women’s rights and challenging multilateral agreements and the UN. Funding cuts from donor governments have put feminist and LGBTQI+ movements under pressure. Meanwhile, anti-rights groups feel emboldened, spreading disinformation, fuelling stigma and actively working to restrict gender equality policies.

These trends directly affected CSW itself. The inclusivity of this international space was compromised as many participants – particularly from the Global South – faced visa denials. Recent executive orders in the United States created additional challenges, leading some LGBTQI+ participants to reconsider attending due to safety concerns. These restrictions are not just administrative hurdles; they are political strategies to silence marginalised voices.

Civil society and feminist movements pushing forward 

Despite these obstacles, civil society and governments stood firm  in their commitment for gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights. Throughout the CSW, feminist movements actively created and protected spaces to discuss sexual and reproductive health and rights of adolescents, access to safe abortion and  bodily autonomy, sexuality education and the rights of LGBTIQ+ people. Grounded in evidence and informed by lived experiences, these discussions—driven by grassroots advocacy—played a crucial role in shaping strategies and mobilising collective action.

As a co-organiser of the Global Safe Abortion Dialogue, Rutgers and partners  collaborated to bring together health care providers, advocates, policy makers and donors from around the world to discuss effective strategies for advancing abortion rights and access. These discussions underscored the resilience of the movement, demonstrating how collective action can push back against restrictive policies and ensure continued progress. Many governments took the opportunity to underline their commitment to access to safe abortion.

The Political Declaration – a step forward but not enough 

Negotiating the Political Declaration at this year’s CSW was particularly challenging, with far-right governments attempting to derail the process. Despite severe pushback, governments reached consensus and adopted the new Political Declaration on 10 March. The declaration reaffirmed commitments to gender equality and included references to sexual and gender-based violence, including sexual violence in conflict, and the importance of upholding official development assistance commitments—important progress since the previous Political Declaration, adopted in 2020 Additionally, stated underscored the human rights of all women and girls, including the right to health. Also, Member States recognised the risks and challenges that come with the use of technologies, and committed to addressing these.

However, there was a glaring omission: sexual and reproductive health and rights were not included in the Political Declaration. This exclusion represents a major gap, failing to recognise SRHR as an essential component of gender equality. Without these rights, millions of women, girls, and LGBTQI+ people remain vulnerable to discrimination, violence and restricted bodily autonomy.

Looking ahead – what’s next and why it matters 

The adoption of the Political Declaration is only the beginning. Over the next four years,  governments will have to translate these commitments into national policies and be held accountable for their implementation. At the end of CSW, governments agreed on four thematic priorities to be addressed in the coming years, including access to justice, the Sustainable Development Goals, humanitarian emergencies and care and support systems.

Rutgers remains committed to ensuring SRHR is at the centre of these discussions. We will continue advocating for policies that protect and expand the rights of women, girls and LGBTQI+ people. While gender equality is still work in progress, one thing is clear: as long as feminist movements, governments and civil society organisations stand together, there will be no pause for progress, as shown by the many victories we’ve achieved. Now is the time to push forward—women’s rights cannot wait.

by Eefke Deneer and Stephanie van der Wijk, Rutgers

 

Note: this blog post was first published on the website of Rutgers International: here. The photo of a participant making a protest sign saying "Lesbian for President" is not from the original blog post but from the Our Voices, Our Futures (OVOF) ARTivism for Change event at the CSW69.