What is it?

The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is the principal global policy-making body dedicated exclusively to gender equality and the advancement of women and girls. Every year, representatives of UN Member States gather in New York to evaluate progress on gender equality, identify challenges, set global standards, and formulate concrete policies to promote gender equality and the advancement of women and girls worldwide. The Commission on the Status of Women seeks to implement the Bejing Platform for Action and regularly reviews progress on the 12 critical areas of concern. 

CSW is a functional commission of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), it was established by UN Economic and Social Council resolution 11(II) of 21 June 1946.  The CSW is instrumental in promoting women and girls' rights, documenting the reality of women and girls' lives throughout the world, and shaping global standards on gender equality and the empowerment of women. In 1996 ECOSOC, in resolution 1996/6 expanded the Commission’s mandate and decided to take a leading role in monitoring and reviewing progress and problems in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and in mainstreaming a gender perspective in UN activities. CSW60 takes place from 14 - 24th March 2016.

Why does Progressio attend?

The priority theme of the conference this year is around sustainable development. This means the agreed conclusions will be very relevant to Progresio's work on the post-215 agenda and the specific topics within this, namley; women, business and human rights, sexual and reproductive rights (SRHR) and women's political participation. The review theme is related to our recent campaign to eliminate violence against women and girls and we plan to continue to work hard on this.

Progressio has attended the CSW for the past 3 years. We use the confernece as an opportunity to learn, network and advocate for the rights of women and girls, while engaging directly with decision makers. We often share reports and policy briefings with delegates both from Government and civil society in order to spread our key messages and present recommedations for progress.

This year we will host a side event entitled 'The Influence of Cultural Traditions and Social Norms on Access to SRHR-and What CEDAW's Got to do with it’ and will take place on the at 4.30 in the BOSS room of the Church Centre next to the official UN building. We will present country focused research and bring practitioners to the panel. The event aims to be interactive and informative. We hope that from the event we will be able to forge a commitment to form a group that takes on the idea of strengthening ending CEDAW article 2f and 5a together. 

We believe CEDAW article 2f is important, as social norms and customs often manifest as unequal power relations between men and women.

Progressio's documents for CSW60

Our side event flyer with all the information you need to join us for our event

Progressio's statement submitted to the Economic and Social Council for the attention of the Commission on the Status of Women

Progressio's policy breifing on how social and relgious norms and cultural beliefs can prevent young girls and women from making informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health

Sounds great, how do I stay up to date with what's going on?

We will regularly update this page with our campaign materials, images, reports, blogs, podcasts, interviews and media links. In the meantime if you want to stay in touch with Progressio, sign up to join our mailing list.