Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Annpurna Devi, is leading India’s delegation at the 69th session of the CSW at the United Nations Headquarters, New York.

About the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) 2025

• The 69th CSW session will bring together member states, intergovernmental organizations, civil society, and private sector representatives to assess progress and challenges in gender equality.
• The session coincides with the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, focusing on global gender equality progress.
• A key focus will be on the review of the Beijing Declaration and its impact on achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Discussions will cover emerging issues like women’s economic empowerment, climate change, gender-based violence, and equal participation in leadership roles.

About the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)

• Origin: Established in 1946 as a subsidiary body of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
• Evolution: Initially created as a sub-commission on the status of women, later expanded to a full commission.
  • Inspired by Eleanor Roosevelt, who advocated for women’s active participation in national and international affairs.
• Members: At a time it comprises 45 member states elected by ECOSOC, representing different regional groups.
  • Members are elected for a period of four years.
  • India will be a member of the United Nations Commission on Status of Women for four years (2021 to 2025).
• Annual Meeting : The CWC Meets annually at the UN Headquarters in New York.
• Formation of UN Women: In 2010 the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution consolidating the Organization’s related sections and departments into the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), which continues to collaborate closely with CSW.
• Objectives
  • Promote gender equality and women’s empowerment globally.
  • Formulate policies, standards, and conventions to protect women’s rights.
  • Address challenges such as discrimination, economic inequality, and violence against women.

Major Initiatives of CSW

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) – Advocated for gender-inclusive language in global human rights frameworks.
• Declaration on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (1967) – Laid the foundation for legal frameworks on women’s rights.
• Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) (1979): A legally binding treaty ensuring women’s rights globally.
  • India has signed and ratified the treaty.
• Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995): A landmark policy document guiding gender equality efforts worldwide.
• 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: CSW plays a key role in monitoring and advancing gender-related SDG targets.