Photo credit: news.un.org
During an interactive dialogue at the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69), Ema Meçaj, a medical student from Albania involved with the youth steering committee, emphasized the necessity for young individuals to be actively involved in global decision-making processes. The event, which runs from March 10 to 21, was marked by contributions from youth representatives worldwide who articulated their views on critical issues affecting women and girls.
Ms. Meçaj highlighted the importance of preventive measures in addressing both gender-based violence and poverty, calling for initiatives that prioritize the needs of the most vulnerable segments of society. She advocated for a comprehensive approach that aligns with existing international gender equality commitments.
Pursuing Gender Equality
The dialogue encapsulated a dynamic opening week of the conference, during which thousands of delegates celebrated a significant milestone in adopting a historic declaration. This declaration aims to assess the advancements in the rights of women and girls, alongside identifying obstacles and strategies to achieve gender equality in light of the 1995 Beijing Platform for Action.
Leaders from the youth sectors of Canada, Nepal, Nigeria, and Panama raised pressing concerns, proposing actionable solutions to a variety of challenges, including violence against women and the pursuit of equality for marginalized groups, such as Indigenous peoples and women with disabilities. They expressed differing interpretations of the Beijing Platform, viewing it as both a guideline for equality and a rallying call for resistance.
Learn more about the UN Commission on the Status of Women here
Advocating for Gender Justice
Eva Chiom Chukwenele, an amputee peer counselor from Nigeria, reflected on her childhood understanding of the Platform, which symbolized the rights of girls to receive education, healthcare, and leadership opportunities. However, she stressed that true gender justice cannot be achieved without the inclusion of women with disabilities. She pointed out the lack of comprehensive data on this group, questioning the ability to count individuals if they remain invisible in statistics.
To remedy this, Ms. Chukwenele proposed several initiatives, including inclusive data collection strategies, making educational institutions accessible, and promoting positive media narratives that illuminate the experiences of disabled women. “When we look back, would you prefer to be known as someone who dismantled barriers or allowed them to persist? The urgency for action is now,” she urged.
The Role of Men and Boys
Ahdithya Viseweswaran, a coordinator with the Young Diplomats of Canada, underscored the critical need for men and boys to play an active role in the quest for gender equality. He noted the challenges of engaging them in this movement, asserting that it is imperative to address the toxic aspects of patriarchal systems that contribute to women’s oppression. Viseweswaran urged a fundamental reconsideration of masculinities, advocating for a form of manhood that embodies empathy, justice, and partnership instead of dominance and oppression.
The Future Without Inclusion
Laura Dihuignidili Huertas, a youth leader from Panama’s Guna Yala province, highlighted the challenges faced by Indigenous women across Latin America, including forced displacement and systemic discrimination. She expressed that despite the promises made in Beijing three decades ago, much remains unfulfilled, particularly for rural populations. “The path ahead remains long,” she affirmed, encouraging collective action and determination to overcome these adversities, stressing that the Beijing Platform is a “cry of resistance” that should drive proactive commitments and tangible results.
Inspiring Change Through Youth Leadership
In her remarks, Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women, recognized the pivotal roles that young participants are playing in promoting gender equality, especially during a time of increasing challenges to women’s rights. “You are a beacon of inspiration and change,” she noted, emphasizing the vital involvement of youth feminists, who are actively working both offline and through digital platforms to strive for a future devoid of violence, inequality, and poverty.
“Our future cannot be equitable unless those who stand to inherit it are involved in its development,” she concluded, urging this as a collective call to action.
Highlighting Afghan Women and Girls
A side event during the conference focused on generating international support and evaluating the rights of Afghan women and girls. This discussion addressed the restrictive legal frameworks introduced since the Taliban’s rise to power in 2021. One such gathering was titled Upholding the Rights of Afghan Women and Girls: Women, Peace, and Security, among the numerous side events featured at CSW69. For further insights, the full schedule of side events can be explored here.
The event can also be viewed in its entirety on UN Web TV here.
Source
news.un.org