CSW 10-22 March 2025 New York

At the start of the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women our president Khadija Oum Bachair El Morabit was present at the start. The members of the board were all able to get into the GM during sometime in the morning. (Maria Eldering, Ruth Richardson, Lysbeth van Valkenburg, Khadija Oum Bachair El Morabit, Margaret de Vos van Steenwijk, Josephine Wu Vuylsteke, Judith Pallarés, Raeda Haida).

The main focus of the sixty-ninth session was on the review and appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcomes of the 23rd special session of the General Assembly.

H.E. Mr. Abdulaziz M. Alwasil (Saudi Arabia), Chair, had a warm welcome to all participants.
It was followed by the welcoming speech of Secretary-General, António Guterres.

Remarks of the UN Secretary-General at the opening of the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women

“We gather as the world marks thirty years since countries convened in Beijing… 
Reaffirmed women’s rights as human rights… 
And promised “Equality, development and peace for all women, everywhere”. 

Of course, we always knew that would never happen overnight – or even over years.  
But three decades on, that promise feels more distant than we might ever have imagined.  
Women’s rights are under siege. The poison of patriarchy is back – and it is back with a vengeance: 
Slamming the brakes on action; tearing-up progress; and mutating into new and dangerous forms. But there is an antidote. That antidote is action. 

Now is the time for those of us who care about equality for women and girls to stand up and to speak out.  Now is the time for the world to accelerate progress and deliver on the promise of Beijing. 

In the past thirty years, the world has moved forward:  
In boosting girls’ education, cutting maternal mortality, increasing legal protections, and more. But immense gaps persist. 
The gender pay gap still stands at twenty percent. 
In many countries, women and girls are still denied the most basic of rights: 
The right not to be raped by your husband… 

Meanwhile, new technologies – including Artificial Intelligence – are creating the conditions to allow new platforms for violence and abuse, normalizing misogyny and online revenge. 

Why have we not come further? 
Discriminatory norms endure … 
Political will is often weak… 
Equality for women and girls is a human right. 
I urge all countries to deliver its commitments in full… 
And to prioritize investments in gender equality: 
First – Investments in education and training… 
Second – we need to step-up support for women’s organizations. 
Third – we need action on technology: 
Fourth – we need to guarantee women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in peacebuilding. 
Finally, we need action to ensure women’s full, equal and meaningful participation and leadership in decision-making – at every level and all walks of life. 

The United Nations is stronger today and we are determined to do even more to deliver for the world’s women and girls”.

Speech by Ms. Sima Bahous, UN Under-Secretary-General and UN Women Executive Director, at the opening of the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women.

“We will not back down – it is a turning point to push forward for rights, equality, and empowerment, for all women and girls”.
“This year marks three decades since the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action set forth a bold vision and game-changing roadmap for equality. In 1995, 189 governments came together in a collective promise to advance, “the goals of equality, development and peace for all women everywhere, which is in the interest of all of humanity”.
“Thirty years on, there is progress to celebrate, earned through the efforts, bravery and inspiration of those who, from these rooms to the homes where lives are lived, have fought the fight for equality”.

“Today, more girls are in school. More women are in parliaments, in boardrooms, in the judiciary. Maternal mortality has fallen. Legal barriers have been dismantled. Policies to protect and advance women’s rights are advancing. Violence against women and girls is widely recognized as a global scourge. There is progress”.
“Yet, in too many places women’s rights are being rolled back.
We see opportunity spurned, solutions foregone. We face pushback and a peak in resistance to gender equality. Misogyny is on the rise, and so, violence and discrimination. And the crises of our time—from conflict to climate change—accelerate and amplify these inequalities. Women and girls are the ones bearing the heaviest burden”.
“One hundred and fifty-nine of the member countries reaffirmed commitment to the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in your national reports this year recognizing equality as both a moral imperative and the bedrock of peace, prosperity, and sustainability”.

“At the moment there is progress, but it is neither fast enough nor far-reaching enough.
We have established six key-actions and one cross cutting imperative:

1. Harness technology for equality – for a digital revolution
The digital divide is now the frontier of inequality. Closing this gap for the 259 million women still without access to the internet has game-changing implications. Technology has the power to accelerate progress on every front.

2. Freedom from poverty
Today, poverty continues to have a female face, with nearly 1 in 10 women living in the most extreme forms of poverty. Every dollar invested in women’s economic empowerment returns multiple times over.

3. Zero violence
The prevalence of violence against women remains staggering. Strengthening laws, rigorously enforcing them, and providing survivor-centred services breaks this cycle of violence.

4. Redefine power structures to ensure full and equal decision-making power
Women remain underrepresented at every level of decision-making, with three quarters of parliamentary seats held by men. Put simply, inclusive governance is good governance.

5. Women, peace, and security
When women have an equal voice in peacemaking, peace lasts longer.

6. Advance climate justice
Climate change is the defining crisis of our time, and it is not gender-blind. Without bold action on climate, 256 million more women and girls could be pushed into food insecurity by 2050. Climate justice and gender justice are inseparable. It is time to champion them both together.

And the plus-one imperative: Young women and girls as agents of change

A new wave of fearless, young-people-led activism is rising across the world. Their voices, their power, their leadership must be at the centre of the Beijing+30 Action Agenda.
They are the best way to live up to the promises that turn 30 this year.
2025 must be a turning point, a moment in the history of this long struggle where we embrace bold, urgent, and transformative action. Where we show our resolve to push forward for rights, for equality, and for empowerment. For all women and girls”.

Several speakers followed during the morning, of whom we will share some inspiring quotes.

The ambassador of Canada:
“History will not judge us on the challenges we faced but on the courage we had confronting these challenges.
Nowadays there’s a risk not only of stagnation, but we risk sliding back as we encounter more push back on women’s rights.
Gender equality is not just a goal, it is the foundation of international community and the driving force on the 2030 agenda.”
“We have an obligation to deliver on the promise of gender equality.
Women’s place is here, it’s there, it’s anywhere and it’s everywhere.”

Lady scientist from China:
“It is very important to understand the intersectionality of women.
We need technological empowerment, development of communication aimed at women, and collective agency for rural women in the countryside.
Let us create international social and cultural structures to reconstruct relations and empower rural women.
Women in China are at the centre of social change. She is not waiting for salvation; she is looking for a sword.”

Young woman aged 18, indigenous American:

“We face many digital challenges in the face of gender equality. Digital illiteracy, colonial and patriarchal algorithms, monopolies of social networks, gender biased AI.
Technology must be an instrument for equality, not a tool for oppression.”

In the afternoon, we attended a side event on “Women’s effective leadership and entrepreneurship as drivers of change” co-organized by the Permanent Missions of Andorra, Albania, Greece, and Cyprus to the UN, together with AFAMMER and UN Women. The event aimed to showcase successful initiatives and policy frameworks advancing women’s leadership and entrepreneurship. Board members were invited to this event by our treasurer, Judith Pallarés.

Greek minister of Social and Family Affairs, Sofia Zacharaki:
“Social entrepreneurship is crucial for local economy. Although this relies mostly on women, the salary gap is still rampant. Also, we need to focus on how to increase working together between the countries in Europe and South-America, because Spain is their motherland.
What are the opportunities to develop leadership for women, top companies have not yet taken this up. We have to transform leadership and show solidarity. One very important method to achieve this is to focus on financial literacy for youngsters and especially girls. When they learn how to be financially independent and take matters in their own hands, the will become the next generation of leaders.”

Contrary to other years when the different National Delegations spent the 2 weeks of CSW discussing and negotiating the text of a document called “ Agreed Conclusions“. This would cover the theme of that year. This year when commemorating the 30 years since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action on the rights of Women negotiations between States were done prior to CSW! The document was now a “Political Declaration”, which was produced and negotiated beforehand.
On the first morning of CSW the Political Declaration was voted on in the Plenary Meeting. To the relief of many this Political Declaration was unanimously accepted!
This meant that during the two weeks of CSW there were only discussions held within the framework of the Political Declaration.

The Dutch members also attended the event organized by the Dutch Ministry with the Dutch secretary of education Mariëlle Paul. The theme: Breaking Barriers in Tech Careers.

The Dutch Secretary of Education and Emancipation, Mariëlle Paul, emphasized in her speech the importance of involving both men and boys in the process of more women actively participating in education, in work and in leadership roles.

Additionally she explained the four subjects that are vital for future-proof education for boys and girls: Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics.

The “gender digital divide” is very worrying, especially on the southern part of the globe. But in the digital future we must include everyone.
Worldwide, only one third of the scientist is female, only 25% of workers in tech are women and just one in five women is working in AI. This underrepresentation of girls and women will continue to negatively affect the position of women.

“Therefore it is crucial that we address the root causes of gender inequality such as restrictive norms, toxic beliefs and false stereotypes. We are actively and resolutely working towards this in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
We need everyone to take on these challenges, and to work towards a sustainable society where no one is left behind. This means we cannot succeed without utilizing the talents, skills and knowledge of all women and girls.” she concluded.

The board members of INLW were invited to an event at the Taiwan economic and cultural representative office on the 12^th of March, with a special focus on the Taiwan Gender Equality week 2025.

Tsai Ing-wen, the 14^th and 15^th-term President of Taiwan, Republic of China, spoke to the attendees of the event about the importance of gender equality.

The Taiwanese ambassador at large explained how Taiwan is moving forward on gender equality by actively implementing the following points of action:
1) to better include women in the labour force
2) to create multi-cultural working environments
3) to enhance parental leave policies
4) to stop gender related violence
5) to improve security against gender-based violence online

Message of hope.
After the speeches there was an impressive piano performance by artist/pianist Chia-Hui Lu. She is a driving force in directing, curating and producing innovative cultural productions. She played 2 of her compositions, Sunflower and Butterfly, with a 3D modelled dynamic artwork, accompanying her music.

As closing point she added:
“When women are empowered with safe drinking water and sanitation at home, they are empowered to change their world. They are no longer burdened by the water crisis and can care for their families. They can start small businesses to add to their income. Furthermore, they have the time to train by building water pumps and using water to cook food for their families. And they no longer face unsafe situations when walking to distant sources for water or defecating in the open.

Access to safe drinking water at home gives women hope, health, and opportunity.

Let’s embrace this journey with kindness and determination because together, we can empower you, our Women, to take your heart, health, and water into your own hands, by making every beat and drop of water count. Together, we can empower you, our women, to take your heart, health, and water!”

During the CSW congress, INLW together with Asia Pacific Liberal Women (APLW) and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom organized a parallel event titled: the Status of Women under war violence.

In recent years, the incidence of war has been on the rise globally, fueled by both international aggressors and domestic conflicts. These violent events have resulted in countless casualties and profoundly affected the most vulnerable in society, particularly women and children.

This forum brought together experts and advocates from around the world to discuss the devastating impact of war and armed conflict on women’s rights. The event explored global responses, support mechanisms, relief efforts, strategic solutions, and government initiatives for peace and conflict resolution.

Held on March 19 at the Church Center for the United Nations (CCUN), the event was also streamed live via Webex, attracting international participation. Experts and advocates analyzed the realities women face during war, providing valuable insights and firsthand accounts.

The distinguished speakers included:
• Dr. Marthe Maleke Kondemo (Secretary-General of Women and Family” at the Congolese Christian Church), who shared harrowing accounts of violence and human rights violations faced by women during the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s civil war, emphasizing the importance of community recovery and women’s empowerment.
• Dr. Jung Tsai (Médecins Sans Frontières; Former President of the North American Taiwanese Medical Association), who provided a medical humanitarian perspective on the health and psychological trauma war inflicts on women.
• Chantha Prom (Chair of Cambodia’s Friday Women organization), who spoke on how Cambodian women, amid war and social instability, mobilize community strength to protect their rights and secure survival resources.
• Wen Wu (Deputy Secretary-General, APLW), who reflected on the historical impact of Taiwan’s February 28 Incident and the White Terror era, addressing intergenerational trauma and the long-term consequences of authoritarian repression.
• Dr. Elaine Valdov (Founder & President, International Peace Institute), who highlighted the role of education and peace advocacy in helping women rebuild their lives and promoting gender justice.

The forum was opened by Khadija El Morabit, President of the International Network of Liberal Women (INLW). Moderated by Josephine Wu Vuylsteke (INLW Asia-Pacific Vice President and APLW Board Member), the discussion featured introductory remarks by Jelena Pia-Comella (International Relations & Human Rights Expert), Dr.Michaela Lissowsky (Director of FNF Geneva Office), and Josephine Wu Vuylsteke.

Together, they underscored the importance of amplifying women’s voices, advocating for anti-war efforts, and safeguarding the fundamental rights of women and children.

Women: Not Just Victims, But Leaders of Change
In her keynote address, Josephine Wu Vuylsteke emphasized an undeniable historical truth: while wars are predominantly initiated by men, their most lasting consequences disproportionately affect women and children.

Women in conflict zones endure displacement, sexual violence as a weapon of war, loss of family, and the destruction of entire communities. Beyond the immediate trauma, these experiences create deep psychological, social, and economic scars that can persist for generations.

However, women are not just victims—they are survivors, leaders, and agents of change. They resist oppression, rebuild communities, and fight for justice, even in the face of unspeakable violence.

As CSW69 marks over 30 years since the Beijing Declaration, this forum served as a crucial platform to address the conditions of women under war violence.From African warzones to authoritarian regimes, from military oppression to political persecution, the event shed light on the global patterns of violence against women. Taiwan’s own history—the 228 Massacre and decades of White Terror—was also discussed as a lesson on the long-lasting effects of state violence.

Key Takeaways and Global Strategies
The forum’s three keynote speakers—Khadija El Morabit, Jelena Pia-Comella, and Dr. Michaela Lissowsky—concurred that war and armed conflict extend beyond gender-based violence and fundamental human rights violations. The impact includes economic exploitation, deprivation of education, and restrictions on political participation. Yet, despite these challenges, women remain at the forefront of peace building and reform efforts.

Panelists shared diverse strategies from different regions, including:

• Medical humanitarian aid and psychological support for war-affected women.
• Shelter programs for displaced women and children.
• Community-based survival strategies in unstable regions.
• Policy advocacy to strengthen legal protections for women’s rights.

A Call for Peace Amid Global Tensions
With ongoing conflicts, including the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Gaza crisis, the devastating consequences of war on human civilization, cultural heritage, and social structures are undeniable. Women and children remain the most vulnerable victims.
Against this backdrop, Taiwan’s strategic position in the Indo-Pacific remains a critical security concern. China’s increasing military provocations pose significant threats to regional stability, keeping Taiwan at the forefront of geopolitical tensions. Given these global realities, the forum underscored the urgent need for peace, inclusivity, and conflict prevention to ensure a secure future for women worldwide.

The forum moderator, Josephine Wu Huei-fang ended the forum with a powerful conclusion from a video produced by the United Nations Children’s Fund (direct link to the video: https://youtu.be/sMK3Bh4_zSg?si=dDDNEXhjtEweCXO1). The video deeply touched
the participants in the live and WebEx conference, generated a great response, and also reminded the world and made people highly doubt why war is necessary when it brings such profound harm to human beings.

The forum concluded successfully, drawing significant attention from international organizations, academia, NGOs, and the media. By fostering meaningful dialogue and action, this event marked another milestone in the global fight for gender justice and human rights.

The Board of INLW also held a meeting in which it was decided to invite Maria Eldering as new member of the board, as communications officer; she has gladly accepted the position.