Executive Director of UN Women, Sima Bahous, has declared that despite mounting global challenges, the collective determination to advance women’s rights remains unshaken.
Delivering her closing remarks at the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at United Nations Headquarters, Bahous said the Commission had sent a clear and powerful message that women and girls’ right to justice is non-negotiable.
“The headwinds are strong, but our shared resolve to advance women’s rights is stronger,” she stated.
Over the course of the two-week session, delegates and civil society actors demonstrated what Bahous described as energy, determination and passion, reaffirming the centrality of gender equality to global peace, security, and development.
According to her, meaningful participation of women across all sectors from governance and peace processes to economic systems is essential for national progress.
“Without equal access to justice, economic opportunity, and a life free from violence, our nations will not move forward,” she stressed.
Bahous commended the leadership of the CSW70 Bureau, led by Chair Maritza Chan Valverde, alongside Vice-Chairs Andreea Mocanu, Samah Dbouk, Noah Oehri, and Flavia Umulisa, for steering what she described as a revitalized session of the Commission.
She also expressed appreciation to Member States and the UN system for their continued support, noting that the impact of UN Women’s work is reflected in strengthened laws, inclusive economies, and peace processes shaped by women’s leadership.
Highlighting the Commission’s outcomes, Bahous pointed to the adoption of “historic Agreed Conclusions,” which place women and girls’ access to justice at the heart of the global gender equality agenda. The document calls on governments to review discriminatory laws, address harmful social norms, and strengthen responses to violence against women both online and offline.
For the first time, the Conclusions recognize the role of community justice workers and paralegals in expanding access to justice, while also addressing the specific challenges faced by women in detention and incarceration.
The session further emphasised accountability for perpetrators of violence, the importance of trauma-informed support services, and the need for adequate financing to ensure universal access to legal aid.
Bahous drew attention to women and girls in conflict and crisis settings, citing countries such as Afghanistan, Gaza, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Myanmar, Ukraine, South Sudan, Sudan, and Somalia as areas where the need for justice and protection remains urgent.
“They pay the highest price,” she said, calling for a return to the rule of law and respect for the UN Charter.
CSW70 also marked the first session following the adoption of a revitalization resolution by the United Nations Economic and Social Council, introducing reforms such as a more concise outcome document, a multi-stakeholder hearing, and high-level engagements on violence against women and the rights of older women.
Participation at the session was extensive, with representatives from 190 Member States, including heads of government, ministers, and more than 4,600 civil society participants. A total of 255 side events were held, reflecting widespread global engagement on gender equality issues.
Looking ahead, Bahous said the 71st session of the Commission will focus on assessing progress toward gender equality across the Sustainable Development Goals, noting that with 2030 approaching, no indicators under Goal five have been fully achieved.
She also referenced the forthcoming election of a new UN Secretary-General, expressing hope that the global body could soon be led by a woman.
“As we leave this room, let us carry forward the urgency that shaped this session. The world is watching. Women and girls are counting on us and together, we must, and we will, deliver,” she urged.
