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In 2025, the global community will mark the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and the unanimous adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. In celebration of this milestone, the sixty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69), taking place at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 10-21 March, will bring together representatives of Member States, UN entities, ECOSOC-accredited non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and other stakeholders from all regions of the world to discuss the implementation of the Beijing Declaration of 1995.
Coinciding with International IDEA’s 30th anniversary and its year-long #DemocracyForAll digital advocacy campaign, this milestone reaffirms the commitments made in 1995 that women's equal participation in decision-making, alongside equal rights, opportunities, and access to resources, is essential for democracy, peace, and human rights, ensuring a just society that protects the interests of all.
At #CSW69, International IDEA will advocate—through statements, analysis, and events—for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls as essential to vibrant and inclusive democracies.
STATEMENTS
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International IDEA delivered a statement at the General Discussion of the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women. Read the full statement delivered by Ms. Rumbidzai Kandawasvika-Nhundu, Principal Adviser for Democracy and Inclusion, here.
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International IDEA delivered a statement at the CSW69 Interactive Dialogue on Participation, Accountability, and Gender-Responsive Institutions. Read the full statement delivered by Ms. Rumbidzai Kandawasvika-Nhundu, Principal Adviser for Democracy and Inclusion, here.
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International IDEA delivered a statement at the CSW69 Interactive Dialogue on Peaceful and Inclusive Societies. Read the full statement delivered by Ms. Amanda Sourek, UN Liaison, here.
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ANALYSIS
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Beijing+30: Will it take another 30 years for gender equality? by Amanda Sourek At the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, 189 countries adopted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA), outlining 12 critical areas of concern for gender equality and women’s empowerment, including violence against women, armed conflicts, women's participation in decision-making, and the protection of their human rights. At that time, member states were convinced that the achievement of equality, development, and peace was connected to women’s empowerment and their full participation in society, including in political decision-making. Countries also believed that equal rights, opportunities, and access to power and resources for women were crucial to the consolidation of democracy more broadly. |
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Beijing+30: Taking Stock of Progress on Gender Equality Using the Global State of Democracy Indices by Annika Silva-Leander The Beijing Declaration in 1995 recognized that gender equality is essential to democracy. Yet, 30 years after, progress remains uneven and at risk, with backlash against gender equality, and democratic values threatening hard-won gains. Drawing on International IDEA’s Global State of Democracy Indices, this article explores advances, setbacks, and gaps in women's political participation since 1995. As threats to gender equality and democracy grow, the CSW 2025 Political Declaration must reaffirm that women’s equal participation in decision-making is fundamental to democracy—and that both must be protected. |
SIDE EVENTS
Transforming social norms: Advancing women's leadership
10 March, 10.00 -11.15 (ET), ECOSOC Chamber, UNHQ
The in-person side event will bring WYDE Women’s Leadership partners as well as representatives from the EU together with members of Parliament, local governments, women’s movements, civil society organizations, experts and women leaders, including from youth groups with the objectives to engage in a dialogue on social norms impact on women’s political participation, and to share of good practices in identifying and addressing discriminatory social norms surrounding women’s political participation.
Informal SDG16+ Roundtable Dialogue at the 69th Commission on the Status of Women
12 March, 17.30-19.30 (ET), by invitation only
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This SDG16+ Informal Roundtable will facilitate an open dialogue among civil society, member states, UN staff, and other stakeholders to identify shared advocacy priorities and actionable strategies for advancing SDG16+ and SDG5 on gender equality. By leveraging the synergies between SDG16+ and SDG5, stakeholders can drive transformative change that addresses both the symptoms and root causes of global challenges — from violence and corruption to gender-based discrimination, inequalities and exclusion.
Beijing +30 and SDG 5 Targe5 5.5 @ 5years in International IDEA MS and Programme countries
13 March, 15.00-16.15 (ET), Conference Room 12, UNHQ
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In line with the main focus of the 2025 CSW session to review the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPA), International IDEA, in partnership with the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the UN, will convene a side event on Beijing+30 and SDG 5 Target 5.5 @ 5years to 2030 in International IDEA Member States and Programme Countries. The side event will place emphasis on the BPA strategic objective on women in power and decision-making and SDG 5 Target 5.5 on women’s full and effective participation in political and public life.
18 March, 15.00-16.15 (ET), Conference Room 12, UNHQ
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The UN has identified Gender-based violence (GBV) against women as one of the most severe human rights violations across the world. Despite the scale and scope of GBV incidents, survivors who seek help through formal or informal justice sector channels, continue to navigate numerous challenges in doing so. International IDEA’s Rule of Law and Anti-corruption (RoLAC) Programme in Nigeria is recording progress and results in addressing these challenges. The purpose of the planned side-event is to share learning from key interventions which have delivered the strongest outcomes and which contribute to the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
19 March, 11.30-12.45 (ET), Conference Room 12, UNHQ
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Despite evidence that women’s presence and participation lead to better and longer-lasting outcomes for peace, they remain underrepresented in transitional governments and peacebuilding bodies. They are also underrepresented in constitutional reform processes that are often part of transitions as countries move from conflict and/or authoritarian rule to peace. Drawing on insights from the annual Women Constitution-Makers’ Dialogue, this event, co-sponsored by Canada, will offer a unique platform to bring together women to share their experiences and insights. Given the changing landscape of conflict in the last decade, it will also provide a forum for stakeholders to better understand and address new challenges in achieving gender equality in peacebuilding and constitution-making.
PARTICIPATION
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Women in Politics: Obstacles and challenges to gender parity in subnational governments in Latin America 30 years on from Beijing 11 March, 08.30 - 09.45 (ET), One Dag Hammarskold Plaza (40th Floor) This event is organized by the Permanent Mission of Chile to the UN.
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Breaking Barriers, Building Leaders: Advancing Women’s and Girls’ Political Participation and Leadership at Local Level 11 March, 16.00 - 18.00 (ET), Swedish American Chamber of Commerce This event, hosted by the International Planned Parenthood Federation, the Hunger Project, and Plan International, will discuss women's political participation and leadership for women and girls.
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Democracy at Risk: Reactions to Voter Decline Globally 12 March 2025, 12.30 to 14.00 (ET), Virtual With the global decline in voter participation, democracy is at risk. There is a pressing need to revitalize voter engagement, particularly among women and marginalized communities. Our panelists will examine critical issues affecting voter participation including youth disengagement, institutional challenges, civic mistrust, and cultural barriers and highlight policy innovations that can foster democratic resilience. In this discussion, panelists will present actionable strategies to engage citizens and revitalize democratic processes worldwide.
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Men as Allies in Feminist Municipalism: Positive Masculinities and Local Leadership for Gender Equality 14 March, 10:00 - 11:30 (ET), the Riverview Room, Millennium Hilton New York One UN Plaza With the support of the Government of Spain, UCLG will host a series of events under the "Local and Regional Governments Day, within the framework of CSW69/Beijing+30". The session "Men as Allies in Feminist Municipalism" will take place on 14 March 2025 10:00 – 11:30. This session will provide a high-level platform bringing together representatives from local, regional and, national governments, international organizations, and civil society.
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Building Democracies 19 March, 16:45 -18:00 (ET), by invitation only This 75-minute roundtable will serve as a platform to review global trends in women’s leadership, highlight success stories from UNDEF-supported projects, and reflect on challenges and lessons learned. CSO partners will share their experiences, focusing on strategies to sustain and expand their impact. The session will also explore how local initiatives align with global agendas, reinforcing the connection between grassroots actions and international commitments.
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