Reflections from CSW69

It was an inspiring week of participating in and witnessing the tireless work of women from across the globe. The yearly event once again brought together women and girls, many of whom hail from regions where member churches are deeply rooted, who shared their unique challenges and triumphs in creating collective action.

Under the theme “For all Women and Girls: Rights, Equality & Empowerment,” the session was a powerful reminder of the progress made—and the work still to be done—in the fight for gender justice. Among the many crucial efforts highlighted was the push by Indigenous women to establish an international Indigenous Women’s Forum. The initiative is essential to amplify their voices and address the specific issues facing Indigenous women worldwide. Currently, Indigenous women’s social concerns are often subsumed within the broader context of gender issues in their respective societies. However, like other minoritised societies, their gender-related concerns intersect with various other structural challenges, including discrimination and exclusion. The panel speakers highlighted that Indigenous women from around the world continue to be underrepresented in important platforms such as the CSW. More must be done to change this.

Among the sessions that were important in terms of knowledge-sharing was a panel led by legal experts including Ting Ting Cheng (Director, Equal Rights Amendment Project at Columbia Law School) and attorney Michele Thorne (Illinois) of the Equal Rights Amendment Coalition and the American Bar Association. The panel discussed the role of constitutions, courts, and stakeholders in implementing the Beijing Platform for Action in safeguarding women’s rights. In a world where hard-won gains are increasingly met with pushback, understanding how to leverage legal frameworks (and moral frameworks on the ecumenical landscape) is crucial. The experts emphasised the need for women to know their rights so that they can easily distinguish the laws that protect them from political statements that may contradict such laws but have no legal basis. 

As I left CSW69, I was reminded that the journey toward a just world for all women and girls is a marathon that demands persistence, resilience, collaboration, and fundamentally, a belief in the possibility of change. The stories shared, the connections made, and the strategies discussed at the session reinforced my conviction that, together, we can create a world where every woman and girl is free to be all they are meant to be—both as individuals and as part of a global collective.  

Overall, the reality for women and girls remains bleak in many regions of the world. Millions of women and girls continue to live under unjust conditions, their rights denied or eroded. This is why events like CSW69 are so vital. They provide a platform for mobilisation, advocacy, and the sharing of knowledge. As we celebrate all the gains made, the work continues.