Union Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur participated in the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW-70) at the United Nations Headquarters, New York, United States of America.
CSW is the principal global intergovernmental body dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women.
The priority theme of CSW-70 focused on “Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices, and addressing structural barriers.”
About Commission on Status of Women (CSW)
- It is the UN’s principal global intergovernmental body dedicated exclusively to promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment.
- Genesis: Established in 1946
- Parent Organisation: Operates under the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) to document women’s lives, set global standards, and monitor progress on the Beijing Platform for Action.
- Secretariat: Based in New York
- Structure: It consists of representatives from 45 UN Member States elected by ECOSOC for four-year terms.
- Annual Sessions: The sessions include ministerial segments, interactive dialogues, and side events, often focusing on urgent issues like violence against women and economic empowerment.
Key Milestones:
- It was instrumental in drafting the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
- In 1996, its mandate was expanded to monitor the implementation of the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
Core Function:
- It plays a key role in shaping global standards, documenting the realities of women’s lives worldwide, and advancing policies that support women’s rights.
- It brings together UN member states, civil society, and UN entities annually to evaluate progress on gender equality, identify challenges, and set global standards.