CSW69 Political Declaration: A Hard-Fought Victory, But Gaps Remain
11 March 2025 | Yesterday, with little fanfare, the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) adopted its Political Declaration. While we welcome this declaration, securing it was no easy feat. In a global context where far-right governments and anti-rights actors are aggressively working to roll back the rights of girls, women, and gender-diverse people, holding the line on gender equality took relentless collective action and fierce resistance.
Feminist movements mobilized. Progressive Member States held firm. And in the end, despite relentless pressure to weaken commitments, the declaration maintained critical language on gender equality, gender mainstreaming, and intersectionality. The final text does not dilute existing commitments — and that is a win.
A Fight Over Language and Rights
The negotiations exposed the deep polarization in today’s multilateral spaces. Since the release of the Zero Draft in January, governments — particularly the United States and Argentina — pushed for the deletion of the word ‘gender,’ a move that would have marked a dangerous regression. Until the very last moments, there was concern that the declaration might go to a vote, breaking the consensus-driven process that has long defined CSW. That did not happen. But the push to erase gender from international agreements is a stark reminder of the far-right, anti-rights forces we are up against.
Where We Made Gains
The declaration secures key advances:
- Adolescent girls are included in a CSW political declaration for the first time, recognizing their distinct needs, contributions, and vulnerabilities. Adolescence is a pivotal time — full of potential, yet often the moment when opportunities are stripped away, especially in times of crisis.
- Gender-based violence and sexual violence are explicitly named, reinforcing the urgent need for action.
- “Full, equal, and meaningful participation” is strengthened, reaffirming women’s and girls’ rights to be heard and to lead.
- New language on peace and security acknowledges the critical role of women in peacebuilding.
- Care work is recognized, with explicit references to care systems and the need for remuneration of care workers.
- Universal health coverage is upheld, maintaining a key framework for advancing health rights.
Where CSW69 Fell Short
This declaration is not without its failures.
- Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) were traded away, sacrificed in a last-minute political bargain. The removal of SRHR language is indefensible.
- Climate change commitments regressed. The declaration falls back on outdated language from 2020, ignoring the urgency of the climate crisis and the disproportionate impact on adolescent girls and women. Missing from the text are critical commitments on climate finance, just and equitable transitions, and links to the care economy.
Our Work is Far From Over
This declaration is a testament to the power of collective feminist advocacy. But words on a page are not enough. Governments must be held accountable to these commitments. Every gain in this text was hard-won, and every omission a reminder of how much further we have to go.
We honor and stand with the feminist activists, UN Women, and Member States who defended gender equality in the face of relentless opposition. The fight is far from over. Holding governments accountable is essential, but it is not enough. Feminist movements must continue to mobilize, push back against anti-rights forces, and demand more. Progress has never been given — it has always been fought for. And the fight is far from over.
