CSW 69: The Center at the UN Commission on the Status of Women

Advancing Gender Equality and Women and Girls’ Rights · March 10–21, 2025 · UN Headquarters in New York

Join leaders from the Center for Reproductive Rights—a global human rights organization that uses the power of law to advance reproductive rights as human rights—at several events at CSW69.

On this 30th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action, we’ll be discussing the significant progress made in improving the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls—as well as the numerous challenges that lie ahead.

Daring to Deliver: Ensuring SRHR for Adolescents and Fulfilling Commitments Under Beijing+30

Wednesday, March 12 • 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. ET • Venue: Blue Gallery, 222 E 46th St, New York, NY 10017

Co-sponsored by the permanent missions of Luxembourg, Colombia, Poland, Canada, Ireland, and the U.K., and organized by the Center for Reproductive Rights; Health Development Initiative; Women Law & Development (Nepal); Surkuna—Centro de Apoyo y Protección de los Derechos Humanos; Fòs Feminista; Intersex Brazil; International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Association (ILGA); International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF); Outright International; and Plan International.

Join the Center at this side event where cross-regional experts will discuss the barriers adolescents encounter in exercising their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), the importance of a human rights-based approach to accountability for SRHR violations, and the impact of early pregnancies and intersecting forms of discrimination on adolescents’ opportunities and lives.

You’ll learn about the critical importance of Comprehensive Sexuality Education to ensure autonomous and informed decision-making and challenges such as structural barriers, gender stereotypes, and harmful social norms that deny adolescents their rights.

Spanish and French interpretation will be provided.

CSW registration is required to attend this event.

Please note: Registration for this event has reached capacity.

RSVP required.

Equality and Non-Discrimination for the Next 30 Years: Advancing Sexual and Reproductive Rights in a Changing World

Tuesday, March 11 • 1:15 p.m.–2:45 p.m. ET • Venue: Blue Gallery, 222 E 46th St, New York, NY 10017

Co-sponsored by the permanent missions of Uruguay, New Zealand, Mexico, Mongolia, and Spain, and organized by the Center for Reproductive Rights; the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF); UN Working Group on Discrimination Against Women and Girls; Global Justice Center; Catalysts; Planned Parenthood Global; and Outright International.

This event will discuss legal and policy approaches to addressing the diversity of beliefs in society while ensuring that the rights and well-being of women, girls, and gender-diverse people—including the most vulnerable communities—remain protected. With a special focus on ensuring gender equality and non-discrimination in access to SRHR, the event aims to strengthen a vision of pluralism consistent with the “respect, protect and fulfill” framework on human rights.

Specific human rights standards on conscientious objection and access to abortion services will also be highlighted, with a review of the recently launched guidance document by the UN Working Group on discrimination against women and girls.

Speakers:

• Moderator: Dr. Tlaleng Mofokeng, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health

• Katrine Thomasen, Associate Director for Europe, Center for Reproductive Rights

• Claudia Flores, Vice-Chair, UN Working Group on Discrimination Against Women and Girls 

• Leticia Gauna, Fundheg, IPPF’s Member Association in Argentina

• Obioma Chukwuike, Executive Director of Intersex Nigeria and ILGA Board Member

By invitation only.

From Beijing to Belém do Para: 30 Years Eradicating Violence Against Women

Tuesday, March 11 • 6:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m. ET • Venue: UN HQ, Delegates Lounge

Co-sponsored by the Center for Reproductive Rights; the Government of Chile; UN Women; the Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM); Equality Now; and the Latin American and Caribbean Committee for the Defense of Women’s Rights (CLADEM); and organized by Articulación Belém do Pará; Follow-up Mechanism to the Belém do Pará Convention (MESECVI); and the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF).

Join us to celebrate and commemorate the 30 years of the Belém do Pará Convention and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. This event will bring together representatives of States, civil society organizations, experts and activists who, over the last three decades, have worked to implement the Convention and make the commitments adopted in Beijing a reality. A space for celebration and networking will follow the discussions around the Convention and Declaration.

Speakers:

• Catalina Martínez Coral, Vice President for Latin America, Center for Reproductive Rights and member of the “Articulación Belém do Pará” 

• Michelle Bachelet, Former President of Chile and Former High Commissioner for Human Rights

• Antonia Orellana, Minister of Women and Gender Equality of Chile

• Aparecida Gonçalves, Minister of Women of Brazil

• Sherna Alexander, Vice President of the CEVI and Expert for Trinidad and Tobago

• Alejandra Mora, Executive Secretary of CIM and Former Minister of Costa Rica

• María Noel Vaeza, UN Women Regional Director for the Americas and the Caribbean

• Ana María Baiardi, CAF Gender, Inclusion and Diversity Manager and Former Minister of Women of Paraguay

• Bárbara Jiménez Santiago, Regional Representative of Latin America and the Caribbean for Equality Now and Coordinator of the “Articulación de Belém do Pará” 

By invitation only.

From Silence to Justice: Ending Sexual Violence and Forced Pregnancies for Girls in Latin America

Wednesday, March 12 • 6 p.m.–8 p.m. ET • Venue: The Permanent Mission of Mexico to the UN, 2 United Nations Plaza, Piso 28, New York, NY 10017

Co-sponsored by the Center for Reproductive Rights; Planned Parenthood Global; Surkuna; Mujeres Transformando el Mundo; Promsex; and Amnesty International; and organized by the Girls Not Mothers Movement (Movimiento Niñas No Madres) and the Government of Mexico.

This event will showcase the fight for justice on sexual violence in Latin America from a multidimensional perspective. The panel of advocates and legal experts will address how legal wins contribute to breaking the silence on sexual violence and putting an end to forced maternities.

Speakers:

• Moderator: Catalina Martínez Coral, Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean, Center for Reproductive Rights

• Lori Adelman, Executive Director, Planned Parenthood Global

• Carmen Martínez, Associate Director of Legal Strategies for Latin America and the Caribbean, Center for Reproductive Rights

• Fernanda Doz Costa, Director for Gender Justice, Racial Justice, Migrants and Refugee Program, Amnesty International

• Ana Vera, Advocacy and Strategic Legal Actions, Surkuna

• Marianny Sánchez, Communications Director for Latin America, Planned Parenthood Global

By invitation only.

Countering Regression and Anti-Rights Movements: Strengthening Feminist, SRHR, and Women’s Rights Organizations in the Age of Resurgent Anti-Rights Agenda

Thursday, March 13 • 1 p.m.–3 p.m. ET • Venue: Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP, 1177 6th Ave, New York, NY 10036

Organized by the Center for Reproductive Rights.

Focusing on Africa, this event will foster dialogue, address challenges and discuss opportunities to strengthen advocacy efforts and reinforce collective action in defending and advancing women’s rights across the continent. It will explore the strategies employed by African and other Global South organizations to navigate growing hostility, identify pathways for greater collaboration and solidarity, and address recent funding cuts for social justice work. You’ll also be presented with a critical opportunity to engage with the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health.