Intergenerational dialogue and leadership: Highlights of the 69th gathering of the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69)

In Loretto’s 33-plus years at United Nations headquarters (UNHQ) in New York City, we have educated ourselves and others about the U.N., advocated for disarmament and climate justice, promoted the rights of elders, migrants and indigenous peoples. But no effort has connected us more with future generations than welcoming students from Loretto-founded schools to the annual meetings of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).

This year we welcomed nearly 30 young leaders — each selected by her school — to portions of the CSW meetings at UNHQ between March 6 and 21. They attended various sessions, met with peers and elders at networking events, developed advocacy skills at the teen orientation sponsored by the Working Group on Girls (WGG) and engaged with international experts to discuss gender-related challenges and solutions. On St. Patrick’s Day, Nerinx Hall High students, who had just arrived the day before, started their CSW69 experience by joining other members of WGG on a visit with Irish diplomats to discuss girls’ rights.

During the first week, students from Loretto Academy and St. Mary’s Academy participated in our own parallel event, Accessing Economic and Civic Power: Women in the Global South. This intergenerational collaboration between Mary’s Pence and Loretto at the UN was generously hosted by Altagracia: Faith & Justice Works in the Inwood neighborhood of Manhattan. It lifted up the work of ESPERA, a unique program focused on economic autonomy and civic engagement of rural women in Central America and Mexico. The wisdom that was shared by our keynote speaker Mabel Martinez was also reflected in the questions and reflections raised by the teen representatives on our panel of respondents.

The common denominator among all of these opportunities was the #CSW69 theme, reviewing the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA). Even though the BPfA was adopted 30 years ago at the fourth U.N. World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995, it is still the most progressive global framework for women’s and girls’ rights today.

Our students engaged with a wide range of topics, from ending gender-based violence to the power of youth-led climate activism to global movements to end female genital mutilation and child marriage. They connected with other feminist advocates of all ages, genders and cultures and engaged in critical conversations, challenging norms and discovering their purpose. They left not just as participants but as change makers — ready to build the world they want to see.

Our 2024-25 intern, Grace Broome, shares, “At CSW69, I saw firsthand how powerful intergenerational dialogue can be. Our strength lies in storytelling and in the lessons we carry from those stories. When we weave our narratives together, we can move toward a just and sustainable future. That’s when real progress begins.”

This journey would not be possible without our community partners: the BVM Community, Mary’s Pence and Sisters Rising Worldwide, whose unwavering support empowers students to find their voices and take action. Together, we are fostering the next generation of leaders who will drive meaningful change.

Students say…

Attending the Commission on the Status of Women in New York has been one of the most incredible and transformative experiences of my life; being able to see so many diverse perspectives and empowered women has inspired me to keep working for progress and pursue a career in justice for all.

— Maya, St. Mary’s Academy

I found it very interesting and valuable to meet people from all over the world, and hear how they are changing things in order to further women’s rights.

— Nicole, Nerinx Hall

Attending CSW69 has solidified my belief that meaningful conversations can inspire real progress and that advocacy is not just about speaking up but about listening, learning and challenging perspectives, including my own.

— Valeria, Loretto Academy