Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)
What is CSW? Why CSW?
The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) dedicated exclusively to agendas on gender equality and the advancement of women and girls. Every year, delegates from Member States gather at United Nations Headquarters in New York to evaluate progress on gender equality, identify challenges, set global standards, and formulate concrete policies to promote gender equality and advancement of women worldwide.
The Commission was established by ECOSOC on June 21st, 1946 with the aim to prepare recommendations and reports to the Council on promoting women’s rights in political, economic, civil, social, and educational fields. The Commission also makes recommendations to the Council on urgent problems requiring immediate attention in the field of women’s rights. A brief history of the CSW can be found here. There is the official CSW within the UN, as well as the NGO CSW Forum, which hosts events by and for civil society organizations.
Loretto at the UN participates in CSW to continue our advocacy for the gender equality of women and girls, as well as the issues reflected in the year’s priority and review theme. Loretto at the UN hosts delegations of Loretto members and students from Loretto-connected high schools to attend and participate in CSW, virtually or in person in New York City.
Photo courtesy of Beth Blissman
How to Participate in CSW
Are you interested in CSW and UN advocacy?
Are you a Loretto student excited to learn more about the UN and gender equality?
Contact Beth Blissman through the form below for more information.
Past CSW Experiences
Fifteen student delegates from St. Mary’s Academy, Loretto Academy and Wahlert Catholic High School spent time with Lisa Carty, the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Economic and Social Council, at a coffee shop near U.N. headquarters. Photo by Anne Evans The results from our 28-member in-person Loretto/BVM Delegation to the 68th gathering of the United…
For Loretto, attending the 68th U.N. Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68) was an invaluable opportunity to explore pathways to a better world. At a time when women and girls globally are experiencing extreme poverty in greater numbers, it was empowering to join with more than 6,000 feminists of all genders who attended the…
Beth Blissman and teens pause for a photo ahead of the U.N.’s 68th annual Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).Photo by Beth Blissman At the end of last week we observed International Women’s Day, which got me to wondering. What might it feel like if every day was International Women’s Day? What if women…
Loretto Co-members Alice Kitchen and Beth Blissman, along with former Loretto Volunteer Teresa Blumenstein and BVM Associate Sherry Warren, welcome students and teachers from Loretto Academy and St. Mary’s Academy to New York City. Photo by Citadines Connect staff person. After three years of online events due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was pure joy…
Working Group on Girls colleague Janet Palafox (IBVM Sisters), UN Rep Beth Blissman and Loretto Volunteer Jax Viteznik at the NGO CSW Consultation Day. Photo courtesy of Beth Blissman The priority theme for the sixty-sixth Commission on the Status of Women (CSW66) was “achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in…
The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), a functional commission of the United Nations Eco-nomic and Social Council (ECO-SOC), is composed of 45 member states that serve on a rotating basis. The CSW is dedicated exclusively to agendas on gender and the advancement of women, and, in a typical year, delegates from member states…
CSW65 was an entirely virtual CSW (Commission on the Status of Women) as the pandemic continued on. The priority theme was “women’s full and effective participation and decision-making in public life, as well as the elimination of violence, for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls,” and the review theme was…
Through the auspices of Loretto at the UN – Loretto Community, another of Loretto’s many organizations that seeks to empower women and girls, Loretto once again is taking part in the annual U.N. Commission on the Status of Women. Loretto’s participation in this month’s event, known for short as CSW65, is being led by our…
