Justice takes centre stage: UN welcomes world’s largest women’s rights even
New York, US (PANA) - Women have never been closer to equality and never closer to losing it, according to UN Women ahead of the start of the world’s largest gender equality gathering.
While this year’s International Women's Day, marked annually on 8 March, focuses on justice, the systems meant to protect women and girls are failing, with millions exposed to discrimination, violence and impunity as the backlash against gender equality intensifies and violations of fundamental rights rise worldwide, according to a newly released report from UN Women.
Across the world, women still do not enjoy the same legal rights as men. Even though legal protection against domestic violence has expanded in many countries, the rights of women and girls are being rolled back in plain sight.
The (Commission on the Status of Women) CSW70 Youth Forum, Voices Without Borders, will take place at UN Headquarters on 8 March. The youth‑led global gathering will bring together 200 young feminists and allies to confront systemic injustices and champion bold, transformative solutions.
The meeting will include UN agencies and Member States and will blend storytelling with strategic dialogues.
From 9 to 19 March, the world will gather at UN Headquarters in New York for CSW70, the United Nations largest annual forum dedicated to gender equality and women’s rights.
What happens at CSW influences laws, policies, funding and accountability across countries and generations.
This year’s focus is clear: rights, justice and action for all women and girls.
CSW70 is a defining test: whether the world choses to act together and deliver equality before the law for all women and girls or allow injustice to persist with impunity.
Opening remarks are expected by the CSW Chair, UN Secretary-General, the presidents of the UN General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) as well as civil society and youth representatives.
At the closing meeting on 19 March, delegates will review progress made during discussions on the priority theme, consider outstanding agenda items, adopt the session’s report and agreed conclusions while looking ahead to the work of CSW71.
The UN will observe International Women’s Day at 9am on 9 March 2026 in the iconic General Assembly Hall, immediately preceding the opening of CSW70.
Aligned with CSW70, the observance aims to elevate global attention to justice as the critical bridge between rights on paper and rights in practice.
Bringing together Member State delegations, global leaders, advocates, global voices and Goodwill Ambassadors, including US actor Anne Hathaway, the observance will serve as a high-visibility platform to galvanise leadership and concrete action towards ensuring equal access to justice for all women and girls.
On 10 March, UN chief António Guterres will be meeting with the largest gathering of civil society at the United Nations and have a frank discussion on issues related to the advancement of gender equality and women and girls’ rights around the world.
The townhall-style meeting offers intersectional and intergenerational civil society a space to directly engage with the highest leadership of the United Nations and to ask questions, share recommendations and strengthen collaboration.
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