New York / Online, 12 December 2025
The Chair of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), H.E. Ms. Maritza Chan Valverde, convened a Virtual Informal Briefing to NGOs on 12 December 2025 as part of the official preparations for the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), scheduled to take place in March 2026 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
The briefing, moderated by Ms. Lopa Banerjee, Director of the Civil Society Division at UN Women, brought together representatives of ECOSOC-accredited non-governmental organisations to provide an institutional update on the programme, participation modalities, and the thematic focus of the upcoming session.
Focus on Access to Justice for Women and Girls
In her address, the CSW Chair reaffirmed that the priority theme of CSW70 will be ensuring and strengthening access to justice for women and girls, including through the promotion of inclusive and equitable legal systems, the elimination of discriminatory laws, policies and practices, and the removal of structural barriers that prevent women and girls from exercising their rights in practice.
The Chair underlined that access to justice is central to democratic governance and human rights, noting that justice systems which exclude women perpetuate inequality, undermine trust in public institutions, and allow violence and discrimination to persist unchecked. Particular attention during CSW70 will also be given to the empowerment of older women, identified as a dedicated focus area, alongside the review theme addressing women’s full and effective participation in public life and decision-making, as well as the elimination of violence against women and girls.
Programme and Civil Society Participation
The Chair outlined the proposed organisation of work for CSW70, which will include an opening meeting, general discussion, ministerial segment, high-level meetings, interactive dialogues on both the priority and review themes, and negotiations leading to the adoption of Agreed Conclusions.
Civil society organisations were encouraged to engage early with Member States and the CSW facilitation process to contribute to an ambitious, action-oriented outcome. The briefing also highlighted opportunities for NGO participation in formal meetings, interactive dialogues, and side events, both in person and virtually, subject to established UN procedures and space constraints.
Registration for representatives of ECOSOC-accredited NGOs remains open until 23 January 2026, with further logistical and participation guidance to be communicated by UN Women closer to the session.
CSNN Participation within the ECOSOC Framework
The Civil Society News Network (CSNN) participated in the Virtual Informal Briefing as an international civic media organisation engaged in editorial coverage of global civil society and multilateral processes. CSNN’s participation was enabled through the UN ECOSOC consultative status framework of the Northern Citizen Community Board (NCCB), with the support of H.E. Shahzada Ibrahim, Chairman and Honorary Ambassador of NCCB.
CSNN confirmed that its Editor-in-Chief – United States Section, Mr. Anthony Nickson, has been formally approved by UN Women and the CSW Secretariat as an accredited representative and will participate physically in CSW70 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, ensuring on-site editorial coverage of the session.
Looking Ahead to CSW70
Concluding the briefing, the CSW Chair reiterated her commitment to inclusive civil society engagement and emphasised the importance of translating global commitments into concrete justice outcomes for women and girls worldwide. She encouraged NGOs to continue their advocacy and coordination efforts in the lead-up to CSW70, stressing that meaningful civil society participation remains essential to the credibility and impact of the Commission’s work.
Video
An excerpt from the Virtual Informal Briefing to NGOs, featuring remarks by the Chair of the Commission on the Status of Women, is available here:
CSNN Editorial Desk
Reporting from Virtual Informal Briefing to NGOs, UN CSW Chair
