Defending the Integrity of the Agreed Conclusions
The 70th annual Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) took place from March 9–19 at the UN Headquarters in New York. As the UN’s largest annual gathering on gender equality, this year’s theme focused on “ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls.” The principal outcome of each CSW is the Agreed Conclusions (ACs). These documents provide a deep analysis of the priority theme and offer concrete recommendations for governments, intergovernmental bodies, and civil society stakeholders to implement at the international, national, and local levels. I want to highlight the specific efforts made by civil society on the final day of CSW70 to push back against attempts to roll back these critical rights.
March 9, 2026: Opening and Initial Challenges
For the first time in 70 years, the session began with a significant procedural shift, as the body moved to replace the longstanding “consensus” tradition with a recorded member vote to adopt the ACs. The U.S. delegation introduced eight amendments seeking to replace inclusive terminology with a binary definition of gender and to change language related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), reproductive health rights, as well as the effects of climate change on women. However, these proposals were rejected, and the original text was adopted by a vote of 37 in favor, 1 against, and 6 abstentions. This opening established a clear mandate to protect inclusive legal standards despite a “well-orchestrated backlash” against equality.
March 19, 2026: Final Challenges and Civil Society Advocacy
The session concluded with the procedural defeat of a final, last-minute U.S. proposal to narrow the definition of “gender” to “men and women.” Introduced without prior negotiation, the draft was blocked by a Belgian-led “no action motion” on behalf of 26 EU member states. Supported by Brazil, the motion passed (23–3, with 17 abstentions), drawing cheers from the room. It marked a victory for the CSW, showing widespread support for women’s rights by most countries.
On the Ground at the UN
Leadership from the US Women’s Caucus (USWC) and the EU & North American Caucus took direct action before the session began. I serve as the feminist foreign policy director for the USWC, and I was happy to hear first-hand accounts of the events and to share this update. Pam Perraud (USWC president), Mary Rose Kaczorowski (EU & NA Caucus U.S. representative), and others spent the week drafting an open letter to all CSW delegates regarding the integrity of the ACs. Early on the morning of the 19th, Pam Perraud and Mary Rose Kaczorowski distributed approximately 100 copies to delegates, ensuring the voices of major NGOs were visible to the international community.
The full account of this historic vote was reported by Damilalo Banjo for PassBlue, “Washington Fails Once Again to Redefine ‘Gender’ at UN Gathering.” Banjo served as a panelist at the March 18 USWC virtual event “Resisting Regression: Gender Justice in the Changing US and UN.” PassBlue is an independent media outlet dedicated to reporting on the UN and its impact on international human rights.
A day earlier, the USWC sent letters to Ambassador Mike Waltz, U.S. representative to the UN, and Ambassador Dan Negrea, U.S. representative to ECOSOC, expressing deep concern regarding the U.S. delegation’s recent attempts to undermine longstanding international human rights standards and procedures, while emphasizing the urgent need for the United States to reclaim its role as a leader in protecting women’s rights.
Click HERE for the CSW70 Agreed Conclusions in English.
March 9, 2026: Opening and Initial Challenges
For the first time in 70 years, the session began with a significant procedural shift, as the body moved to replace the longstanding “consensus” tradition with a recorded member vote to adopt the ACs. The U.S. delegation introduced eight amendments seeking to replace inclusive terminology with a binary definition of gender and to change language related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), reproductive health rights, as well as the effects of climate change on women. However, these proposals were rejected, and the original text was adopted by a vote of 37 in favor, 1 against, and 6 abstentions. This opening established a clear mandate to protect inclusive legal standards despite a “well-orchestrated backlash” against equality.
March 19, 2026: Final Challenges and Civil Society Advocacy
The session concluded with the procedural defeat of a final, last-minute U.S. proposal to narrow the definition of “gender” to “men and women.” Introduced without prior negotiation, the draft was blocked by a Belgian-led “no action motion” on behalf of 26 EU member states. Supported by Brazil, the motion passed (23–3, with 17 abstentions), drawing cheers from the room. It marked a victory for the CSW, showing widespread support for women’s rights by most countries.
On the Ground at the UN
Leadership from the US Women’s Caucus (USWC) and the EU & North American Caucus took direct action before the session began. I serve as the feminist foreign policy director for the USWC, and I was happy to hear first-hand accounts of the events and to share this update. Pam Perraud (USWC president), Mary Rose Kaczorowski (EU & NA Caucus U.S. representative), and others spent the week drafting an open letter to all CSW delegates regarding the integrity of the ACs. Early on the morning of the 19th, Pam Perraud and Mary Rose Kaczorowski distributed approximately 100 copies to delegates, ensuring the voices of major NGOs were visible to the international community.
The full account of this historic vote was reported by Damilalo Banjo for PassBlue, “Washington Fails Once Again to Redefine ‘Gender’ at UN Gathering.” Banjo served as a panelist at the March 18 USWC virtual event “Resisting Regression: Gender Justice in the Changing US and UN.” PassBlue is an independent media outlet dedicated to reporting on the UN and its impact on international human rights.
A day earlier, the USWC sent letters to Ambassador Mike Waltz, U.S. representative to the UN, and Ambassador Dan Negrea, U.S. representative to ECOSOC, expressing deep concern regarding the U.S. delegation’s recent attempts to undermine longstanding international human rights standards and procedures, while emphasizing the urgent need for the United States to reclaim its role as a leader in protecting women’s rights.
Click HERE for the CSW70 Agreed Conclusions in English.