Soroptimist International’s Statement to the Sixty-Ninth Session of the Commission on the Status of Women has now been submitted

Read our full statement here. 

The Sixty-Ninth Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69), taking place in 2025 (10 to 21 March), offers a pivotal opportunity to reflect on the progress of gender equality since the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, adopted three decades ago. This session will focus on reviewing and appraising the impact and achievements of the Beijing Declaration, which has served as a comprehensive blueprint for advancing the rights of women and girls globally.

As the world gathers to assess the strides made and the challenges that remain, Soroptimist International (SI) has submitted a written statement to underscore the urgent need for renewed commitment to gender equality. The statement highlights critical areas of concern and emphasises the pressing issues that still hinder the realisation of women’s and girls’ full.

Addressing Critical Challenges in Education, Economy, and Health

The Beijing Platform for Action was hailed as a transformative agenda for gender equality, providing a comprehensive framework to address issues including women’s education, economic empowerment, political participation, and protection from violence. Yet the past three decades have shown mixed progress. SI’s written statement draws attention to three priority areas: education and training, economic empowerment, and health for all women and girls.

1. Education and Training: The statement stresses that access to quality education is a fundamental human right and a crucial driver of gender equality. Although there have been achievements in expanding educational opportunities for girls, disparities remain, especially for those facing socio-economic barriers, conflict, and climate change impacts. SI calls for an inclusive approach that ensures lifelong learning, from early childhood education through to adult learning and skills training.
2. Economic Empowerment: Recognising the crucial role of economic inclusion, SI’s statement highlights the need to address the gender pay gap and the persistent undervaluing of unpaid care work, which disproportionately falls on women and girls. SI advocates for policies that ensure equal pay for work of equal value, and for measures to redistribute unpaid care responsibilities more equitably. This would support women in participating fully in the labour market and foster more resilient economies.
3. Health and Well-being: Our statement also addresses the barriers that prevent women and girls from accessing quality health services and information, including reproductive health care. These barriers include lower literacy rates, limited decision-making power, and inadequate healthcare provider awareness of their specific needs. Harmful practices like female genital mutilation and child, early and forced marriage further threaten their physical and mental health, reduce their chances of completing education, and negatively impact their future opportunities. SI’s statement calls for a holistic approach that prioritises both physical and mental health, alongside targeted measures to combat violence against all women and girls. SI emphasises that ensuring safe and accessible health services is key to enabling all women and girls to live with dignity and pursue their ambitions.

A Call to Action: Advocating for the Rights of All Women and Girls

SI’s statement for CSW69 is driven by the need to amplify the voices of all women and girls who continue to face barriers to achieving their full potential. As an organisation dedicated to educating, empowering, and enabling all women and girls, SI has been steadfast in its advocacy efforts, urging stakeholders to renew their commitments under the Beijing Declaration. The statement is a rallying call to focus on the persisting gaps and accelerate progress towards achieving true gender equality.

Collaboration for Greater Impact

SI has collaborated with several key organisations that share a vision for a just and equal world for all women and girls. The statement has been co-signed by the organisations listed below, whose support elevates our collective voice and vision. Together, these partners aim to amplify the call for gender equality and ensure that our key messages and recommendations reach policymakers and decision-makers at all levels.

SI’s participation in CSW69, alongside these allied organisations, represents a unified effort to ensure that the commitments of the Beijing Declaration are not just remembered but actively pursued. As the world reflects on the past 30 years, SI remains dedicated to driving the agenda forward, advocating for a future where every woman and girl can thrive.

 

About Soroptimist International

SI is a global volunteer organisation working to transform the lives of women and girls through education, empowerment, and advocacy. With members across the globe, SI works closely with the United Nations and other international bodies to advance human rights and gender equality.

You can read our full written statement for CSW69 here.

About Our Statement Cosignatories

To learn more about the organisations that have cosigned our statement, visit their social media pages (below).

• Biovision Foundation for Ecological Development
  • Instagram: @biovision_foundation
  • X (Twitter): @biovision_org
  • Facebook: Biovision
• Centrs Marta/Marta Center
  • LinkedIn: Centrs Marta
  • Instagram: @centrsmarta
  • X (Twitter): @centrsmarta
  • Facebook: Centrs MARTA
• Dianova International
  • LinkedIn: Dianova International
  • Instagram: @dianova.international
  • X (Twitter): @Dianova_org
  • Facebook: Dianova International
• European Federation of Older Persons (EURAG)
  • No social media handles.
• Federation of American Women’s Clubs Overseas (FAWCO)
  • LinkedIn: FAWCO
  • Instagram: @fawcoofficial
  • X (Twitter): FAWCO
  • Facebook: FAWCO
• Girls Not Brides: The Global Partnership to End Child Marriage
  • Instagram: @girlsnotbrides_
  • X (Twitter): @GirlsNotBrides
  • Facebook: Girls Not Brides
• International Convocation of Unitarian Universalist Women
  • Instagram: International Women’s Convocation
  • Facebook: ICUUW
• Make Mothers Matter
  • LinkedIn: Make Mothers Matter
  • Instagram: @mmm.makemothersmatter
  • X (Twitter): @mmm4mothers
  • Facebook: Make Mothers Matter
• The Millennium Institute
  • LinkedIn: Millennium Institute
  • X (Twitter): @millenniuminst
• Zonta International
  • Instagram: @zontaintl
  • X (Twitter): @ZontaIntl