CSW65 highlights women’s full and effective participation and decision-making in public life, 15-26 March

This year, the 65th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW65), the UN’s largest annual gathering on gender equality and women’s empowerment, will take place from 15 to 26 March, under the theme, “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”. The session this year will be mostly virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

 

 

On 15 March, the Permanent Representative of Armenia to the United Nations Mher Margaryan chaired the opening meeting of the 65th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW65).

 

 

In his opening remarks, the Permanent Representative of #Armenia reflected on the issues of representation of women in all aspects of decision making and full participation in public life. “In many countries, including in my own country #Armenia, the potential of women’s equal and meaningful participation in public life is yet to be fully realized. We need to recommit ourselves to creating a conducive environment for empowerment of women in decision-making processes, including in political leadership”, Mher Margaryan noted.
 
 
 
 
He highlighted the crucial importance of the support of the international community in ensuring that women and girls are protected in conflict settings and in situations of humanitarian crises as they are the ones disproportionately affected and continue to be at increased risk of injustice and inequality, including in terms of access to essential services, resilience and livelihood opportunities.
 
 
 
Ambassador Margaryan stresssed that CSW65 provides an opportunity to come up with strong action-oriented policy recommendations and ensure building back better towards a future that is more equal, resilient and sustainable. “This can only be achieved if all stakeholders are united in taking the bold steps required to make gender equality a reality by #2030. Let us all work together for a meaningful outcome that will make a tangible difference for the world’s women and girls, now and for generations to come”, Mher Margaryan concluded his remarks.
 
 
 
 
The UN  Secretary-General António Guterres, UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, presidents of the UN Economic and Social Council and the UN General Assembly also delivered introductory remarks.

 

 

 

The 65th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), from 15 to 26 March 2021, will focus on examining the progress, gaps and setting a global roadmap towards achieving full equality in public life. This year’s priority theme is, ‘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’. The review theme is, ‘Women’s empowerment and the link to sustainable development (Agreed Conclusions of the 60th session here). 

 

 

Recent research has shown that despite women’s increased engagement and representation in public life, we are far away from achieving full equality at decision-making tables, and online and offline violence against women in public life is also widespread. It is clear that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated challenges when it comes to women’s rights, decision-making and equal participation in society. Latest data reveals that there is seldom gender parity in decision-making on COVID-19 task teams and response efforts globally, yet in several countries where women hold leadership positions, the response to the pandemic has been particularly effective. When more women are in decision-making positions, more inclusive decisions are made, diverse voices are heard, and different solutions are created. 

 

Newly released data shows that progress to achieve gender equality in public life and decision-making has been too slow.

 

  • Women make up 25 per cent of parliamentarians globally, and only three countries have 50 per cent or more women in parliament.
  • Less than one per cent of parliamentarians are women under 30 years of age.
  • Women make up only 13 per cent of negotiators, 6 per cent of mediators and 6 per cent of signatories in formal peace processes.
  • In 2020, only 7.4 per cent of Fortune 500 companies were run by women.
  • Just 22 countries in the world are headed by a woman.
  • Only 3.5 per cent of COVID-19 task forces across 87 countries had gender parity.

 

At the current rate of progress, it will take another 130 years to reach gender equality at the highest positions of power.

 

 

This year’s CSW is an important bridge to the Generation Equality Forum, organized by UN Women and co-hosted by the Governments of France and Mexico, in conjunction with youth and civil society, and will be a pivotal opportunity to change our societies and cement women’s leadership as we recover from COVID-19. The Forum will kick-off in Mexico City from 29 to 31 March, and culminate in Paris 30 June to 2 July 2021. 

 

 

During these unprecedented times and against the backdrop of the global pandemic, for the first time in history, the UN Commission on the Status of Women will be held almost entirely virtually. The events organized by UN Women, in collaboration with other UN agencies, organizations and civil society are open for all and listed below. Information on the over 100 official side-events can be found here.  

 

 

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The CSW is the principal intergovernmental policy-making body in the areas of women’s rights, gender equality and empowerment of women comprising of 45 member states elected for four year term. #Armenia was elected as a member of the Commission for the period of 2019-2023. On 22 March 2019, the Permanent Representative of the Republic of #Armenia to the UN Mr. Mher Margaryan was elected as a Chair of the 64th and 65th sessions of the #CSW. The 65th session of the CSW runs from 15 to 26 March, and will mostly involve virtual sessions, including four Ministerial roundtables and events organized by UN Women, the United Nations agency which works to accelerate gender equality globally, in collaboration with other agencies, organizations and civil society. On 18 March the Permanent Mission of  Armenia to the UN will hold a virtual discussion on the margins of the  CSW65 entitled “Between War and  Pandemic : Voices from the Field”.

 

 

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