CHEC Hon. Secretary Emily Robinson Attends the United Nations CSW68 in New York

CSW68Gender EqualityWomen and GirlsClimate Crisis

21 Mar

Last week (March 11th - 15th) I had the opportunity to attend the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women's 68th session (CSW68) in New York on behalf of CHEC. The UN Commission on the Status of Women is an annual gathering that focuses on advancing gender equality and women's empowerment globally. During CSW68, government officials, civil society representatives, and experts came together to discuss key issues affecting women and girls worldwide. This year’s theme was "Achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of climate change, environmental and disaster risk reduction policies."

As a participant, I was able to engage in dialogues and panels, learning best practices, share challenges, and the solution proposals to promote gender equality in the face of climate change and environmental risks. Some of the key topics included access to education, healthcare - including unpaid care work, economic opportunities, and decision-making roles for women, particularly in vulnerable communities.

The conference aimed to drive policy recommendations and actions that prioritise the needs and rights of women and girls in environmental and disaster risk reduction efforts. By highlighting the intersectionality of gender, climate change, and sustainable development, CSW68 underscored the importance of inclusive and gender-responsive policies for a more resilient and equitable future.

I was able to attend several very insightful panels and events at the UN Headquarters, including the Town Hall with UN Secretary General António Guterres, chaired by UN Women Executive Director, Sima Sami Bahous, that was held on the 13th of March. Overall, the conference was a very rewarding and insightful experience.

Annual UN CSW68 Townhall with UN Secretary General António Guterres

I was also able to meet up with Dr. Donnell Davis, former CHEC Board Member and a current Trustee of the Human Ecology Foundation (HEF) - who was in from Australia to attend the conference, as well as participate as a speaker in several events. We have agreed to write a joint paper on the conference to be published in the next few months.