It’s 2025: we have seen women leading countries, breaking records and shattering glass ceilings. So, can we finally say gender equality is achieved and call it a day? Well, not quite: at the current rate of progress, a girl born today won’t see gender equality in her lifetime. She’ll be 39 before women hold as many seats in parliament as men, and 68 before child marriage ends. For nearly 80 years, the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) has been fighting to change that by promoting gender equality and empowering women worldwide. Let’s shed some light on their most important achievements and their latest events:
Since 1946, the UNCSW has been at the forefront of women’s rights, from securing gender inclusive language in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to promoting landmark agreements such as CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women), the organization has continuously shaped international policy. One of its most notable achievements was the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which identified 12 critical areas for urgent action (e.g. poverty, education, violence, etc.) – a crucial roadmap for women’s empowerment. However, nearly 30 years later (undoubtedly aware of these shortcomings) the progress remains slow and fragile. While the UNCSW partially addressed critical issues, one thing is clear: we need action – now.
This sense of urgency was also at the core of CSW69 in March 2025, where world leaders gathered at UN Headquarters in New York. While they acknowledged the progress that has been made, the reality was sobering: at the current rate, it could take more than a century to finally end extreme poverty among women and girls.

While recognizing that true equality is still a distant goal, the major side event “For ALL Women and
Girls: The Beijing+30 Action Agenda” outlined six key areas for accelerating this progress:

1. “A Digital Revolution” – Bridging the gender digital gap, especially in developing countries.
2. “Freedom from Poverty” – Strengthening social protection & addressing the unpaid care burden.
3. “Zero Violence” – Expanding initiatives like the EU’s Roadmap for Women’s Rights.
4. “Equal Decision-Making Power” – Fighting back against setbacks in women’s leadership.
5. “Peace and Security” – Emphasizing women’s voices in peace-building efforts.
6. “Climate Justice” – Recognizing women’s role in environmental action and and funding their
   initiatives

CSW69 made it clear: change needs to happen faster. As UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous put it, “Together, we choose action over apathy.”