The WMG and our feminist advocacy was present at CSW66, the 66th UN Commission on the Status of Women, which, for the first time in 2 years, took place in person at the UN Headquarters in New York as well as in a virtual format from the 4th to 25th of March 2022. This year’s priority 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 and programmes.
While several of our WMG Organizing Partners and members were able to travel to New York, the doors of the UN headquarters only opened to civil society at the very last minute, leaving behind many of our global feminist movement, especially our allies and activists of the global South. However, by working in a hybrid format, alongside WMG members as well as with the Women’s Rights Caucus, our feminist ally coalition in the CSW space, we were able to bring our global feminist demands to CSW66.
Some highlights of our work at CSW66 include:
- WMG hosted a virtual parallel event titled “Debunking False Solutions, Towards Feminist Climate Justice,” along with the Women & Gender Constituency and Campaign of Campaigns.
- We had meetings with over 10 member states and UN entities to advocate for feminist climate justice, systemic solutions, human rights approaches & connections across UN processes, like the upcoming HLPF.
- We were part of NGO CSW NY’s consultation day‘s feminist climate justice speak out organized by the Women’s Environment & Development Organization, including WMG OP, Cécile Ndjebet of REFACOF as a speaker.
- WMG Organizing Partners and Secretariat held two hybrid strategy meetings on CSW as well as on the lead up to the 2022 HLPF.
- Alongside the Women’s Rights Caucus, WMG held an informal coffee hour gathering for feminist civil society. It was so great to finally hug and see our members in person!
