The Commission on the Status of Women (known by its acronym CSW) is the top forum where United Nations Member States meet annually to discuss, debate, and ultimately agree on a set of policy recommendations, called “Agreed Conclusions,” for the advancement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls from local levels to internationally.

Governments and civil society, working together through the CSW, have achieved some groundbreaking achievements for women’s rights since its inception. Perhaps the most notable is the creation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) — an expert body that upholds human rights by investigating violations, abuses, and discrimination against women and girls.

But despite substantial progress in recent years, the global community is very far from achieving gender equality. Even in 2022, “we are still living with the results of millennia of patriarchy that excludes women and prevents their voices from being heard,” United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said as he opened the 66th session of the CSW on March 14. “We cannot realize any of our goals without the contributions of all.”

As Global Citizens, we should make ourselves aware of the progress achieved when governments and civil society, with good will and intention, come together to advance gender equality. But we should be realistic about the great challenge that still lies ahead to achieve true gender equality and, even more so, gender justice and equity.

Only by reflecting on the CSW’s march toward gender equality, confronting current gaps for African women’s access to justice, and acknowledging intersections with issues like climate change can we look forward to new ways of manifesting gender justice and the ultimate achievement of the Global Goals.

Over the past two years, we have seen renewed evidence of the patriarchy’s hold on any progress toward gender justice.

Global crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, intensifying conflicts, humanitarian disasters, and increasing effects of climate change, have exposed the systemic barriers to equality and justice for women and girls in an unprecedented way.

Read the full article about gender justice by Aaron Holtz and Katie Munk at Global Citizen.