Recently, I had the privilege to attend the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) as a delegate with YWCA USA. It was such an honor to be selected to join the incredible individuals that made up our delegation of 20. UNCSW is the biggest global policy-making body for gender equality and women empowerment.

A recommitment to the work that still lies ahead

Selfie with the UN

This year, UNCSW celebrated 30 years since the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

There were over 700 events taking place virtually and in-person between March 10 - 21, 2025. It was difficult to choose which events to attend! Each provided an opportunity to share research, tools, and successes while being a platform to point out existing inequalities, share struggles, and demand change.

The entire conference centered the experiences of women and girls with a focus on gender-based violence and ways to advance gender equality. Conversations included perspectives from an intersectional approach, including the voices of neurodiverse, indigenous, and disabled individuals. It was a wonderful opportunity to hear from a wide range of speakers, all united in the quest for gender equality.

I really appreciated learning from experts with a global perspective. I was able to reflect and compare YWCA Spokane’s programs and strategies to those in other parts of the world.

Throughout my time at UNCSW, I noticed an emphasis on being an interconnected and intergenerational movement.

Interconnected – A Global Cause

On the UN grounds with fellow delegates

While in line for my United Nations grounds pass, I chatted with two women from Nigeria who were part of the Chanel Foundation, working towards empowering and resourcing women and girls. Their work reminded me of how our Women’s Opportunity Center fosters community and self-esteem. The conversation highlighted the similarity and shared global mission of women’s empowerment.

Everyone that I met at UNCSW felt united and connected by a unified cause. Across different regions and cultures from around the world, we came together to share, celebrate, and advance gender equality.

Over 5,000 people attended UNCSW in New York City. Here in the United States, there are 194 YWCA agencies and World YWCA has presence in over 70 countries with 28 country YWCAs sending delegates to UNCSW. I enjoyed attending events hosted by YWCAs from around the world. I met and mingled with folks from YWCA Australia, Canada, Finland, India, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Palestine, and Thailand.

I loved learning about their different programs and organizations. It was so powerful to witness and hear from folks who are working in their own communities to combat inequalities and push for change. I witnessed how our individual efforts are magnified onto the global scale.

Intergenerational Leadership - Connecting Across Generational Divides

Session hosted by World YWCA

There was an emphasis throughout the conference on the importance of including younger folks into decision-making circles. During the “Gender Equality: Where is the Progress?” conversation hosted by World YWCA, the panel discussed the idea of accompaniment and sponsorship versus mentorship, where we can come alongside a younger generation and encourage their perspectives in spaces. They promoted shared learning, mutual respect, and collaboration. The belief that we can go farther together to advance justice was echoed throughout the conference. To me, this speaks to the fundamentals of collaboration.

One of my favorite sessions was called “Harnessing Aotearoa NZ's GenZ leadership to confront gender equity barriers.” The conversation opened with the panelists reflecting on the Māori proverb: “I walk backwards into the future with my eyes fixed on my past." Harkening this idea of learning from the past and taking wisdom with us into the future.

Panel about NZ GenZ Leadership

The conversation specifically talked about bringing together collective knowledge across generational divides. I loved how the panel cautioned against relying on one generation or school of thought to solve all of the structural problems alone. We cannot expect a tokenized minority to bear the responsibility to represent and transform systems that have taken generations to build.

In YWCA Spokane's prevention efforts with youth, I know centering their voices is an important part of our work. We see the youth as experts in their own experience and build a space with them and for them to connect and discuss healthy relationships. Similarly, our Transformations Camp is all about youth empowerment, focusing on the experiences of girls of color. This approach encourages multiple generations to engage in powerful conversations while appreciating their unique perspectives.

Near the end of the session, one of the panelists from New Zealand casually shared that she was only 17 years old. It filled me with hope for the future that someone that age would travel halfway around the world to be part of a panel on leadership and gender equity.

Collective Action

Attending a Ministerial Round Table

There was an overall call to action to increase education, protect vulnerable communities, and advocate for laws and policies to support women and girls.

The 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action identified 12 Areas of Concern that serve as a vision for achieving gender equality. It proves that gender equality isn’t simply a “women’s issue.” It impacts folks at all levels: societal, institutional, interpersonal, and internal.

At "Testimonies from Gaza," the panel discussed their experiences writing and surviving the ongoing conflict in Gaza from the intersection of being women and journalists. “What we want from supporters is action,” said one of the panelists.

There was a push for awareness and action to occur in unison. It reminded me of local efforts to help the Spokane community deepen collective understandings of inequities and move into an active space to push for change. Offerings such as our Racial & Social Justice Learning Community, upcoming Equity for All event, and our Racial Justice Challenge provide a space for individuals to learn, reflect, grow, and generate action.

During the conference, I was reminded how important collective action is for transforming systems and moving the needle. Achieving gender equality is not going to be driven by one person or one organization, but by a larger movement of diverse voices and perspectives all pushing forward together. I am proud to be part of this movement and legacy.

YWCA USA Delegation

World YWCA has been involved with the United Nations and Commission on the Status of Women since the 1940s. Locally, YWCA Spokane has been serving the community since 1903. We have been doing the work to eliminate racism and empower women for generations and we won’t stop now. Together we can create a world of peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.

Personally, I have been involved in grassroots advocacy in various forms since 2013. Attending UNCSW has bolstered my belief in the importance of belonging to the global community and that change starts at the local level. My cup feels fuller because of UNCSW. It has been an opportunity to reflect and recommit to the necessary work to achieve gender equality. I am grateful to have represented YWCA Spokane on this international stage and I look forward to continuing the work here in my community.

Resources

• What is CSW?
• Beijing Platform for Action
• 12 critical areas of concern
• UNCSW69 Beijing+30 National Reports
• About World YWCA