The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee advances human rights through grassroots collaborations.
CSW69: Thirty Years of Feminist Progress—What Comes Next?
By UUSC Staff on March 4, 2025
Every year, the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) brings together global leaders, advocates, and grassroots organizers to evaluate progress on gender equality and strategize for the future. In 2025, CSW69 holds special significance as it marks 30 years since the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a landmark framework for advancing women’s rights worldwide. As authoritarian rollbacks threaten hard-fought gains, the need for feminist advocacy has never been more urgent. We are proud to join this critical global convening, bringing forward the voices of frontline activists and grassroots leaders fighting for justice in their communities.
Grassroots Feminist Organizing in Times of Crisis
On Friday, March 14, from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM EST, we are hosting a panel discussion “Grassroots Feminist Organizing in Times of Crisis” at Families for Freedom (35 West 31st Street, #1002, New York, NY 10001), with a virtual option via Zoom. This conversation will bring together feminist advocates confronting some of today’s most pressing crises—including armed conflict in Burma, the criminalization of trans and migrant communities in the U.S., gang violence in Haiti, and the climate crisis in The Bahamas. These intersecting crises demand a response that centers on grassroots leadership, cross-movement solidarity, and bold action for gender justice.
At a time when oppressive systems are accelerating displacement and threatening global stability, grassroots feminists continue to develop transformative solutions. Our panelists Alicia Wallace (Equality Bahamas), Janay Cauthen (Families for Freedom), Lway Poe Ngeal (Women’s League of Burma), and Blanca Miculax (Associácion Pop No’j) will share their experiences navigating these crises and advancing human rights through feminist organizing. Their leadership across movements demonstrates the power of collective advocacy for justice. Join us in person or online to connect and take action—register now!
Partner Events at CSW69
What Would the World Look Like if it was Built from Girls’ Dreams?
📅 Exhibit Open March 9-14, 11am to 6pm
📍 GG & POP Institute, 345 E 104th St, New York, NY 10029
What would the world look like, feel like, and be like if it fully supported the power, dreams, and resistance of girls? This immersive exhibition is not just a display—it is an invocation of resistance, a commitment to daring to dream, and a collective declaration that to be a girl is to be powerful. Featuring the voices and visions of Black girls, Dalit girls, Indigenous girls, refugee and migrant girls, queer girls, and girls with disabilities, this exhibition affirms their lived experiences and asserts their rightful place in shaping our future.
📅 Thursday, March 13, 2025, 10:30 AM EST
📍 All Souls Congregation, 1157 Lexington Ave at E 80th, New York City & Virtual
Migrant women are still fighting for inclusion in global gender equality policies. This event will launch the new policy brief “Thirty Years since Beijing: Women in Migration Still Seek Inclusion in the Gender Equity and Equality Agenda” and push for renewed commitments to migrant women’s rights.
📅 Wednesday, March 12, 2025
📍 Ralph Bunch Plaza, New York City
Feminist movements worldwide are under attack—but we refuse to go back. This march and rally will bring together women’s rights defenders, labor activists, and climate justice advocates to demand action against the backlash on gender equity, workers’ rights, and trans rights. We insist on ALL Rights for ALL Women! Join the movement as we march through NYC and rally for human rights for all.
📅 Friday, March 14, 2025, 12:30 – 2:30 PM EST
📍 Church Center, 777 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017
Haitian feminist and human rights activists are mobilizing for justice amid Haiti’s political and humanitarian crisis. This panel will explore the urgent need for gender-responsive policies, protections against gender-based violence, and global solidarity in Haiti’s transition process.
CSW69 is a pivotal moment for global feminist advocacy, and we are honored to be alongside movement leaders fighting for a just and equitable future. Whether you join us in person or online, don’t miss this opportunity to engage in powerful conversations, connect with grassroots activists, and take action for gender justice.
