Worrying Trends and shifting language
We are increasingly witnessing worrying trends at the CSW that mirror a backlash on women’s rights in the broader world. The US challenged so-called ‘gender jargon’ and stated to be “committed to protecting the precious gift of life, including the protection of baby girls who would have been aborted, merely because they are female.” Anti-rights groups descended on the second week, and held side events with the Holy See around similar themes on ‘gender ideology’. Reports of bullying the facilitator of the CSW Agreed Outcomes were also deeply worrying and calls for condemnation by all. The UN must remain the bastion of human rights and progressive policies. The role of watchdog and one of diligence is crucial more so than ever. More information can be found in the article of PassBlue, providing independent coverage of the UN: The US Goes ‘Bonkers’ at the UN Women’s Conference.EWL at the CSW
The EWL delegation, composed of the President, two vice-presidents and Mary Collins from the Secretariat, undertook a series of events and meetings during the first week of the CSW. Prior to attending, the EWL prepared a briefing document for members, which includes the EWL Statement and information on the side events, and facilitated exchange of information amongst them. Thanks to the EU Mission in New York, a meeting room was allocated for meetings with members. A meeting took place with the EWL’s new member from Iceland, The Icelandic Women’s Rights Association (IWRA) – Kvenréttindafélag Ísland. The EWL also met with a delegation from Romania, Spain and Norway to discuss violence against women and strategies to support the Romanian Presidency for the EU ratification of the Istanbul Convention. A presentation and discussion on the EWL recent publication: The time is now for a feminist Europe – the state of women’s rights in Central Eastern Europe, the Balkans and the Baltic States, was also held. EWL 50/50 campaign and Manifesto were also presented.
- Slovenian government side-event on Building safe and empowering digital spaces for women and girls, Vice-President, Ana Sofia Fernandes, was a speaker and presented the EWL #HerNetHerRights . A lot of interest was generated especially on the cyber violence training, which led to further presentations throughout the week, notably at a business event (WeEmpower –Win Win Forum) and an interview with the Portuguese television.
- High level Ministerial Interactive Dialogue, President Gwendoline Lefebvre, addressed the Ministerial Dialogue, with a three-minute presentation of EWL’s priorities on Building alliances for social protection systems, access to public services and sustainable infrastructure for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

- Romanian Presidency-EWL side event on Gender Budgeting, chaired by Vice-President Laura Albu, speakers included the Secretary of State, National Agency for Equal Opportunities, Romania, Vice-Minister for Women and Equality, Austria, Director, Gender Equality Unit, Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, EIGE, ENoMW, EWL former President, Viviane Teitlebaum and EWL members from Sweden, Portugal.
- Meeting of the Executive with Ana Maria Menendez, Senior Policy Advisor to the UN Secretary General. The main issues discussed related to Beijing +25 in the context of growing populism and the risk of backlash, and EWL’s concerns regarding the use of the term ‘sex work’ in the context of the CEDAW recommendation on trafficking in the context of migration and the forthcoming ILO Convention on harassment at work. On the latter issue, it appears that the ILO is not required to follow UN agreed language and, although linked to the UN, it has a ‘special’ status. We will investigate this further.

- European-North America Caucus, Mary Collins was elected to the core group which includes:
- Europe: Zarin Hainsworth, Ulla Madsen, Mary Collins
- North America: Patricia (Trich) Masniuk (Canada), Daniela Chivu (Canada), Nina Smart (USA), Luci Chickowero (USA).