The CSW68 Opens with a strong Commitment to enhance Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment.

The African Union (AU) and its Observer Mission to the UN participated on 11 March 2024, at the opening ceremony of the 68th annual Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68), at the UN Headquarters in New York, USA. Holding under the priority theme, “Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective”.
The African Union (AU) delegation who attended this official opening of the UN’s largest annual gathering on Gender Equality and Women’s empowerment (GEWE) , was led by H.E Amb. Fatima Kyari Mohammed, Head of the AU Permanent Observer Mission to the UN and H.E Mme. Bineta Diop, Special Envoy of the AUC Chairperson on Women, Peace and Security. The Directorate of Women, Gender and Youth (WGYD) of the AUC was also in attendance.
Addressing the General Assembly during the opening of the CSW68, UNSG António Guterres underlined that, women and girls are the greatest victims of conflicts and violence. He noted that the situation in Sudan and Gaza is preoccupying and that a call to that effect, for an immediate seize fire was made to enable at least families to pass this Ramadan period peacefully, “by silencing the guns”. “ We cannot accept a world where women are not given their entire rights” concluded the UNSG.
At CSW68, governments, civil society organizations, experts and activists from across the world convened at the UN to agree on actions and investments that can end women’s poverty and advance gender equality. The 68th edition of the CSW will consist of impactful debates during which different thematic issues will be discussed. The global event will end on 22 March 2024.
The CSW is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. A functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the CSW is instrumental in promoting women’s rights, documenting the realities of women’s lives throughout the world, and shaping global standards on gender equality and the empowerment of women. It brings together key actors in the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) arena and has continued to be driven by women themselves, as part either of official government delegations, intergovernmental, non-governmental or as part of the global women ’s movement.

The CSW meets annually over a two-week session and follows a focussed and thematic approach defined through a multi-year programme of work, with defined annual themes and a review theme. The principal outcome of the CSW is the Agreed Conclusions (AC) on the priority theme set for each year, which contains among others, an assessment of progress, as well as of gaps and challenges. In particular, the AC contains a set of concrete recommendations for action by Governments, intergovernmental bodies, civil society actors and other relevant stakeholders, to be implemented at the international, national, regional and local levels. The outcomes and recommendations of each session are forwarded to ECOSOC for follow-up.

For more information, please contact:
Dr. Jeanne Flora Kayitesi, Women, Gender and Youth Directorate (WGYD), AUC, email: kayitesiJF@africa-union.org
For media inquiries, please contact:
Ms. Esther Azaa Tankou | Head, Media and Information Division, Communication Adviser, Permanent Observer Mission to the UN | Information and Communications Directorate | E-mail: yamboue@africa-uinon.org , Tel: +251911361185 / +1 3478127195 (WhatsApp)
Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org 
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