Celebrity Media Alliance News Brief: Against the backdrop of the continuously deepening global gender equality agenda, the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) will convene at United Nations Headquarters in New York. This session takes access to justice as its core focus, advancing equality and empowerment for women and girls. Discussions will center on equal access to justice for women and girls, women’s participation in public life, and the elimination of gender-based violence, serving as a key platform for the international community to coordinate policy positions and build consensus for action.

The 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women is jointly organized by UN Women and the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

Meeting Dates: March 9–19, 2026  Venue: United Nations Headquarters, New York, USA.

 Notably, as early as March 2025, Celebrity Media actively planned and hosted multiple women-themed events at and around United Nations Headquarters. Among them, during the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, the “Women for Peace: Arts and Ideas Forum” was held, using artistic and intellectual exchange to highlight women’s unique role in peace and sustainable development and to explore bridges between cultural expression and public issues. These practices provide valuable real-world references for further deepening the linkage between “Women–Peace–Development” at CSW70.

I. Background and Nature of the Meeting

The Commission on the Status of Women is the principal intergovernmental body within the United Nations system dedicated to promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women. It convenes annually, bringing together government representatives, UN entities, international organizations, and civil society groups focused on women’s rights to consult and coordinate on global gender policies. As the UN system’s hub for advancing the gender agenda, UN Women plays a central role in conference preparation, agenda-setting, and policy coordination.

II. Key Themes of This Session

1. Priority Theme: Strengthening Equal Access to Justice for Women and Girls
   The session will focus on “ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls,” emphasizing:
   — Promoting fair and inclusive legal systems;
   — Eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices;
   — Addressing structural barriers caused by institutional bias and unequal resource distribution.
   This theme is directly linked to legal protection, accessibility of remedies, and gender sensitivity in judicial procedures, and is regarded as a foundational pillar for achieving substantive equality.
2. Review Theme: Promoting Women’s Full Participation and Eliminating Violence
   The session will also review women’s full and effective participation in public life and decision-making, as well as the elimination of violence against women and girls. Topics include political participation, gender balance in leadership, and security protections, underscoring that gender equality is not only a legal issue but also a profound social and cultural transformation.

III. Organization and Agenda Overview

CSW70 comprises formal plenary meetings, ministerial discussions, thematic roundtables, policy dialogues, country statements, and regional and thematic group exchanges, alongside numerous parallel side events organized by governments and non-governmental organizations. The session also aligns with International Women’s Day on March 8, further amplifying its social impact.

IV. Stakeholders and Diverse Voices

National delegations share experiences and challenges in improving access to justice and strengthening gender equality policies; UN system entities provide data and policy analysis support; and ECOSOC-accredited NGOs and civil society representatives voice grassroots and cross-regional perspectives through official channels and NGO forums. Youth participation continues to rise, becoming a notable feature of the session.

V. Expected Outcomes and Impact

1. Adoption of the Agreed Conclusions, providing international reference for member states in formulating and adjusting relevant policies;
2. Advancement of legal and policy reform initiatives to enhance women’s access to justice and safety protections;
3. Strengthening global cooperation and monitoring mechanisms, and improving gender equality indicator frameworks.

VI. Trend Observations

This session indicates that international consensus on access to justice is further strengthening, with the scope of discussion extending from traditional legal reform to inequalities in the digital era; women’s public participation and the elimination of violence are being incorporated into an integrated policy framework, reflecting a more comprehensive approach to gender governance; and the growing influence of civil society and youth is facilitating the integration of diverse perspectives into the global gender agenda.

Overall, CSW70 not only continues the United Nations’ institutional efforts in the field of gender equality, but also lays a new policy foundation for future global action to empower women and girls through multi-level and multi-stakeholder participation mechanisms.