News

Day 7 – Tuesday 17th

Of course, I started the day with the Soroptimist International Briefing. The SI International briefing covered what will be happening at the closing session on Thursday – something quite unprecedented at CSW. I explain this further below, along with a summary of the sessions I attended.

But feel free to scroll to the end for the fun stuff! 

Agreed Conclusions

Following the adoption of the Agreed Conclusions on Monday 9th, the closing session is expected to see further action driven by the United States, which has continued to challenge the outcome document.

To understand this, it’s important to know that the Agreed Conclusions are the main negotiated outcome of CSW – effectively a global policy roadmap that sets standards and expectations for how countries advance gender equality on the CSW theme (this year = access to justice). They are usually adopted by consensus, meaning all countries agree (even if with reservations).

However, this year was highly unusual:   The United States rejected the agreed text and forced a vote – the first time in CSW’s 70-year history that this has happened.
It also proposed eight amendments aimed at removing or weakening language on:

• gender and gender equality
• sexual and reproductive health and rights
• diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI)

These amendments were rejected, and the final document was adopted with:

• 37 votes in favour
• 1 against (United States)
• 6 abstentions

So what is the US trying to do now?

Although the Agreed Conclusions have already been adopted, the US is now reportedly seeking to reopen or challenge elements of the outcome through further resolutions or procedural moves.

 In simple terms:

They are continuing efforts to roll back agreed language, particularly around the definition of gender and broader human rights protections.
This reflects a wider political position that views certain gender equality language as “ideological” or not universally agreed. 

At the SI Briefing, we were being encouraged to Contact our national missions and encourage them to: 

• Reinforce support for the Agreed Conclusions as adopted.
• Push back against attempts to weaken or reinterpret key language 

The abstaining states – ones to watch

The countries that abstained in Monday’s vote are particularly important in this next stage:

Côte d’Ivoire
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Egypt
Mali
Mauritania
Saudi Arabia 

Why they matter:

These states did not fully support the Agreed Conclusions, but also did not oppose them outright.
During negotiations, some of these countries expressed concerns about specific language and requested more time for discussion.
In earlier procedural votes, a broader group of countries (including Nigeria and Pakistan) also abstained on the US amendments, signalling mixed positions.

As explained at the SI Briefing, at the heart of this issue is not just technical wording – it’s about whether long-standing international agreements on gender equality are upheld or weakened. The concern raised in SI briefings (and widely across civil society) is that:

Reopening language, particularly around “gender”, risks undoing decades of agreed definitions and protections.
If one country can successfully challenge agreed language after adoption, it could set a precedent for future rollbacks.

Civil Society Briefing – UN 80 Reforms at UN Headquarters

This morning’s civil society briefing provided a rare, candid look at the UN80 reform agenda – a major institutional overhaul launched last year to strengthen the UN system ahead of its 80th anniversary. The Under‑Secretary‑General explained that the reforms are structured around three workstreams: 

1. improving efficiency across the Secretariat (the UN have already implemented a 9.2% reduction in administrative costs and consolidation of services); 
2. reviewing more than 40,000 mandates issued over the past eight years to determine which remain relevant and properly resourced; and 
3. assessing deeper structural changes across the UN’s regional architecture, country presence, and program alignment. A new civil society engagement strategy is also being implemented, with a dedicated staff member now working full‑time on strengthening NGO participation.

 A significant portion of the briefing focused on the ongoing assessment of a potential UN Women–UN Population Fund (UNFPA) merger. Both Executive Directors emphasised that the review is not about cost‑cutting, but about whether the current institutional architecture is fit for purpose in a world facing democratic erosion, backlash against gender equality, and rapid digital transformation. They outlined four non‑negotiables: 

1. mandate integrity must be preserved; 
2. gender equality must remain a system‑wide responsibility; 
3. civil society engagement must be protected; and 
4. any reform must strengthen – not weaken – the UN’s ability to push back against regression. 

 The assessment is nearing completion and will soon be shared with Member States and civil society. The message to NGOs was clear: be strong, be bold, be loud – because political decisions will ultimately determine the outcome.

Side Event: Pacific at the Frontlines of Climate and Security

Hosted by Solomon Islands Government with Pacific Friends 

This session was deeply moving and grounded in the lived realities of Pacific communities who are already experiencing the full force of the climate crisis. Government and NGO delegates from Solomon Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Tuvalu and Samoa – alongside Australia’s Permanent Representative and Ambassador to the UN James Larsen and Portugal’s Permanent Representative to the UN Rul Vinhas – emphasised that climate change is not a distant threat but a daily reality shaping livelihoods, security, and survival. Women and girls are disproportionately affected through displacement, loss of income, heightened caregiving responsibilities, and increased exposure to gender‑based violence. Yet they are also central to community resilience, carrying intergenerational knowledge and leading local responses.

Pacific leaders highlighted existing political commitments, including the Blue Pacific Ocean Declaration, and stressed that the region already has the will – what is needed is global action that centres Pacific voices. Speakers shared powerful examples of women’s leadership: organising water use during droughts, coordinating community clean‑ups after disasters, leading food security initiatives, and driving awareness campaigns. Civil society representatives reminded the room that when crises hit, women are the first responders, mobilising networks long before formal systems arrive. Tuvalu’s representative spoke about their request for an advisory opinion from the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. The emotional highlight came from the Tuvalu representative as well, when she spoke about just how existential climate change is for Pacific nations. 

The session closed with a call for genuine partnership, peer‑to‑peer learning, and recognition that climate justice is impossible without gender justice.

Parrellel Event: Violence, Racism & Risk: Supporting Migrant and Refugee Women

Hosted by Centre for Non-Violence, SSI and Curtin Uni amongst others

This session examined the escalating safety risks faced by migrant and refugee women in Australia, particularly those experiencing domestic and family violence. 

Prof Jaya Dantas opened with confronting statistics: 33% of migrant women experienced family and domestic violence in the past five years, with 91% reporting controlling behaviours and 40% of temporary visa holders experiencing FDV – far higher than citizens or permanent residents. WA Police data showed more than 42,000 domestic‑violence‑related offences in 2024–25, an 18% increase in a single year. Prof Dantas also presented findings from the SHAKTI Project, which documented how isolation during COVID‑19 increased vulnerability for migrant women, particularly those on temporary visas.

Dr Astrid Perry OAM emphasised that visa insecurity, racism, economic isolation and technology‑facilitated abuse intersect to create extreme vulnerability, especially for women with limited English or no access to Medicare or income support.

Margaret Augerinos shared case studies from regional Victoria, where barriers are intensified by distance, limited services and misidentification of victim‑survivors. In several cases, perpetrators weaponised visa conditions as coercive control – threatening deportation, withholding documents, or sabotaging study requirements. Technology‑facilitated abuse was present in almost every example. 

The panel highlighted systemic gaps: disjointed responsibilities between federal and state systems, lack of culturally specific data, exclusion of some visa categories from family violence provisions, and severe housing shortages. Their call to action centred on visa protections, bilingual specialist workforces, early intervention, and a centralised support system that recognises the unique risks faced by migrant and refugee women.

Fun Stuff

Amidst all of the above, I managed to find some time to stand on Fifth Avenue and watch the very famous New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade. I was thrilled to catch a glimpse of Zohran Mamdani – the newly elected Mayor of New York City. I lasted about an hour and a half before the freezing cold got the better of me!

To stay in the Irish spirit, that evening I went along to a performance at Carnegie Hall, celebrating traditional Irish music by Martin Hayes and special guests. It was absolutely spectacular. I’ve always wanted to visit Carnegie Hall ever since my first piano teacher bought me a grand piano pendant from there – so it felt very special to finally experience it in person.

Today, I felt especially connected to my deceased grandparents. At the parade, I thought of my paternal grandfather, Joey, as I watched navy veterans march by and heard a band play “New York, New York” – a song he used to sing. Joey served in the Navy during World War II and visited New York whilst serving, and he always said he wanted to return one day.

At Carnegie Hall, I felt the presence of my maternal grandmother (Big Nanna), who loved music and would have absolutely cherished the opportunity to hear a performance there.

And of course, another reason I felt deeply connected to my family and heritage was knowing that my DNA is 50% Irish!