Forward for Equality:
UN CSW69 Philippine Delegation Reports Back to the Nation
The only direction for gender equality and women empowerment is unequivocally forward, never backward.
Amid “gender pushback” from some United Nations (UN) member states, the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) held from March 10 to 21, 2025 at the UN Headquarters in New York City adopted via consensus a Political Declaration, which reaffirms global commitments to gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls, stressing the need to respect, protect, and promote their human rights and fundamental freedoms throughout their life course.
Within the two-week session attended by 186 member states and 13,000 participants—one vice president, three deputy ministers, 97 ministers, and 5,845 nongovernmental organization (NGO) representatives—the Philippine Delegation reasserted the country’s political will and underscored its unbridled commitment to tackling and addressing existing and emerging challenges faced by women and girls.
They delivered 12 interventions (general discussions, ministerial roundtables, and interactive dialogues), participated in 13 bilateral meetings, led three side events, co-sponsored seven side events, and met with Eritrea, Singapore, Grenada, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Hungary, Club de Madrid, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), UNAIDS, International Women’s Peace Group, Global Alliance for Care, Australia, and Global System for Mobile Communications Association, achieving significant gains and bringing home tangible victories for gender equality and women empowerment.
Led by Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) Chairperson Ermelita V. Valdeavilla, the Philippine Delegation forcefully contributed to the Political Declaration on migration, care agenda, vulnerable groups, combating trafficking, and eliminating violence against women and their children (VAWC). In addition, they strongly advocated for ethical and safe development and use of technology, addressing barriers to digital inclusion and access of women and girls and developing gender-responsive strategies on climate change mitigation and adaptation.
In total, the UN CSW69 had 283 side events participated by member states, UN agencies, the civil society, and NGOs accredited by the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC).
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