Speech: The Political Declaration’s vision must be made real – Change is there now to be grasped
Closing remarks by UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous at the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, on 21 March 2025, at UN Headquarters.
[As delivered.]
This Commission on the Status of Women has shown that, whatever the headwinds, the United Nations is still the place where consensus can be found on gender equality. As this 69th Commission on the Status of Women closes, we share a deep recognition of the challenges and opportunities of gender equality. They have been articulated frequently, eloquently, and effectively these last two weeks—in an exceptional year.
We have seen stakeholders—be they from within or outside of government, national, global, or grassroots—we have seen them come together in a shared agenda and determination to do more together than could be done alone.
I thank His Excellency Ambassador Abdulaziz Alwasil of Saudi Arabia as Chair of the Commission who, together with the very able Vice Chairs and co-facilitators of the Political Declaration, her Excellency, Ms. Maritza Chan Valverde of Costa Rica and Ms. Dúnia Eloisa Pires do Canto of Cabo Verde, so ably shepherded the Political Declaration to a consensual outcome.
I also thank the Vice Chairs, Ms. Robin Maria de Vogel of the Netherlands and Ms. Nataliia Mudrenko of Ukraine, for advancing the multi-year programme of work and serving as the rapporteur for the session, respectively.
I believe that I speak for all of us when I say that this Bureau, under Saudi Arabia’s leadership, managed immense challenges and, even in the face of strong headwinds, was able to stay the course for ALL women and girls.
I thank Saudi Arabia also for sharing your story of progress and women’s empowerment through your different side events, and through the special musical opening and various exhibitions on the margins of the Commission.
Allow me to congratulate and celebrate all the women who have assumed leadership positions this very week. In Namibia, the first woman President, who is inaugurated today. In Tunisia, the new woman Prime Minister, appointed yesterday. And at the International Olympics Committee, the first woman and the first African President.
This year we mark 30 years since the Beijing Declaration, 25 since Security Council resolution 1325, five years to go until 2030, and 15 years since the establishment of UN Women. We salute all women and girls around in the world, in different contexts and in different situations.
These anniversaries that we are talking about are more than moments in time: they are rallying cries, essential calls to action, powerful reminders that, as the Beijing Declaration affirms, women’s rights are human rights.
In a world under strain, the multilateral system is more essential than ever. And among the greatest rewards it offers these United Nations is its unique contribution to delivering on the promise of gender equality for ALL women and girls.
We share a deep sadness at the ceasefire in Gaza being shattered, at more civilians killed, more women and girls displaced and denied the necessities that dignity demands. We salute all women living in conflict for their courage and their resilience. And, also, we call for peace for all women and girls. We call for peace worldwide, and we stand in solidarity alongside all those women and girls enduring suffering in conflict zones around the world.
This CSW69 has sent a clear message in the Political Declaration. That message lies not only in its content but in the consensus and the commitment to progress it represents. We can all be proud to have been a part of this Political Declaration.
The Political Declaration “affirms that gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls are essential for sustainable development and fulfilling our pledge to leave no one behind”. It recognizes that, “30 years after the Fourth World Conference on Women, no country has fully achieved gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls [and] that major gaps and obstacles remain”.
The Political Declaration is both commitment and challenge. Let no one underestimate what was achieved here at this CSW and the impact it will have on the lives of women and girls.
The Political Declaration’s steps forward are substantial, demanding that we:
- advance the Women, Peace, and Security agenda with financing for National Action Plans;
- confront gender-based violence in all its forms—from the online threats to sexual violence in conflict;
- ensure women’s equal participation in decision-making;
- invest in education, STEM, and digital inclusion;
- strengthen our commitment to human rights addressing intersecting forms of discrimination;
- deliver concrete policies on care and social protection; and
- hold ourselves accountable—ensuring that funding and data drive real progress on gender equality.
The Declaration also reaffirms our shared commitment to CSW revitalization, to the Pact for the Future, and the Secretary-General’s System-wide Gender Equality Acceleration Plan.
And it calls for the nomination of women for future UN leadership positions, for Secretary-General, and for President of the General Assembly.
This is indeed an impressive list. We have seen that these crucial commitments enjoy wide support at many levels.
This year’s CSW drew over 13,000 participants in total: 186 Member States were represented, among them one Vice President, three Deputy Prime Ministers, and 97 Ministers. We also had the participation of over 5,845 NGO representatives—a new record for CSW—and we had a total of 283 side events, many spearheaded by Member States.
Across CSW, we heard from young feminists, girl leaders, and civil society, including in a powerful Civil Society Townhall with the Secretary-General.
This year, we once again raised the bar for the energy in the corridors. Anyone working for the cause of gender equality who seeks to be inspired or energized could have done no better than to spend the last two weeks here with you all.
Allow me to extend a special thank you to the youth delegates and to civil society who were so indispensable throughout this CSW. I know for many the journey here was not easy. I salute you, your courage, and your unstoppable determination.
Our job now, as it is every year, is to take our commitments, this energy, from these halls to the places where women and girls live their lives. Because our efforts are judged not here, but there.
To this end, and in light of the 30th anniversary of Beijing, I offer you two proposals:
First, we must continue to find consensus, even in difficult times. Not consensus at any price, nor consensus for its own sake, but consensus because we have shown that consensus on progress is not just possible, it is there to be achieved. And this year, you have achieved it.
Second, we must continue to examine every decision, every investment, every policy and more, to align it with the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and this Political Declaration. The Beijing+30 Action Agenda also serves as a practical guide to potential priorities in 2025 and beyond.
I will close by echoing, as I did at the opening of this august body, the words of the Beijing Declaration: “[to advance] the goals of equality, development and peace for all women everywhere in the interest of all humanity”.
We have everything to gain from gender equality. The Declaration’s vision must be made real. Change is long-overdue, we have been promised it too long, and it is there now to be grasped.
It has been an honour and a pleasure to work with all of you at this CSW69, and I look forward to working with you in the years ahead.
I thank you very much.
