Sonke Gender Justice at CSW68

We are delighted to announce our participation in the upcoming Commission on the Status of Women’s Rights(CSW68), focusing on 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‘, which will take place from March 11 to 22, 2024. Our participation in this event is part of our continued effort to promote gender justice and equality. We recognize that women and girls continue to face a range of challenges, including violence, discrimination, and unequal access to education and other resources.

Through our participation in CSW68, we hope to highlight these issues and advocate for policies and programs that promote gender equality. Our calendar for the event is packed with activities that are designed to engage with stakeholders from different sectors. We will be hosting parallel events, discussions and other events that will explore different aspects of gender justice. Some of the topics that we will be exploring include gender-based violence, women’s economic empowerment, and the role of men and boys in promoting gender equality. 

We invite everyone to join us at CSW68 and be part of many important conversations.

Event Schedule

CSW68 Ecumenical Women Orientation Day

A distinguished panel of faith leaders will address and unpack the priority theme at this 68th session of the CSW. Speakers will explore the themes of ending poverty, the impacts of financing for women’s projects and financing from a gender perspective as well as the role of women as leaders in the strengthening of global institutions.

Date: 9 March 2024

Venue: Tillman Chapel, CCU UN – 777 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017 (44th street and 1st avenue)

Commonwealth at the margins of UN CSW68: Commonwealth Women’s Forum Run-up Event 1 ‘Women’s Economic Empowerment – Key Component for Development’

The Commonwealth Secretariat is convening the first stepping-stone event to feed into the upcoming Commonwealth Women’s Forum to be held in Samoa in October 2024. This hybrid event seeks to consult Commonwealth member governments and women’s rights groups on ways to empower women in the economy as a means towards achieving sustainable development and resilient societies and economies.

Date: 10 March 2024

Venue: Commonwealth Joint Office, 685 Third Avenue (between 43rd & 44th Streets), New York

Parental leave and beyond: car policies and informally employed workers

This event will highlight the viability and implications of care focused policies for formally and informally employed working parents in low- and middle-income countries. Influenced by the advocacy of organizations like Sonke Gender Justice and RWAMREC, South Africa and Rwanda have recently improved parental leave policies. Many workers in Africa are however employed in the informal economy. The State of the World’s Fathers report 2023 provides insights about parents, care and care policies across varied economies in 16 countries, and global findings from the WORLD Policy Center highlights nuances of providing parental leave to workers in informal employment.

Date: 11 March 2024

Venue: Salvation Army Lower Level 221 E. 52nd St.

Accelerating gender equality in fragile settings: a focus on women and girls

The challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and climate crisis have exacerbated humanitarian emergencies, disproportionately affecting women and girls. From job losses to increased vulnerability to violence, women in fragile settings bear a disproportionate burden. Our event aims to address these challenges comprehensively, prioritizing women’s empowerment, access to essential services, and community resilience.

Date: 14 March 2024

Venue: UN Complex, CR-12, New York

Transnational Feminist Remix

Date: 14 March 2024

Venue: 320 East 43rd Street, New York, NY, 10017

Empowering local leaders for gender-inclusive education initiatives in Malawi & Uganda

Learn how local leaders in Malawi and Uganda are advancing gender equality in education through transformative initiatives. Explore successful strategies and community-led approaches.

Date: 21 March

Venue: SA Auditorium