Progress at CSW70 despite increasing pushbacks against gender equality
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Shobha Shukla – CNS
The 70th session of the intergovernmental UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) - UN's largest annual forum on gender equality – which began on 9th March 2026, is to conclude on 19th March 2026 at UN Headquarters in New York. This year’s priority theme under discussion was "Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, and addressing structural barriers."
In an historic departure from 70 years of consensus-based decision-making, the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) adopted its outcome document (Agreed Conclusions) for the 70th session (CSW70/2026) through a recorded vote on 9th March 2026.
For the first time in the 70 years’ history of CSW (which consists of 45 elected member-countries), the outcome document was adopted via a formal vote rather than by consensus, thanks to the retaliatory stand taken by the USA.
USA introduced eight oral amendments aimed at altering the draft text to align with its own positions on issues including against abortion, gender identity, and diversity, equity and inclusion.
When these amendments proposed by USA were defeated by other CSW member countries, the U.S. forced a recorded vote on the entire document. Ultimately the CSW70 document of agreed conclusions was adopted with 37 votes in favour and 1 against (the USA), and 6 abstentions (from Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Mali, Mauritania and Saudi Arabia).
This rare break from consensus to a vote highlights a widening global political divide over gender rights and is a sign of increasing pressure and push- back against existing human rights language, particularly regarding gender equality.
CSW Chair Maritza Chan Valverde from Costa Rica said that every effort has been made to listen to delegations and to reflect the diversity of views expressed. Stressing that hard-won progress on gender equality must not be reversed, she said “We are convinced that the text represents the most balanced outcome achievable at this stage”.
Is the outcome document of CSW70 good enough?
Maitree Muzumdar, co-founder Feminist Manch and co-convener of the Young Feminist Caucus and the Women’s Rights Caucus, lamented that CSW70 negotiations took place amid a global rollback of rights, shrinking civic space, rising authoritarianism and militarism, and deepening economic crisis. These dynamics shape the multilateral system including CSW.
"The decision to break consensus and proceed to a vote, underscores how deeply contested commitments to gender equality, human rights, and access to justice remain in this current geopolitical moment.
(To be contd)
The 70th session of the intergovernmental UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) - UN's largest annual forum on gender equality – which began on 9th March 2026, is to conclude on 19th March 2026 at UN Headquarters in New York. This year’s priority theme under discussion was "Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, and addressing structural barriers."
In an historic departure from 70 years of consensus-based decision-making, the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) adopted its outcome document (Agreed Conclusions) for the 70th session (CSW70/2026) through a recorded vote on 9th March 2026.
For the first time in the 70 years’ history of CSW (which consists of 45 elected member-countries), the outcome document was adopted via a formal vote rather than by consensus, thanks to the retaliatory stand taken by the USA.
USA introduced eight oral amendments aimed at altering the draft text to align with its own positions on issues including against abortion, gender identity, and diversity, equity and inclusion.
When these amendments proposed by USA were defeated by other CSW member countries, the U.S. forced a recorded vote on the entire document. Ultimately the CSW70 document of agreed conclusions was adopted with 37 votes in favour and 1 against (the USA), and 6 abstentions (from Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Mali, Mauritania and Saudi Arabia).
This rare break from consensus to a vote highlights a widening global political divide over gender rights and is a sign of increasing pressure and push- back against existing human rights language, particularly regarding gender equality.
CSW Chair Maritza Chan Valverde from Costa Rica said that every effort has been made to listen to delegations and to reflect the diversity of views expressed. Stressing that hard-won progress on gender equality must not be reversed, she said “We are convinced that the text represents the most balanced outcome achievable at this stage”.
Is the outcome document of CSW70 good enough?
Maitree Muzumdar, co-founder Feminist Manch and co-convener of the Young Feminist Caucus and the Women’s Rights Caucus, lamented that CSW70 negotiations took place amid a global rollback of rights, shrinking civic space, rising authoritarianism and militarism, and deepening economic crisis. These dynamics shape the multilateral system including CSW.
"The decision to break consensus and proceed to a vote, underscores how deeply contested commitments to gender equality, human rights, and access to justice remain in this current geopolitical moment.
(To be contd)