United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW70)

Since 2000, Mothers’ Union has had special consultative status at the United Nations (UN), through the annual commission on the status of women. The next commission will take place in New York between 9 and 19 March, at the UN Headquarters.

Each year, we submit a statement on the theme of the meeting, and for this year, we joined together with a number of other organizations, in order to have greater impact. The theme for this year is: “Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, and safety for women, especially in public life.”

We submitted a statement together with a number of likeminded organisations, including the National Alliance of Women’s Organisations (NAWO), Widows Rights International, and HelpAge International. A full copy of the paper can be found here.

The paper calls for ‘the inherent wealth that every single human being contributes to the whole’ to be recognised and notes the ‘key role that all relationships play in sustaining human society’. The collective call is for more action to address online content and activity, noting that in Europe women are 27 times more likely to be harassed online than men, and to address the disproportionate impact which conflict has on women and girls.

Most recently in 2024, Mothers’ Union sent an in-person delegation to UNCSW including Board Member Mathilde Nkwuriye and CEO Bev Jullien. The focus was on campaigning for funding for literacy for all women, recognising that 480 million women worldwide are still illiterate.

This year, we will not be present in person but have the opportunity to join the online NGO forum. You too can join the forum; it is free and quick to register with your email address using this link.

The Anglican Communion Office will be sending a small delegation and has invited any MU members who are interested in dipping into the extensive range of online sessions on the forum to join a briefing in early March. If you are interested, please do contact bev.jullien@mothersunion.org, who will ensure that you are put in contact.