After being granted special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, ACTLAB was able to make a submission regarding the importance of women’s rights, gender equality, and development for peace in the 21st century. Our statement will soon be circulated with partners and other organisations and NGOs as part of the sixty-fifth session of the Commission on the Status of Women.
Many societies build themselves upon matriarchal foundations to achieve sustainable development. However, the UN and ACTLAB recognise that the women who prop-up our communities are often left behind in education, employment opportunities, and access to healthcare. As such, it is vital that as we act in collaboration with our development partners to voice our support and implement actionable change for girls and women around the globe.
We began our submission by outlining the critical data which shows, on a global level, we are falling short of previously set targets. We suggest that our attention needs to remain on remedying the systemic inequities and violence suffered by girls and women. It is vital that we not only focus on high-profile, widely-accepted solutions, but also commit to action on deeply entrenched norms, behaviors, and structures that continue to drive inequalities and imbalances.
Political will, together with robust resources, are required to create mechanisms that effectively protect the rights of women and girls and promote women’s empowerment throughout their entire lives. Despite contributing significantly to their families and economies, too many women are limited in their life options and opportunities,
and strategic action is vital to create the conditions in which they can develop their full potential.
We regard our work in this sphere to be crucial in continuing the push to achieve and surpass local and global objectives. Our receiving of special consultative status from the UN not only recognises our previous successes but also positions ACTLAB as a key partner in collaboratively achieving equality for all.
Statement will become available six weeks prior to CSW65 commencement on the CSW website at https://www.unwomen.org/en/csw/csw65-2021