In 2024, a year marked by significant milestones, the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68) gathers amidst global changes. With an array of nations on the cusp of vital elections, discussions on poverty and inequality—CSW's central themes—gain critical momentum, central as they are to electoral agendas across the world.
Recognizing that our times are defined by profound disparities in wealth and social equity, the agency and resilience of youth, particularly young women, and girls, emerge as vital forces for change. Their dynamic engagement in past CSWs, which was amplified during Generation Equality Forum and other UN forums, prepared the groundwork for a strategy focused on elevating their voice and leadership.
Following the Generation Equality Midpoint Moment and as the Summit of the Future and Beijing+30 approach, the importance of these platforms grows, providing a crucial space for expressing the diverse viewpoints arising from CSW debates. The convergence of these events with the consultations for Beijing+30 presents a unique opportunity to weave the learnings from Generation Equality, the accountability framework recommendations, the meaningful youth engagement case study and CSW findings into wider discussions, enhancing the impact in this pivotal year.
UN Women will continue to push for systematic and sustainable engagement of adolescent girls and youth in intergovernmental processes. It recognizes the vital role that young people play as partners in advocacy, particularly the young women who are at the forefront of demanding accountability and catalyzing dialogues on gender equality.
In fulfilling this obligation, we are committed to foregrounding their expertise and leadership at CSW68. We will ensure that their engagement is substantive, and their voices are not just heard but are influential in shaping outcomes.
The meaningful engagement of youth and adolescent activists during CSW68 will be through:
• Strengthening youth capacities through workshops on the structure of CSW and this year’s priority theme.
• Development of youth and adolescent recommendations in preparation for engaging with the Zero Draft, which include building a common set of positions to influence the broader civil society positions including governments.
• Youth Forum during the 68th session on the Commission on the Status of Women.
CSW68 youth and adolescent engagement opportunities
1. Youth Interactive Dialogue with Youth Representatives
14 March, 3:00 – 6:00 PM, CR 4 UN Secretariat
The interactive dialogue with youth representatives will focus on the exchange of experiences, sharing knowledge, lessons learned and good practices on the role of young people in addressing poverty, strengthening institutions and financing from a gender perspective.
2. CSW68 Youth Forum
15 March, 4:45 - 6:00 PM, CR 6 UN Secretariat
16 March, 9:00 AM- 5:00 PM, and 17 March, 9:00 AM- 1:00 PM.
The in-person Youth Forum will host 250 youth and adolescent participants, featuring a diverse and international gathering of young individuals, who will critically examine the impacts of current socio-economic crises on women and girls and provide their recommendations for strengthening accountability mechanisms, and present a set of commitments for advocating gender-responsive reforms in public institutions.
As seating is limited, attendance is by invite only. Registration is now open. Click here to register.
For inquiries, please contact youth.engage@unwomen.org