The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), a functional commission of ECOSOC since 1946, is widely regarded as the UN’s principal intergovernmental body dedicated to advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
CSW70 was held from 9–19 March 2026 at UN Headquarters in New York. Due to the UN’s official holiday observance of Eid al-Fitr, no meetings took place on UN premises on 20 March as previously scheduled, and the session closed on 19 March.
The priority theme for CSW70 was: ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls—by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices, and addressing structural barriers.
The review theme focused on women’s full and effective participation and decision-making in public life, as well as eliminating violence, as part of advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
On civil society participation, the UN’s Indico listing notes that registration for ECOSOC-accredited NGOs ran from 3 October 2025 to 23 January 2026, with no late registrations accepted. It also states that, due to space constraints, attendance should not exceed 20 representatives per organization.
The UN further emphasizes that it does not charge fees for participation and does not cover participants’ travel-related expenses.
