Blog by Sarah Barnbrook, SI Melbourne(SISEAP)
SI CSW70 Delegate
Event: Girls’ Access to Essential Services in Crisis Settings
Organiser: Zonta International and UNICEF USA
Date: 9 March 2026, 2:30 PM
Location: Church Center for the United Nations (CCUN), 11th Floor
Format: CSW70 Parallel Event
Access to reliable information can be life changing for women and girls living through humanitarian crises. This in person CSW70 parallel event hosted by Zonta International and UNICEF USA explored how thoughtful technology can help bridge gaps in information, protection, and essential services.
The session introduced Laaha, a digital safe space created for and by women and girls. The platform provides accessible information about sexual and reproductive health, gender based violence, and available support services in humanitarian and development contexts. Participants were able to explore the virtual interface and see how it offers girls a safe way to access trusted information when traditional support systems may be difficult to reach.
UNICEF speakers Ruth Graham-Goulder, Senior Advisor for Gender Equality, and Sheema Sen Gupta, Director of Child Protection, shared how partnerships and collaborative design are helping scale solutions like Laaha. Importantly, the platform was developed with direct input from women and girls in crisis settings so that it reflects their realities and priorities.
