Blog by Gaia Paradiso, SI Piacenza (SIE)
Si CSW70 Delegate
During the first week of the Commission on the Status of Women, themed “Rights, Justice and Action for All Women and Girls”, I attended four key conferences worth discussing and sharing knowledge on. The topics of these events revolved around women in peace and security/women at the peace negotiating tables, women’s political participation/women in decision-making, and parental leave/women’s health.
Brief summary:
Townhall meeting with United Nations Secretary-General (SG) António Guterres – 10 March 2026
The key messages from SG revolved around pushing back against patriarchy, power relations, and the position of power and privilege in a male-dominated culture. Full remarks, here.
CSW70 North America and Europe Caucus – 11 March 2026
Interactivity, collaboration and a tangible strategy for CSW70 were the outcomes of the discussions: ideas of crafting a women’s organisations official statement to be shared with media/press, the US ambassador to the United Nations, the UN SG, and the head of CSW70. Moreover, the essential elements of inter-caucus communication, sharing of best practices, and global conversations emerged as of paramount importance to keep advocating effectively for women’s rights.
Parental leave in business and practice – 11 March 2026
The panel, led by the organisation Make Mothers Matter, focused on academic, business and government statistics to showcase the positive impact of parental leave—benefiting the parents (less risk of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, PMADs), the developing child, the equity of childcare practices, and the economy. Drawing from the best practices worldwide (Iceland and Spain), the event concluded on the need to implement legal frameworks for equal days and paid parental leave for mothers and fathers.
Her Justice, Her Vote: Strengthening Legal Pathways for Somali Women’s Political Empowerment – hosted by the Permanent Mission of Sweden to the United Nations – 13 March 2026
The discussion addressed eliminating female genital mutilation (FGM), the provision of access to medical healthcare, obstetric care and psychosocial support for women and girls’ survivors of gender-based violence in conflict. The event provided an overview of the key results from Phase I of the Women, Peace and Protection Joint Programme, which aims to address systemic barriers to Somali women’s representation and meaningful participation in political and public spheres. Progress can be achieved notably by (I) strengthening protection frameworks, (II) enhancing women’s coordination and influence, (III) improving protection and support services (one-stop centres delivering integrated legal, psychosocial and health services for women and survivors), and (IV) witnessing positive social norm shifts by involving traditional and religious leaders.
The next United Nations Secretary-General (SG) must be a Woman! – 13 March 2026
The panel explored the process for the UN SG election, through this article on Pass Blue: Not Any Person, Not Any Woman, Not Any Man. The first woman SG must demonstrate a moral compass, merit, ideals in practice, a strategic communications team, expertise in multilateral organisations, resilience, creativity, and strategic analysis, while serving as a role model for women and always advocating for women’s rights and gender equality. She must engage with diverse media platforms, TV shows, radio programmes, and interviews to amplify her vision statement to press, NGOs, civil society, and the members of the Security Council and the General Assembly.
The themes explored in these discussions reflect core elements of Soroptimist International’s mission to empower and enable women and girls, particularly through political participation, health advocacy, and the fight against gender-based violence.
