UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN
69th SESSION IN-PERSON PANEL DISCUSSION
Increasing Challenges Faced by Women Civil Society Members:
Forms of Violations and Potential Solutions
10 March 2025, Monday at 12:30 PM | Church Center for the UN | New York
[New York – March 10, 2025] On the occasion of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) 69th Session, Journalists and Writers Foundation (JWF), in collaboration with the Refugees Unknown Stories Untold (RUSU), hosted a highly engaging parallel event entitled “Increasing Challenges Faced by Women Civil Society Members: Forms of Violations and Potential Solutions” on Monday, March 10, 2025 at the Church Center for the United Nations in New York. The discussion brought together a distinguished and diverse panel of women leaders, human rights advocates, and civil society members from around the world. The expert speakers offered valuable insights on the growing risks faced by women in civil society, particularly in contexts of conflict, displacement, and authoritarian regimes. They also shared best practices, strategies, and recommendations to address the legal, social, and systemic barriers to women’s full participation in public life.
Cemre Ulker, JWF’s Representative to the United Nations Department of Global Communications, as the moderator set a powerful tone for the session. She warmly welcomed attendees from various regions, including North Africa, South America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. She acknowledged the critical role CSW plays in mobilizing civil society leaders from around the world to advocate for gender equality. Ms. Ulker reaffirmed JWF’s mission to promote a culture of peace, human rights, and sustainable development through dialogue, policy recommendations, and collaborative platforms. She highlighted the organization’s work in connecting civil society actors from over 30 countries, sharing best practices, and elevating women’s voices at the United Nations. Cemre Ulker also referenced JWF’s growing network of international human rights defenders and expressed excitement at witnessing their collective strength during such pivotal moments at CSW and the UN General Assembly.
Vonya Womack, Executive Director of Refugees Unknown Stories Untold (RUSU) delivered the opening remarks by acknowledging the critical challenges faced by women in civil society, particularly those working in contexts of forced migration and displacement. Drawing on her organization’s experience supporting refugee women, Ms. Womack spoke of the need for urgent action to address the rising tide of violence and discrimination against women human rights defenders. She shared the powerful story of a Turkish journalist, Sevgi Akarcesme, who was forced into exile under bogus charges but continued her activism by publishing a memoir titled “Choices: The Life of a Turkish Journalist and Finding Freedom in Exile.” Vonya Womack stressed that these women are not only fighting for gender equality but also standing up against oppressive systems that seek to silence them. She called for solidarity, protection, and investment in women human rights defenders, emphasizing that their stories matter because they humanize data and statistics that often fail to capture the depth of their courage and sacrifice.
Sherine Tadros, Deputy Director of Advocacy and UN Representative at Amnesty International, delivered an impactful address reflecting on her experiences at the United Nations and the persistent exclusion of women from peace negotiations and high-level decision-making processes. She recounted a personal story from a few years earlier when a senior UN official dismissed her suggestion to include women human rights defenders in peace talks. Despite the existence of Security Council Resolution 1325 and its recognition of the critical role of women in peace and security, the official indicated that inviting women to the table would disrupt the negotiations. Ms. Tadros used this example to highlight the persistent and systemic barriers to women’s participation, even within institutions that claim to champion gender equality. She criticized the United Nations for making only cosmetic changes, such as increasing the number of women at meetings, without addressing the underlying power dynamics that exclude women from decision-making.
Sherine Tadros also called for the election of a woman Secretary-General, stressing that feminist leadership is essential for transformative change. She emphasized that the closing of civil society space at the UN must be addressed with urgency, noting that NGOs face increasing restrictions, revoked passes, and diminished opportunities to engage in critical processes.women’s participation, even within institutions that claim to champion gender equality. She criticized the United Nations for making only cosmetic changes, such as increasing the number of women at meetings, without addressing the underlying power dynamics that exclude women from decision-making. Sherine Tadros also called for the election of a woman Secretary-General, stressing that feminist leadership is essential for transformative change. She emphasized that the closing of civil society space at the UN must be addressed with urgency, noting that NGOs face increasing restrictions, revoked passes, and diminished opportunities to engage in critical processes.
Maithili Pai, United Nations Advocate at the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), focused on civil society participation and the protection of women human rights defenders. Ms. Pai introduced the Declaration +25 initiative, a comprehensive civil society-led update to the 1998 UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. The initiative, developed by a coalition of 18 organizations, sought to address the evolving challenges faced by human rights defenders today. Maithili Pai discussed the heightened risks faced by women defenders, who often experience both targeted violence and discrimination based on their gender. She outlined key state obligations under the Declaration +25, including condemning stigmatization and attacks against defenders and their communities, repealing repressive laws, ensuring access to justice, and providing long-term and flexible funding for feminist movements. Maithili Pai emphasized the importance of intersectionality and holistic protection strategies designed by movements themselves, not imposed by external actors. Ms. Pai concluded by announcing an upcoming activist guide that will support defenders in using the Declaration as an advocacy tool in their work.
Marina Bundac, Chairperson of the IWA Diplomatic Charity Bazaar, brought a European perspective to the discussion, focusing on women’s participation in civil society and the role of cultural diplomacy in amplifying marginalized voices. She began by celebrating the contributions of women across Europe while acknowledging the significant representation gap that persists. Citing EU She Figures 2024, Marina Bundac noted that although women make up 60% of the civil society workforce in Europe, they hold only 27% of leadership positions and 19% of governing board roles. She discussed the challenges faced by refugee and migrant women, who often face systemic exclusion despite their contributions to humanitarian efforts.
Ms. Bundac called for gender quotas, targeted leadership development programs, and increased funding for women-led initiatives. She emphasized the power of art and culture in promoting advocacy and social change, sharing examples of refugee women using artistic expression to tell their stories. Marina Bundac also addressed the rise of xenophobic rhetoric and populist movements in Europe, warning of their impact on civil society and urging continued investment in inclusive policies. She highlighted France’s recently adopted feminist foreign policy as a model for other European nations and concluded with a personal reflection on working with Ukrainian refugee women during the ongoing crisis.
Havvanur Ozdemir, Youth Coordinator of the Center for New Americans, provided a deeply personal account of her work with displaced women. Ms. Ozdemir described the systemic barriers faced by migrant women drawing from her academic research on Syrian refugee women in Turkey and her volunteer work at the Center for New Americans (CNA) in New Jersey. She discussed the economic, social, and psychological burdens placed on women as they navigate displacement, including language barriers, caregiving responsibilities, and exclusion from decision-making spaces. She shared powerful success stories of women who, despite immense hardship, rebuilt their lives and became community leaders. One such story was of a Turkish judge who fled political persecution and rebuilt her legal career in the United States, eventually becoming a practicing real estate attorney. Another was of a national karate champion who founded sports programs for immigrant children and used physical activity to empower women and foster community integration. Ms. Ozdemir concluded by calling for sustainable, long-term policies that promote inclusion and counter negative narratives about displaced women.
The session then moved into an interactive discussion and Q&A, facilitated by Cemre Ulker. The conversation focused on the urgent need for feminist leadership at the highest levels of the UN, particularly the appointment of a woman Secretary-General. Panelists discussed the 80-year glass ceiling at the UN and the need for leadership that genuinely champions feminist values. Sherine Tadros critiqued superficial efforts to promote gender equality and emphasized the need for structural change. Maithili Pai highlighted civil society initiatives like the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders and One for 8 Billion, advocating for female candidates for Secretary-General. Marina Bundac discussed the role of cultural diplomacy and refugee leadership in promoting inclusivity. Havvanur Ozdemir called for stronger support for refugee women and the removal of barriers to their participation.
The discussion also explored the role of male allies in advancing gender equality. Panelists emphasized the importance of engaging men as partners in feminist advocacy and addressing misogynistic narratives that undermine women’s rights. Marina Bundac pointed to Sweden and Iceland as successful examples but warned of the influence of figures like the Tate brothers in perpetuating harmful rhetoric. Maithili Pai stressed the need for collective action and solidarity, while Sherine Tadros highlighted the importance of reframing narratives around human rights to emphasize their universality.
Audience members posed questions about the perception of women’s rights as charity rather than fundamental human rights. Panelists called for a shift in framing to emphasize the shared benefits of gender equality and the indivisibility of human rights. Panelists discussed the need to revisit the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and stressed the historical context that gave rise to the modern human rights movement. They emphasized the importance of narrative change and solidarity and reflected on the role of collective action in advancing women’s rights.
The session concluded with final reflections from the panelists. Havvanur Ozdemir emphasized the need for inclusive policies that empower displaced women as leaders and changemakers while Marina Bundac called for solidarity and activism at all levels of society. Maithili Pai stressed the role of civil society in holding the UN accountable to its founding principles. Lastly, Sherine Tadros urged participants to unite in resistance against growing restrictions on civil society space. Cemre Ulker closed the session by thanking all participants, particularly youth advocates from Stony Brook University, and emphasizing the importance of sisterhood and solidarity in advancing gender equality.
The CSW69 parallel event organized by the Journalists and Writers Foundation and Refugees Unknown Stories Untold was a resounding success. It provided a platform for diverse voices to address the complex challenges facing women civil society members and offered actionable recommendations to protect and empower them. The session underscored the power of storytelling, advocacy, and collective action in promoting women’s rights and ensuring meaningful participation in decision-making processes at all levels of society.