The 68th annual Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), held at the United Nations in New York, USA in March 2024, provided a profound educational experience for me as a first-time attendee in my official capacity as Sigma’s Liaison to the United Nations. This year’s CSW delved into the intersectionality of gender equality, women’s empowerment, and poverty eradication through interactive discussions, expert group meetings, and position statements from member states and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). This year’s priority theme highlighted the critical need to accelerate gender equality by addressing systemic poverty, enhancing institutional frameworks, and mobilizing substantial financial resources with a gender lens.

In the Town Hall Meeting hosted on the second day, UN Secretary-General António Guterres pointed out that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are still off track, including Goal 5: gender equality. At present, 10.3% of women globally live in extreme poverty. He purported that if things remain at the current rate, 340 million women and girls will still be living in the same condition by 2030. He also said that in some parts of the world, women and girls are banned from getting access to the education system, working outside their homes, and playing any part in public life. He criticized the ongoing conflicts that prove detrimental to women and girls and concluded his powerful speech by calling for everyone to condemn this kind of violence.

In the following days, member states, UN entities, and NGOs delivered speeches that called for an urgent collective response to end gender-based violence. There was also a unified clamor for financial investments needed to catalyze gender equality. It was stressed that an investment of an additional US $360 billion annually is crucial to meet the SDG for gender equality and women’s empowerment. Enhancing women’s education, ensuring equitable wages, and expanding social security benefits are some of the pivotal strategies needed to significantly reduce women’s poverty. According to the Commission, the potential impact of such investments is monumental: more than 100 million women and girls could rise out of poverty, nearly 300 million jobs could be created by 2035 through care service investments, and closing the gender employment gap could boost GDP per capita by 20% across various regions.

Reflecting on the wealth of knowledge and insights gained during CSW, I could not forget why representation at this high-level discussion is important for nursing.

Sigma is considered one of the world’s largest nursing organizations, consisting of more than 100,000 active Sigma members from 600 chapters spanning over 100 countries globally. Approximately 27 million people comprise the global nursing and midwifery workforce. Women dominate nursing, with 76.91% of the world’s nurses being females. By supporting the welfare of women, we are advocating for the welfare of nurses globally. It is not only appropriate, but also expected that we stand by these movements and initiatives to ensure that policies are curated to safeguard the rights of women and girls as well as promote gender-sensitive work environments. By integrating the CSW agenda, the nursing and healthcare sectors can advocate for and implement policies that ensure women’s access to quality health services, promote women’s leadership within healthcare settings, and address the social determinants of health that disproportionately affect women.

The diverse assembly of participants at CSW, including government representatives, civil society organizations, gender experts, and activists, engaged in rigorous discussions to identify actionable commitments and foster international cooperation. The event was not just an occasion for dialogue, but a platform for establishing concrete action plans and financial commitments to dismantle the structural barriers that perpetuate women’s poverty and impede gender equality.

My biggest takeaway from the CSW UN experience was realizing that the path to gender equality is intertwined with the global fight against poverty. It reinforced my notion that investments in women’s empowerment are not merely acts of justice but essential catalysts for broader economic and social development. The lessons learned and the momentum generated at CSW are vital stepping stones toward a more equitable and prosperous future for women worldwide.

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