As the world celebrates International Women’s Day this Sunday, United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres has stressed that the dignity, opportunity and freedom women deserve could only be achieved through fighting discriminatory laws and practices.
This year’s theme is “Rights, Justice. Action for all women and girls”. The annual Commission on the Status of Women at the UN Headquarters in New York starts on Monday with thousands of delegations expected to descent on the Big Apple.
The 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women will take place from March 9-19 amid a global struggle for gender equality and the pushback that diversity, equity and inclusion has received from certain powerful countries in recent years.
The priority theme for the session is billed as ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, and addressing structural barriers.
South Africa’s delegation will be led by Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Sindisiwe Chikunga.
An outcome document on agreed conclusions, currently under negotiation, will be issued at the conclusion of the commission.
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