Task Forces

Climate Change and Health

The task force addresses climate change and its direct and indirect impact on the health and well being of women, youth and local and marginalized communities through an SDG lens. Recognizing that climate change and the environment can negatively impact health, food security, child development, livelihoods etc., we focus on the overarching relationship of environmental issues with women’s rights, including health and other social rights from a variety of perspectives. Read more…

Gender Terminology

The Task Force was initiated with the over-arching goal of supporting the goals of the NGO CSW Committee in upholding the human rights of women and girls and advocating for these rights within UN and intergovernmental agencies and international civil society organizations. The development of a tool kit on the accurate use of terminology on women and girls in UN processes was its initial mandate. They presented a well-researched parallel event for the CSW 65 Forum in 2021. The Task Force has been temporarily paused until further notice. Read more…

Review, Development and Training

The task force is defined by the key words; development, strategy, sustainability, growth, evaluation, and recommendations for action. It evaluates and reviews NGO relations with UN and working methods with a focused impact on Geneva UN bodies: ILO, HRC, WHO, HCR, UN Women, CEDAW. It draws on the expertise of members to strengthen our solidarity and global advocacy with capacity building, providing awareness, expertise/training and experience to be better advocates to UN mechanisms: UPR, CEDAW (AWRI), CSW. 

UNECE & Beijing+30 Task Force

The UNECE & B+30 Task Force was created to strengthen relations between the NGO CSW Geneva and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). The UNECE is one of five regional commissions of the UN that includes 56 member states in Europe, North America and Asia. Consultations between the Task Force and UNECE show that there are numerous ways in which we can work together for all women and girls across our regions. The UNECE has a number of Conventions and we seek to bring the expertise of our members into consultations on these Conventions. 

Our main area of work over the coming 16 months is the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action. Our endeavours will include Working Groups covering the 12 critical areas of BPFA concern, to create civil society statements by September 2024, Expert Round tables on these issues with Member States, an analysis of the last 30 years, an in-person event in Geneva and participation with Member States as part of their review. Read more…

Youth Task Force

The goal of the Youth Task Force is to promote youth engagement for gender equality and encourage the active involvement of young people in our Committee. The group is currently being re-formed under the leadership of Rosa Arnold and welcomes the participation of youth from all our member organizations. Mainstreaming the active engagement of youth remains a priority of NGO CSW Geneva.

Previously (August – September 2021) a 4 part webinar series on leadership and literacy was held, and a Global Youth Conference focused on improving working methods of the CSW in January 2022. Their agreed conclusions were forwarded to the CSW66 Bureau, UN Women and others. They finished their time-bound mandate by participating in the Geneva/Vienna Consultation Day event that kicked off the CSW66 Forum. Read more...

50th Anniversary of the NGO CSW Geneva

On September 21, 2023, the International Day of Peace, the NGO Committee on the Status of Women celebrated its 50th Anniversary. Representatives of member organizations and distinguished guests gathered in Palais Anna and Jean-Gabriel Eynard, Geneva.  As a Strategic platform for ECOSOC accredited NGOs, the event celebrated the NGO CSW Geneva’s 50 year advocacy for the advancement of human rights and the empowerment of women and girls across the globe. Read more…