The NGO Committee on the Status of Women in Geneva has reached far and wide to prepare our response to the UN Secretary General’s UN80 proposed merger of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). This reform proposal has forced us all to take a long, hard look at the imperative of the mandates, their track records, and the expected disruptions of a world without them. We recognize an opportunity for improvement without merger, and a broader sharing of administrative and financial burdens. This is our collective urgent appeal to Member States.
After one year of meetings, research, preparation of position papers, gathering input from our NGO local chapters that represent many thousands, and, most recently, reaching out to other networks of women’s organizations and experts across the globe through a series of consultations, we agreed to the accompanying statement and recommendations. Many of us have worked alongside and in collaboration with both UN Women and UNFPA over many years and know their strengths and imperfections. We are all convinced that preserving the integrity of both entities is essential. Such reform should be guided not by administrative considerations but by the protection of internationally agreed mandates, continuity of essential services, and measurable improvements in the lives of women and girls that affect whole populations.
Category: Advocacy work
NGO CSW Geneva has worked with member organizations and sister organizations to bring together a wide variety of stakeholders to consult on UN gender architecture. In light of the UN80 discussions and the Summit of the Future recommendations including a proposed merger of UN Women and UNFPA, our members have brought together their expertise to consider solutions to the challenges faced by the UN.
It was noted that the financial crisis is historical and it cannot be used as an excuse to undermine the progress that has been made for women and girls globally. Our members are adamant that what is needed is a robust single entity for women and girls at the UN and there can be no compromise by the UN on this point. The recognition by Member States that the peace and prosperity of humanity can only be achieved once there is full equality between women and men is vital. The UN must recognize that there is no place for a diminution in the representation of women across the UN nor loss of funding or visibility.
UN 80 Reform Initiative- Support Shadow Paper II – Prioritising Womens Visibility and Agency -Shaila Rao Mistry 7-31-2026-2Download
Report on the Women and Water Event 21-22 April 2026
Click on the image below or read the in-line report.
NGO CSW Geneva’s letter to UN Secretary António Guterres on the importance of preserving UN Women as a separate UN entity
The recently formed NGO CSW Geneva Task Force on Health is organizing its first webinar by starting with one of our member organizations, Make Mothers Matter, presenting “Motherhood in Europe: the real story” by Angela Garcia Romero, Projects Director at MMM.
**NEW DATE** Tuesday 11th November: 15:00-16:00. Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88975293856?pwd=K17ue950GJnk2iXtREZFREhLUgMRE4.1
Title of the presentation: Motherhood in Europe: the real story
Summary:
Make Mothers Matter’s study, The State of Motherhood in Europe 2024, paints a vivid picture of the realities facing mothers today. Across Europe, women shared their experiences, and a clear pattern emerged: too many mothers feel overwhelmed, under-supported, and invisible.
The survey reveals that maternal mental health is under strain, with many mothers reporting anxiety, depression, burn-out, or peripartum depression. At the same time, balancing paid work with the demands of family life remains one of the greatest challenges. Mothers often find themselves torn between responsibilities, lacking adequate policies, workplace flexibility, and societal recognition.
These findings highlight an urgent need for change. Supporting mothers is not only about individual wellbeing: it is about strengthening families, communities, and society as a whole.
In this webinar, we will present the key results of this study and open a discussion on how we can collectively address these critical challenges.
Speaker: Angela Garcia Romero, Projects Director, Make Mothers Matter
Short Bio: Angela is the Projects Director at Make Mothers Matter, an international NGO advocating for mothers’ rights. With an extensive and diverse international career spanning law, music rights, philanthropy, and real estate, Angela has navigated multiple sectors with purpose and dedication. However, becoming a mother has been her most profound and challenging role—one that has tested her resilience, taught her invaluable lessons, and given her deep insight into the realities most mothers face. Passionate about parenthood, education, and human behaviour and connections, she is committed to building a society where every individual can reach their full potential and where the indispensable, often unseen labour of motherhood is truly valued.
“Nourishing Equality and Peace: Addressing Poverty and Food Insecurity” – A Call to Action