The closing session of CSW66 happened late on Friday, March 25. As so often, the negotiations lasted until past 9 PM New York time, but finally, the Member States reconvened to adopt the outcome document by consensus. German Ambassador Antje Leendertse, the witty and resourceful facilitator of the negotiations, made a brief report. She called the Agreed Conclusions a “historic document,” and observed that the critical importance of the nexus of gender equality and climate change inspired constructive dialogue. The parties negotiated for a total of over 60 hours, and Ambassador Leendertse quipped, “Now we will have more time to resume our unpaid care work,” which brought relieved laughter. She added, with lightness and clear intention, as the wording is always an area of contention among CSW negotiators, “I celebrate you all, in all your diversity!”
I recommend the Closing Session of CSW to fans of political theater. Delegates, who have all agreed to adopt the conclusions they've negotiated, take the floor to note their exceptions to the language, or to express regret that the document did not go far enough. You can watch the archived video of the session on UN Web TV. The session lasted over 2 hours and 45 minutes. I watched it (over two sittings), so you don't have to, unless you're a CSW nerd like me. I offer you some viewing tips on "must-see" statements, and some of my reflections at the end of this groundbreaking CSW.
Each speaker began their statement with praise, appreciation and thanks for the Chair, the Vice Chair and Facilitator, the UN Women Executive Director and her staff for their tireless patience and constructive support. Many expressed happiness to have been able to negotiate in person for the first time in three years, to be "back in the building." (The representatives of Saudi Arabia, China and Nicaragua spoke without interpretation, as the UN interpreters leave the building at 10 PM.)
The delegates' statements ran the usual gamut, some praising positive developments on the language adopted, others distancing themsleves from the same wordings. The sticking points were, as in all CSWs, around the terms deemed by some states to be ambiguous, open to interpretation, not internationally agreed upon, contentious, inconsistent with national laws, policies, religious and cultural traditions: gender, sexual and reproductive health and rights, multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, diversity of situations and conditions, the definition of family. Other representatives felt that the conclusions did not go far enough, and wanted to push for more ambitious and progressive language: for example, the representative speaking on behalf of the EU welcomed the emphasis on the differing needs of women and girls in diverse situations and conditions, and the recognition of intersecting forms of discrimination.
The Tunisian delegate made an eloquent statement about intersectionalities and the needs of diverse women and girls, saying that the work of CSW is a first step, the beginning of a journey to address the shared responsibility of all of humanity (at 1:40 – 1:46 in the video). The representative of India quoted Mahatma Gandhi: "The Earth, the air, the land and the water are not an inheritance from our forefathers, but on loan from our children. There is a sufficiency in the world for man's need, but not for man's greed" (1:23).
For many countries of migration origin, transit and destination, there was too little attention to the negative impacts on women and girls who are displaced by climate change. The Agreed Conclusions did not refer to the Global Compact on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, as the Facilitator anticipated during the Civil Society Briefing a few days earlier, because the official multistakeholder review process for the Compact, the International Migration Review Forum, will take place in mid-May. The representative of El Salvador made a very strong statement, regretting "on behalf of millions of migrant women, that they don't deserve to be empowered" and that the human rights of all women and girls must be protected, "regardless of their migration status" (begins at 1:50 in the video).
Her statement was followed by a study in contrasts: a series of statements by delegates from Iraq, Egypt, the UK, then France, followed by the representative of the Holy See (these statements of strongly diverging positions begin at 1:53 in the video). Then the representative of the EU spoke the words we wanted to hear (starting at 2:10): "CSW has made history by adopting for the first time conclusions making operational recommendations on the gender-responsive approach to climate change. We translated climate language from Paris and Glasgow into global gender equality commitments. This is groundbreaking."
US Ambassador to the UN Linda Greenfield-Thomas made a statement on behalf of a long list of member states condemning in strong language the "unprovoked Russian aggression against Ukraine" and calling for an immediate cessation of all hostilities (at 2:23 in the video).
The wonderful CSW Chair, Amassador of South Africa Ms. Mathu Joyini, smiled warmly and graciously as she invited each representative to take the floor, then thanked them for their remarks. At the end of all of the statements, she commented, "Now, the real work begins."
In conclusion and at the end of her first CSW experience, UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous spoke of "the power of the multilateral system and the strength of the intergovernmental space." She recognized the vital role of civil society, who bring reminders of the lived realities of women and girls. She praised the delegates, saying "your energy reflects your own commitment and hopes for the future."
Reflecting on the repeated statements demanding to go on the record expressing reservations, taking exception, distancing, disassociating from the progressive language in the Agreed Conclusions, stating categorically that they would act according to the sovereign responsibilities and national laws of their countries, I had an "aha!" moment. Now it's clear to me why progress on the achievement of gender equality is so slow. And it is the sign of a successful compromise when each side comes away dissatisfied.