The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) meets annually to address the widespread inequalities, violence and discrimination women continue to face around the world.

This year, the commission have gathered at the UN Headquarters in New York, from March 10 to 21, for its 69^th session, focused on the priority theme of reviewing and assessing the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, along with the outcomes of the 23^rd Special Session of the General Assembly.

This year marks the 30^th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Governments have adopted, by consensus, a powerful political declaration to respect, protect and champion the rights, equality and empowerment of women and girls.

However, concerns remain that no nation has yet fully achieved gender equality.

Cook Islands representatives at this meeting include Associate Minister for Internal Affairs Te-Hani Brown, Secretary of Internal Affairs Anne Herman and Internal Affairs manager of social policy and services Princess Raukete.

Cook Islander Lisa Williams, who is also attending the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, has launched short daily Pacific Minute Postcards from New York, providing commentary on the events.

According to Williams, basically, the leaders in New York say they continue to back gender equality while sharing concern at the slow pace and big challenges to actioning those promises made 30 years ago.

“Reacting to the text, Pacific feminists say they’re shocked and disappointed,” reported Williams, “they say there’s been a lack of recognition for indigenous women and girls and the absence of sexual health and reproduction rights mentioned is really worrying.”

Williams said their frustration with the political high-level agenda in New York somewhat reflects the mood in the Pacific, as Samoa’s first female prime minister Afioga Fiame Naomi Mata’afa has come under attack from a “boys’ club” mindset in her own parliament recently.

“Insults over her marital status hit a new low and Pacific feminists here have rallied and denounced this. They say when you’re throwing sexist ignorance like that around in parliament even when it’s in your own language or even under privilege, that stuff is just not okay. It’s never okay whether you’re in Samoa, here in New York, or anywhere in our Pacific,” said Williams.

In his opening speech at the 69^th Session, the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the world marks 30 years since countries convened in Beijing, reaffirming women’s rights as human rights and promised “equality, development and peace for all women, everywhere”.

“Of course, we always knew that would never happen overnight – or even over years. Equality for all is a long-haul mission. But three decades on, that promise feels more distant than we might ever have imagined,” Guterres said.

“Women’s rights are under siege. The poison of patriarchy is back – and it is back with a vengeance: Slamming the brakes on action; tearing-up progress; and mutating into new and dangerous forms.

“But there is an antidote. That antidote is action. Now is the time for those of us who care about equality for women and girls to stand up and speak out.

“Now is the time for the world to accelerate progress and deliver on the promise of Beijing.”

The political declaration adopted by the countries reaffirms the commitments of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, originally adopted in 1995 at the Fourth World Conference on Women, stressing the need to uphold all human rights and fundamental freedoms for every woman and girl, without exception.

The declaration recommits member states to eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls, including emerging forms such as digital violence, online harassment and cyberbullying.

UN Women executive director Sima Bahous said: “No nation has yet fully achieved gender equality.”

“This bold Declaration makes clear that the world’s governments recognise 2025 as a pivotal moment, where promises made 30 years ago can no longer be deferred. It is a springboard to ensure that we live up to our commitments to gender equality and women’s empowerment for all women and girls, everywhere, and that we do so together.”