Special Commemoration of International Women’s Day 2025
Intergenerational Dialogue on Beijing +30.
Rights. Equality. Empowerment.
March 8, 2025
This year's commemoration holds special significance as it is the 50th anniversary of the UN establishing International Women’s Day on 8 March 1975 and the 30th anniversary of the 4th World Conference on Women in Beijing, China.
Here is Some Feminine Energy: International Women’s Day 2025
Celebrated 8th March. Remembered every day as we take care of babies, educate children, and negotiate peace and security at the UN Security Council.
CEDAW
Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) wrapped up its 90th session adopting concluding observations on the reports of seven countries and addressing conflict-related sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The session, held in Geneva, focused on advancing women’s rights and gender equality globally.
The Committee reviewed reports from Belarus, Belize, Congo, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, as well as an exceptional report from the DRC on sexual violence in its conflict-ridden eastern provinces. The concluding observations, which will soon be published on the session’s webpage, provide recommendations to these countries on improving their efforts to eliminate discrimination against women.
In her closing remarks, Committee Chairperson Nahla Haidar highlighted the session’s achievements, including dialogues with States parties, informal meetings with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and collaboration with national human rights institutions. She expressed gratitude to NGOs and United Nations entities for their contributions, which provided the Committee with critical insights.
A key focus of the session was a half-day general discussion on gender stereotypes held on February 17. Attended by 46 States parties and 17 NGOs, the discussion showed how gender stereotypes perpetuate gender-based violence and hinder women’s access to political life, education, employment, and leadership roles.
Ms. Haidar also noted progress in harmonizing the Committee’s working methods with other treaty bodies. This included streamlining working groups, increasing the number of pre-reporting issues to be addressed, and systematically addressing male succession to the throne in dialogues and concluding observations where relevant.
The session saw advancements in addressing gender-based violence, particularly through the Working Group’s draft paper on online and tech-facilitated violence against women. Additionally, the Committee held a public meeting with the Working Group on business and human rights, bringing together experts and private sector representatives to discuss digital innovation and reducing gender gaps. The Committee’s contribution to the 2025 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development was also endorsed.
During the session, the Committee adopted five follow-up assessments and finalized four decisions on individual communications. It also adopted the report of Inquiry 2014/2, which addresses large-scale abductions of women and girls by armed groups. The report will be published after the six-month period for the concerned State party to submit observations.
The Committee engaged with various UN bodies, including the Special Rapporteur on climate change, the Committee on the Rights of the Child, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the World Health Organization, to strengthen collaboration on intersecting issues affecting women’s rights.
Women Everywhere
Equal Pay. When?
Women’s Voices in Diplomacy
My interview with H.E. Viviane Rios Balbino
Brazilian Diplomat in New York
