The halls of the United Nations Headquarters in New York buzzed with a renewed sense of urgency on 12 March 2026, as a diverse assembly of world leaders, survivors, and advocates gathered for a historic turning point in the global struggle for gender equality. This was the inaugural CSW High-level Meeting on Violence Against Women and Girls, a session specifically designed to elevate what has long been one of the most pervasive human rights violations in the world to the very top of the international diplomatic agenda. Occurring during the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), the meeting represented a fundamental shift in how the international community approaches the safety and dignity of women, moving beyond rhetoric toward a standardized, high-level mandate for accountability and action.
The creation of this annual high-level segment is a direct response to a growing demand for the “revitalization” of the CSW. For decades, the commission has served as a vital forum for policy debate, but the new mandate recognizes that the promises made in the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action require a more aggressive, cross-cutting approach to implementation. As delegates from across the globe took their seats, the atmosphere was one of somber reflection on the work left to do, balanced by a fierce determination to accelerate progress.
UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous set the tone for the day’s deliberations, framing the eradication of violence not merely as a moral obligation, but as a prerequisite for all global development. “This meeting is a direct result of CSW revitalization and recognition to elevate opportunities for exchange on issues that intersect all our efforts and permeate all of society,” Bahous stated. She emphasized that while the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a roadmap for a better world, none of those goals—from poverty eradication to economic growth—can be achieved so long as women live in fear. “Ending violence against women and girls is its own imperative and an accelerator for all others,” she added, reminding the assembly that the safety of half the world’s population is the foundation upon which all other societal progress is built.
The urgency of the summit was underscored by a sobering statistical reality: at least one in three women worldwide will experience physical or sexual violence in her lifetime. Despite decades of activism and the passage of numerous national laws, participants noted that the needle has moved far too slowly. The discussion highlighted that the “cost of inaction” is a debt paid in human lives, lost economic potential, and the erosion of trust in public institutions. When a state fails to protect its female citizens, the meeting concluded, it weakens the very fabric of its democracy and social stability.
Furthermore, the conversation took an analytical turn toward the evolving nature of harm. Leaders and experts warned that violence is no longer confined to the physical world. In the digital age, technology has become a double-edged sword, providing tools for empowerment while simultaneously creating new frontiers for abuse. Speakers detailed how technology-facilitated violence—ranging from deepfake pornography and doxing to persistent online stalking—is being used to silence women in public life and control them in private spheres. The consensus was clear: prevention and response systems must be modernized to address this seamless transition between online and offline abuse. The digital landscape requires a new framework of governance that holds tech platforms accountable and ensures that a woman’s right to safety does not end when she logs on to the internet.
To provide a roadmap for the future, the meeting looked to the successes of the present. Representatives from Belgium, Brazil, the Solomon Islands, Tunisia, and Ukraine—representing the five UN regional groups—shared the stage to present evidence of what is actually working on the ground. These nations have moved beyond just passing laws; they have integrated ending violence into the core of their governance.
Belgium was highlighted for its pioneering legislation on femicide, which seeks to categorize the gender-related killing of women as a distinct crime, ensuring that the specific motivations of gender-based hate are recognized by the justice system. Brazil and Tunisia shared insights into multisectoral coordination, where police, healthcare providers, and social workers operate within a single, unified framework to support survivors. The Solomon Islands and Ukraine discussed the unique challenges of addressing violence in contexts of conflict and climate-related displacement, emphasizing that even in times of national crisis, the protection of women must remain a priority.
Following these presentations, 84 additional countries took the floor to share their own experiences. A recurring theme was the necessity of “gender-responsive budgeting.” This concept moves beyond the symbolic adoption of policies by ensuring that national treasuries specifically earmark funds for shelters, legal aid, and prevention programs. Participants argued that a policy without a budget is merely a suggestion, and that the only way to close the implementation gap is to put financial power behind legislative promises.
The afternoon session pivoted toward the voices of those on the front lines: survivors and civil society leaders. Lara Aharonian, Co-Founder of the Women’s Fund of Armenia, delivered a powerful testimony that shifted the focus from high-level policy to the lived reality of the survivor. She challenged the assembly to rethink the concept of justice. “I’ve met too many women who don’t stay silent because they ‘accept’ violence—they stay silent because the justice system feels unsafe,” Aharonian remarked. She described the “secondary victimization” that many women face when they report crimes, only to be met with skepticism, judgment, or bureaucratic indifference.
Aharonian’s call for “survivor-centered justice” resonated deeply. This approach prioritizes the survivor’s immediate safety and autonomy, asking “What do you want next?” rather than forcing them into a rigid legal process that may put them at further risk. She argued that this level of care can only be provided when women’s rights organizations are treated as essential partners and are sustainably funded. “That is where trust and expertise already lie,” she reminded the delegates.
The expert panel also delved into the critical distinction between femicide—the intentional killing of women because they are women—and other forms of homicide. They argued that by accurately identifying and data-tracking femicide, governments can better understand the patterns of escalation that lead to these deaths, allowing for intervention before it is too late. This data-driven approach, combined with the engagement of men and boys in prevention efforts, was identified as a key strategy for shifting the cultural norms that allow violence to persist.
As the summit drew to a close, the focus returned to the “implementation gap”—the space between the laws on the books and the reality in the streets. H.E. Rob Beenders, Belgium’s Federal Minister for Equal Opportunities, reiterated his country’s commitment to this cause. While acknowledging the landmark nature of Belgium’s femicide legislation, he cautioned that laws are only the beginning. “Progress requires moving beyond legislation,” Beenders stated. “Through coordinated policies, victim-centered approaches, and strong data for evidence-based policymaking, we are working to prevent and address violence wherever it occurs—online and offline.”
The final takeaway from this first-ever high-level meeting was a collective demand for political will. The tools to end violence against women and girls already exist: they include costed national action plans, integrated service pathways, and the empowerment of grassroots organizations. What has been missing is the sustained investment and the high-level prioritization required to scale these solutions.
The 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women has signaled that the era of treating gender-based violence as a peripheral issue is over. By making this meeting an annual fixture, the UN has created a permanent platform for accountability. The message sent to the world from New York was unambiguous: ending violence against women is not a “women’s issue”—it is a core governance priority, a fundamental human right, and the only path toward a just and sustainable future. The implementation has begun, and the world is watching.
