CSW64 / Beijing+25 (2020)

In the light of concerns regarding coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Commission on the Status of Women convened, on 9 March, for a meeting that included opening statements followed by the adoption of the draft Political Declaration (E/CN.6/2020/L.1). The session was then suspended until further notification.

In 2020, the global community will mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995). A five-year milestone will be reached towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 2020 is therefore a pivotal year for the accelerated realization of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls, everywhere.

Themes

The main focus of the session will be on the review and appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcomes of the 23rd special session of the General Assembly. The review will include an assessment of current challenges that affect the implementation of the Platform for Action and the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women and its contribution towards the full realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.



Bureau

The Bureau of the Commission plays a crucial role in facilitating the preparation for, and in ensuring the successful outcome of the annual sessions of the Commission. Bureau members serve for two years. In 2002, in order to improve its work and ensure continuity, the Commission decided to hold the first meeting of its subsequent session, immediately following the closure of the regular session, for the sole purpose of electing the new Chairperson and other members of the Bureau (ECOSOC decision 2002/234).

The Bureau for the 64th session (2020) of the Commission on the Status of Women comprises the following members:

H.E. Mr. Mher Margaryan (Armenia), Chair (Eastern European States Group)

Ms. Zahraa Nassrullah (Iraq), Vice-Chair (Asia-Pacific States Group)

Ms. Jo Feldman (Australia), Vice-Chair (Western European and other States Group)

Ms. Ahlem Sara Charikhi (Algeria), Vice-Chair (African States Group)

Ms. Devita Abraham (Trinidad and Tobago), Vice-Chair (Latin American and Caribbean States Group)

Preparations

National-level reviews: States are called upon to undertake comprehensive national-level reviews of the progress made and challenges encountered.

States are called upon to undertake comprehensive national-level reviews of the progress made and challenges encountered. Regional 25-year review processes: The regional commissions of the United Nations are invited to undertake regional reviews and convene regional intergovernmental meetings. These will feed into the sixty-fourth session of the Commission.

The regional commissions of the United Nations are invited to undertake regional reviews and convene regional intergovernmental meetings. These will feed into the sixty-fourth session of the Commission. Expert Group Meeting: Beijing +25: Current context, emerging issues and prospects for gender equality and women’s rights

Session Outcomes

NGO participation