The text adopted by states at the 65th CSW, which ended on March 26, does not represent any progress. With three months to go before the Generation Equality Forum, there is still a long way to go before feminist approaches become mainstream in multilateral bodies. The vitality of feminist movements' ideas and mobilization will play a decisive role in this regard.
This year, the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), traditionally held in New York, took place online from March 15 to 26. Although these unusual circumstances did not facilitate diplomatic exchanges, the outcome is clear and regrettable: conservative states blocked any progress. As is the case every year, the conclusions sidestepped the issue of sexual rights, even though these rights have suffered a severe setback due to the pandemic. The issue of funding for feminist organizations is absent. Yet these issues are fundamental, which is why Equipop is calling for France and other influential states to make a full commitment to these issues at the Generation Equality Forum from June 30 to July 2 in Paris.
In order to bring these issues to life from a transformative, long-term perspective, Equipop and its partners contributed to interactive dialogues and side events during this CSW.
On March 16, Micheline Wendyam Kaboré, Executive Director of the Pananetugri Initiative for Women's Well-being (IPBF) and member of the Equipop board, represented the West African Young Feminists Network at the side event "Bodily Rights and SRHR for Generation Equality: What Leadership is Needed?" She emphasized the need to support the leadership of young girls and women in Burkina Faso by enabling them to develop their decision-making skills and make informed choices for the full exercise of their sexual and reproductive rights.
On March 18, Kaya Sy, advocacy officer for Equipop in West Africa, spoke at the interactive dialogue on the CSW's priority theme , "Building Back Better: Women's Participation and Leadership in the Response to COVID-19." The speakers demonstrated that developing gender-sensitive COVID-19 response plans can lead to more resilient and inclusive communities. On this occasion, Kaya pointed out that health systems still operate according to patriarchal logic and called for greater participation by feminist associations in the definition of health policies.
On the same day, Jane Medor represented Alliance Droits et Santé at the side event "Generation SRHR!": Guaranteeing universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights: a priority for the Generation Equality Forum's SRHR Action Coalition, organized by Planning Familial . This event brought together actors involved in the Generation Equality Forum's SRHR Action Coalition.
In the presence of Charlemagne Ouédraogo, Minister of Health of Burkina Faso, Jane shared her experience of the #JeVeuxSavoir campaign, which aims to promote comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) in West Africa, and called on Burkina Faso to drive positive momentum in the region and in all multilateral forums.
Finally, on March 23, Nicolas Rainaud, Head of Advocacy for France and International at Equipop, spoke at the side event "Pathways to a Feminist Foreign Policy – Building Blocks and Implications for Advocacy" at the invitation of the Australian organization International Women's Development Agency (IWDA). He emphasized the need for France to better combat gender-based violence at the national level in order to be consistent with its feminist diplomacy. This event contributed to a better collective understanding, at the global level, of what a feminist foreign policy can or should be. The Swedish, Mexican, and Canadian approaches can enrich the work of the High Council for Equality's international commission.
