Amnesty Chief Urges Stronger Action on Gender Justice Attacks

Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International, addressed the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) in New York on March 10, 2026. She urged UN member states to strengthen their collective response to the increasing global challenges to gender justice and women’s rights.

The CSW70 conference is taking place at a time when gender equality is facing significant setbacks in various regions worldwide.

The Current Situation

Callamard highlighted restrictions that have prevented numerous women human rights defenders and feminist organizations from entering the United States to participate in the CSW70 conference. She emphasized the importance of identifying the forces behind these attacks on gender justice, developing countermeasures, and maintaining accountability mechanisms. The conference’s priority theme focuses on ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls through inclusive and equitable legal systems, elimination of discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, and removal of structural barriers.

Key Participants

Agnès Callamard leads Amnesty International’s delegation at CSW70. The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) is a session of the UN’s Commission on the Status of Women, bringing together member states, UN entities, civil society organizations, and advocates to negotiate agreed conclusions and policy recommendations related to gender equality.

Statements

Callamard stated, “This year’s Commission on the Status of Women comes at a particularly urgent time, with gender justice under attack across much of the globe and many women human rights defenders and feminist organizations unable to enter the US.”

Upcoming Events

CSW70 will continue through March 19, 2026, featuring ministerial roundtables, side events, and negotiations aimed at producing agreed conclusions and policy recommendations to advance gender equality.

The participation of Amnesty International in CSW70 highlights the pressing need for a unified response and accountability in the face of global resistance to gender justice and women’s rights. The conference serves as a vital platform for coordinated international action to safeguard and build upon progress in gender equality.