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The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), established on June 21, 1946, is the primary intergovernmental body dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. It operates under the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and is responsible for documenting the realities of women worldwide and developing international standards on gender-related issues.

In 1996, its mandate was expanded to lead the follow-up on the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995) and to integrate a gender perspective across the UN system.

Each year, the CSW convenes in New York, bringing together Member State representatives, civil society, and UN entities to assess progress and challenges in gender equality, review the implementation of the Beijing Platform, and address emerging issues. Its conclusions and recommendations are submitted to ECOSOC for further action.

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The 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) will focus on assessing progress and challenges in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, as well as the outcomes of the 23rd special session of the General Assembly.

This review will explore the key barriers to fully implementing the Platform for Action, achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment, and advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

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The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, adopted in 1995 at the Fourth World Conference on Women, is a global framework for gender equality and women’s empowerment. It was endorsed by consensus following the participation of more than 40,000 government delegates, experts, and civil society representatives.

The Platform identifies 12 critical areas of concern, including violence against women, health, education, the economy, human rights, and participation in decision-making. It sets out concrete actions for governments, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector to integrate a gender perspective into their policies and programs.

The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) reviews progress every five years. To date, five reviews have been conducted (in 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020), leading to renewed commitments and the definition of priority actions for the years ahead.

UN regional commissions, such as ESCWA in the Arab region, produce reports based on national assessments from member states. These reports are then consolidated into a global document, which UN Women presents to the United Nations General Assembly.

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The 23rd Special Session of the UN General Assembly, titled "Women 2000: Gender Equality, Development, and Peace for the 21st Century," took place from June 5 to 9, 2000, at the United Nations headquarters in New York. During this session, a Political Declaration and an outcome document titled "Further Actions and Initiatives to Implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action" were adopted. The event assessed progress since the Fourth World Conference on Women (1995) and outlined new measures to accelerate gender equality.

The preparatory process was led by the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), which organized meetings between 1998 and 2000 to shape the final document. In December 1999, Member States agreed on a four-section text addressing achievements, challenges, and new actions. The initial 17-page draft expanded to nearly 100 pages, incorporating contributions from governments, the UN, and civil society organizations.

During the special session, 148 Member States, including heads of state and ministers, reaffirmed their commitment to the Beijing Platform. Priority areas identified included education, health, HIV/AIDS, gender-based violence, poverty, migration, and women's participation in decision-making. A total of 199 concrete measures were adopted, including:

• Closing the education gap by 2005
• Achieving universal access to primary healthcare by 2015
• Eliminating discriminatory laws by 2005

The session reinforced the need to integrate a gender perspective into all global policies and highlighted emerging challenges such as globalization, human trafficking, and armed conflicts. It also emphasized the importance of international cooperation and increased funding to achieve gender equality and sustainable development goals.

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The Belém do Pará Convention, adopted on June 9, 1994, is the first international treaty to recognize violence against women as a human rights violation. It establishes the commitment of Member States of the Organization of American States (OAS) to prevent, punish, and eradicate all forms of gender-based violence in both public and private spheres.

The Convention defines violence against women as any gender-based act that causes death, or physical, sexual, or psychological harm or suffering. It includes domestic violence, community violence, and violence perpetrated or condoned by the State. Additionally, it affirms that all women have the right to live free from violence and to the protection of their civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights.

States Parties commit to reforming discriminatory laws, adopting prevention and protection measures, and ensuring access to justice and reparation for victims. They are also required to implement education and awareness programs, train public officials, and collect data on gender-based violence to strengthen eradication strategies.

The Convention’s monitoring mechanism allows individuals and organizations to file complaints with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). The Belém do Pará Convention remains a cornerstone in the fight for women’s rights in Latin America and the Caribbean, promoting their autonomy and security across all sectors of society.

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MILENA is a model developed by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to quantify the socioeconomic impact of teenage pregnancy and early motherhood in Latin America and the Caribbean. Its goal is to provide data-driven evidence to inform public policies and investment strategies aimed at reducing these challenges. The model assesses the costs associated with disrupted education, reduced workforce participation, and the negative impact on women’s income due to teenage motherhood.

The MILENA methodology is based on data analysis from national surveys and official sources in each country. To measure the impact, the model compares the income levels and educational trajectories of women who became mothers during adolescence with those who did not. It also estimates the opportunity cost in terms of economic productivity, calculating GDP losses caused by the lower workforce participation of these women. Additionally, it considers extra government spending on health, welfare, and social assistance due to the vulnerable conditions associated with early motherhood.

Findings from MILENA have shown that teenage pregnancy results in significant economic losses, reaching up to 0.88% of GDP in some cases—equivalent to more than $13 billion annually in the region. 87% of these costs fall directly on women, exacerbating gender inequality. The model also highlights how limited access to quality education and employment perpetuates intergenerational cycles of poverty and hinders social development.

Based on its findings, MILENA is used to strengthen public policy design and teen pregnancy prevention programs, promoting access to comprehensive sexual education, reproductive health services, and economic opportunities for young women. Additionally, it helps raise awareness among governments, civil society, and international organizations about the need to prioritize investments that reduce structural inequalities and ensure the full development of women across the region.