One of the key components of the NGO CSW Forum is the Parallel Events. Each year, we invite civil society organizations (CSOs) around the globe to apply to host a Parallel Event, regardless of their UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) accreditation status. These events are completely organized by the host organization and address the UN CSW priority and/or review theme in some way. In 2026, the themes of CSW70 are:
CSW70 Focus: Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, and addressing structural barriers
Review theme: Women’s full and effective participation and decision making in public life, as well as the elimination of violence, for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls (agreed conclusions of the sixty-fifth session)
Yes! With the hybrid format of the Forum, you have the option to host an in-person event or a virtual event. We have a limited amount of in-person Parallel Event slots available. You are guaranteed a virtual spot if there are no more in-person slots and you have joined the waitlist. There is a separate application for each. Organizations may apply for one in-person event. However, they can apply for more than one virtual event.
All Parallel Events, both in-person and virtual, will be listed on the virtual portal agenda with a unique event page.
Yes, if you are planning on hosting an in person event. This year, in-person Parallel Events will be hosted by consortia of two to three organizations, with one serving as the lead organization. One organization will be listed as the Lead Organization, and will have the ability to directly edit and manage their event page on the virtual portal. Lead organizations may apply for one in-person event. However, they can apply for more than one virtual event.
If you are hosting a virtual event, you do not need a co-sponsor, and may apply as one organization.
This year, time slot selection will be on a first come first served basis and we have a limited number of in-person event slots. A waitlist will be available. As they become available, newly opened time slots will be sent out to the waitlist. These will also be filled on a first come first served basis. To ensure your event goes as planned, we encourage you to choose from the available rooms or opt for a virtual event instead of relying on the waitlist. If you are not moved from the waitlist, we will automatically offer you a virtual event slot.
We accept almost all of the Parallel Event applications we receive, with the exception of proposed events that do not align with our value of human rights and respect for all, or organizations who have a history of harmful disruption. If your event is not accepted you will receive a full refund minus a $25 processing fee.
There are several ways to promote your Parallel Event leading up to and during the NGO CSW70 Forum.
Sponsor a digital Handbook Ad to promote your Parallel Event in the Digital Handbook or book a virtual Exhibit Booth to promote your organization on the Virtual Portal. Engage with Forum participants who work on similar issues and invite them directly. Promote your event with your constituency/mailing list/network.
The full cost of your time slot selection is due upon application for both in-person and virtual applications.
You will have two weeks after receiving your acceptance email to accept or decline. In the event that you decline your acceptance, you will receive a refund for the cost of your room selection minus the non-refundable $25 processing fee. For events canceled by organizers after the two week acceptance period no refunds are offered.
You will not be able to reschedule your in-person event after you are accepted. If you are unable to have your in-person event during that time, we can change your session to a virtual event.
Yes, public wifi will be available to use in all of the in-person venues. Although bandwidth will be increased during the two weeks of the Forum, we cannot guarantee that there will not be weak or interrupted connection due to the large number of people using the wifi at once.
Parallel Event organizers can decide if they’d like to livestream their in-person event or add a hybrid/virtual element. However, NGO CSW/NY cannot guarantee that technical difficulties or weak wifi connections will not occur. NGO CSW/NY does not have capacity to provide technical support. In the event that you encounter issues setting up a hybrid session, you may lose valuable time and have to cut your event short. We do not want any of our organizers to have this experience and for this reason, we advise against hosting hybrid events in Forum venue spaces.
No. NGO CSW/NY does not provide interpretation for Parallel Events. We encourage Parallel Event organizers to provide interpretation for their events, but we are unable to provide interpretation services to them. We highly recommend if you are planning to have interpretation services, that you ask your interpreters to arrive well in advance of your event to minimize set up time as much as possible.
All in-person Parallel Event sessions are 90 minutes. You will have 15 minutes before your event to set up and 15 minutes after your event to break down.
Please note: Out of respect for fellow organizers, we ask that organizers adhere strictly to the 15 minute set up and break down time. Failure to follow this policy will be considered a violation of our Guidelines for a safe and respectful forum environment. Organizers in violation of these guidelines may be prohibited from hosting parallel events in the future.
No. Absolutely no food or drinks are allowed in the Parallel Event rooms. Only water is permissible.
Church Center for the United Nations (CCUN)
777 United Nations Plaza
New York, NY 10017
(on the corner of 44th St. and 1st Ave.)
Large Rooms
2nd Floor – 175 capacity
Regular Rooms
8th floor – 80 capacity
10th floor – 70 capacity
11th floor – 70 capacity
Salvation Army
221 E. 52nd St.
New York, NY 10022
Large Room
Auditorium – 250 capacity
Regular Room
Lower Level – 80 capacity
*all rooms have a projector, microphone, and speakers
Registration is required for attendees of your event through Whova. You are welcome to set up a registration link on your event page on the Virtual Portal to keep track of those who attend your event. If attending in person, attendees do need to show proof of registration or confirmation to enter the Parallel Event venues or rooms. Registration is free and will be made available in the beginning of February.
Please note: For your safety and the safety of all Forum attendees, the venues will be enforcing fire codes. Once the event is at capacity, attendees will not be allowed inside the rooms.
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View the NGO CSW70 Parallel Events Organizer Information Here ->
NGO CSW Forum Testimonials
It was an incredible experience and I loved connecting with women and NGOs around the world, and learning about their challenges and successes.
The range of topics in the Parallel Events was tremendous and the quality of the speakers very high. I learned a lot - and it gave me hope in time when equal rights seem to be going backwards.
Thank you for making the effort to continue to bring forth a forum that is not only enjoyable, but needed for the women of our world today.
This was a great experience, and I am honored to have met these amazing girls!
The forum has great potential to democratise UN spaces as well as regional collaboration among feminist groups...The decentralisation that came with the virtual forum, listening to speakers from locations across the world was a very empowering experience.
We have learned so much from this annual forum and our participation was one of the milestones of our organization.
A very successful, participatory forum it was!
I am very grateful for this learning and networking event. What an opportunity!
I am so humbled to get the chance to participate at the NGO CSW. Thank you ! Being at home with a toddler and two other children feeling a little cut off to my activists' life and world, it meant so much to me to see other strong women fighting for women's rights.
Everything was well organized and enriching. It was a pleasure to participate within conversation circles.