What is the NGO CSW Forum?

The NGO CSW Forum is organized by and for global civil society, non-governmental organizations, and feminists to connect them with the official United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UN CSW) process. With over 750 events, the NGO CSW Forum informs, engages, and inspires grassroots efforts and gender equality advocacy around the world. While the NGO CSW Forum runs parallel to and complements the UN CSW, it is a separate process with separate organizers.

Organized by and for NGOs & civil society

The NGO CSW Forum is organized by and for global civil society, nongovernmental organizations, and feminists from all walks of life.

Runs parallel to the
UN CSW

The Forum connects civil society and grassroots efforts to the official UN Commission on the Status of Women.

750+ events hosted by
civil society

During the two weeks of the Forum, global civil society hosts over 750 free events that relate to that year's CSW theme.

Fosters advocacy at the United Nations

Leading up to and during the NGO CSW Forum, we provide opportunities and spaces for global civil society to advocate for their work with Member States, UN agencies, and other CSOs.

What is the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women?

The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is an official Commission of the United Nations which focuses on the rights and empowerment of women and global gender equality. It's an intergovernmental body consisting of 45 Member State governments of the UN. As the Secretariat of the CSW, UN Women (an official UN agency), supports all aspects of the Commission's work.

Each year, the annual CSW session, which takes place for two weeks in March in New York, focuses on a specifc topic related to gender equality known as the "priority theme." At the end of the two weeks, an outcome document is produced on the theme.

For more information, visit the official UN CSW website.

REASONS TO ATTEND THE NGO CSW FORUM

PARALLEL EVENTS

One of the key components and the most popular aspect of the NGO CSW Forum is the Parallel Events. Each year, we invite civil society organizations around the globe to apply to host a Parallel Event, regardless of their ECOSOC status. These events are totally organized by the host organization and address the CSW priority theme in some way.

CIVIL SOCIETY BRIEFINGS

Co-hosted by NGO CSW/NY and UN Women, the Civil Society Briefings bring together civil society, UN agencies, and Member States to share the state of play as developments within the CSW and outcome document negotiation process unfold.

NETWORKING

Meet fellow activists and connect with old friends! The NGO CSW Forum is the perfect place to network with other organizations and advocates in the global gender equality and women's rights movement. NGO CSW/NY and the YLYPs host different sessions that allow for networking and connection between participants.

CONVERSATION CIRCLES

Conversation Circles provide a place to raise issues and exchange ideas on different topics in a semi-structured space during the NGO CSW Forum. Each conversation addresses a specific topic related to gender equality and are facilitated by experts in the theme.

REGIONAL CAUCUSES

Hosted by the global NGO CSWs and the Europe & North America Caucus, Regional Caucuses are informal, loosely moderated spaces for participants to discuss and reflect upon regional advocacy and their region's most relevant and pressing issues.

ADVOCACY

Advocate for your organization and the issues you're passionate about to Member States, UN agencies, and other CSOs during the NGO CSW Forum. NGO CSW/NY and the YLYPs host advocacy trainings and provide advocacy resources to ensure that you are prepared to engage effectively.

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.

STATS & FUN FACTS

15,000+

ATTENDEES

139

COUNTRIES

5000+

ORGANIZATIONS

750+

EVENTS
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