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A Tipping Point: Our Fight for Equality Demands Action

As we stand on the precipice of International Women’s Day 2026, and prepare for the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, I find myself grappling with a complex cocktail of emotions: hope, urgency, and a fierce, unyielding determination. For decades, we have marched, we have lobbied, we have demanded, and we have, undeniably, made strides. We are, in many ways, closer to true gender equality than ever before in human history. Yet, this very proximity to our goal also brings with it a terrifying fragility. We are at a tipping point, a moment where the momentum we’ve built could either propel us forward into an equitable future or, terrifyingly, be snatched away.

The Illusion of Inevitability

There’s a dangerous complacency that can settle in when progress seems assured. The narrative often suggests that equality is an inevitable march forward, a natural evolution. But history, and indeed our present reality, tells a different story. Around the globe, we witness the insidious erosion of women’s rights – reproductive freedoms under attack, economic disparities widening, and the chilling rise of gender-based violence, often exacerbated by conflict and humanitarian crises. These aren’t isolated incidents; they are calculated assaults on the very foundations of our hard-won progress. We are seeing how easily gains can be reversed, how quickly the illusion of security can shatter. This International Women’s Day is not a celebration of a battle won; it is a battle cry for the fight that is far from over.

CSW70: A Call to Arms, Not Just a Conference

The 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women is not just another diplomatic gathering; it is a critical juncture. This is where global leaders and civil society must confront the harsh realities and commit to concrete, measurable actions. We need more than platitudes and promises. We need accountability. We need robust funding for gender equality initiatives, not just token gestures. We need policies that dismantle systemic barriers, not just superficial fixes. And critically, we need to ensure that the voices of women and girls from every corner of the world – especially those most marginalized – are not just heard, but are central to every decision made. The resolutions passed at CSW70 must translate into tangible change on the ground, impacting the lives of real women and girls, fostering their agency and autonomy.

Our Collective Power: The Unstoppable Force

So, what do we do at this precarious tipping point? We refuse to be silent. We refuse to be complacent. We refuse to let the gains of generations be undone. This is not a moment for despair, but for renewed, fierce determination. We must leverage our collective power – as advocates, as educators, as leaders, as individuals – to push back against the forces that seek to diminish us. We must demand political will, economic justice, and social transformation. We must support each other, amplify each other’s voices, and create networks of solidarity that are impenetrable.

The future of women and girls hangs in the balance. We are close enough to taste equality,