Declaration from first ever CSW Youth Forum
March 2005A declaration from the first ever UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) Youth Forum has called for the 60th session of CSW to adopt a series of gender-just and youth-centric policy recommendations into its own Agreed Conclusions.
Among the recommendations are that CSW60 should:
- recognize that gender equality and the rights of all young women and girls cannot be achieved without the support, commitment, and action by all faith communities
- recognize that faith principles are sources of inspiration and motivation for promoting gender equality and the rights of all young women and girls
- recognize further that irresponsible use of religion perpetuates patriarchal and colonial social norms and violates the rights of youth in all their diversities
- strongly urge faith-based leaders to intentionally reassess culturally religious practices that do not match up to the faith principles, degrading the dignity of young women and girls.
The Youth Forum took place in New York, USA. The World YWCA and partners UN Women and the UN Inter-Agency Network on Youth Developments Working Group on Youth and Gender Equality led the event.
The Forum took place over two days and brought together 400 young people from across the globe. The key theme, ‘Advancing Agenda 2030 – Empowered Young Women and Young Men as Partners in Achieving Gender Equality’, provided a strong foundation for discussion and recommendations.
Read more about the Youth Forum here.
