Ratify Movement Program
70th Conference of the UN Commission on the Status of Women - March 9 - 19, 2026, New York City
CSW-70 Priority theme: 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
CSW-70 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)
For the first time at the UN Commission on the Status of Women conferences, UN member states adopted agreed upon conclusions through a vote, rather than by consensus. The 65th conclusions were ratified with only the U.S. mission opposing the conclusions. You can view the U.S. mission’s statement here and view a summary of proposed amendments below:
Restrict the Meaning of “Gender”
Qualify “Review Conferences” Reference
Condition Sexual and Reproductive Health Language on National Law
Delete “Multiple and Intersecting Forms of Discrimination”
Delete Reference to Disinformation, Misinformation, and Hate Speech
Delete References to Reparations
Delete Paragraph on Unilateral Coercive Measures
Replace ‘Balance’ with ‘Equality and Empowerment of All Women and Girls’
The UN further announced a merger with UN Women and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). You can see this analysis of how the two bodies will collaborate here.
The UNA-San Francisco Ratify Movement hosted three parallel events at CSW-70.
Breaking the Silence: Conflict Related Sexual Violence and the Abduction of Ukrainian Children
Presented by UNA-SF Youth Committee members Leah Mordehai and Emily Gorodetskiy, Ukraine Youth Delegate Vitalina Shevchenko, Olexsandra Zborovsk from the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers (UAPP), and Ashley Raveche, President of United Nations Association of San Francisco.
The UNA-San Francisco Youth Committee event Breaking the Silence will examine the use of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV) in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with a special focus on the forcible deportation and abuse of Ukrainian children. The program will include a youth-led presentation outlining the scope, patterns, and legal classification of CRSV in Ukraine, supported by UN and ICC findings. Ukrainian partners from the UNA-San Francisco Ratify Movement will join virtually to provide lived experience, field expertise, or frontline insight. The event includes a youth-moderated Q&A and a call to action for global advocacy, survivor-centered justice, and children’s rights.
Women Behind Bars Reclaiming Their Lives
Presented by Rebecca Jackson, Community Forward VP of Public Affairs and Reentry, Andrea Cimino, faculty research associate at Johns Hopkins University and iSTRIVE Research Lab, Sunny Schwartz, justice advocate and author of Dreams From the Monster Factory, Antonia Lavine, Executive Director of the National Council of Jewish Women San Francisco, Ashley Raveche, President of United Nations Association of San Francisco, and Alison Brown, President of International Alliance of Women.
Ensuring access to justice for all women and girls and addressing structural barriers to their empowerment includes a commitment to protect the rights of those who are incarcerated or reenter society after serving time in prison or jail. The research on the root causes and types of women’s criminality is key to prevention and successful societal reintegration. Our panel discussion is aimed at presenting important research findings, policy measures, and restorative justice programs that address causes, ensure support and fair treatment throughout incarceration, and remove barriers to reentry in the society.
Beyond Rescue: Delivering Justice to Women Survivors of Human Trafficking
Presented by Rose Mukhar of Justice at Last, Antonia Lavine of San Francisco Collaborative Against Human Trafficking, Dr. Aisha Mays of the Dream Youth Clinic, Alison Brown, President of International Alliance of Women and Ashley Raveche, President of United Nations Association of San Francisco, as well as other presenters who will be speaking about their work and impact on behalf of women, girls, and gender-expansive youth who have been trafficked or are vulnerable to being exploited and or trafficked.
The work on delivering justice to women and girls surviving human trafficking continues beyond the rescue through providing victim-centered holistic services and strong protections. Working in collaboration with a multi-disciplinary approach is key to survivors’ restoration and societal reintegration. Our panel discussion will present how government and non-profit stakeholders work collaboratively to provide legal aid, shelter, mental health care, and other services to survivors and remove policy and structural barriers for their empowerment. The discussion will feature innovative regional and international programs and initiatives.
The New Agendga for US Human Rights
The “Ratify Movement,” was adopted by a UNA-USA San Francisco Board Resolution on January 16, 2021 with the lofty goal of securing the U.S. ratification of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in the subsequent two years.
The unique program of UNA-San Francisco has since evolved under the framework of UN Security Resolution 1325: Women, Peace and Security, and aims to highlight the intergenerational and intersectional approaches to gender equality through dialogue and intervention in support of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
The program has grown support from more than 100 organizations and engages more than 250 regular participants. The Ratify Movement has resulted in collaborative partnerships with UNA-USA Women Affinity Group, UN Women, and the Office of the UN Secretariat General and we aim to continue to grow our collective actions. The Ratify Movement program builds upon UNA-SF operations in several facets, including:
UNA-SF Programs and Events;
Education and Awareness Campaigns;
Advocacy and Local Policymaking;
UN Conferences and Interventions.
A Call For Speakers:
The United Nations Association of San Francisco is calling for people with lived experiences, youth advocates, policy makers, and UN experts to present their findings at one of the virtual Ratify Movement Speakers Series programs.
Speakers may examine the role of cross-sector partnerships and local legislation in driving sustainable changes in areas such as economic justice, indigenous justice, disability justice, access to health, access to education, political participation, building safe spaces online and in person, housing and poverty, ending human trafficking, and community responses to an increase in violence against women, girls, and non-binary individuals, just to name of few of the topics. Submit your speaker recommendations below.
A Call for Funding Youth Delegates to attend the UN Commission to the Status of Women (CSW) Conference
This year at CSW-70, the UNA-San Francisco had the pleasure of brining a youth delegation of GenUN members to attend CSW-70 at the UN Headquarters in New York City.
Our youth delegates and rising stars included UNA Youth Committee members Ben Lavine, Emily Gorodetsky, and Leah Mordahei.
The delegation was a huge success with one youth delegate being selected to ask UN Secretary General António Guterres a direct question at one of the Town Hall meetings, resulting in a response, “this is the best day of my life!”
The youth delegates also had the opportunity to join a closed door meeting with Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN Secretary General to learn more about the proposed mergers at the UN, current humanitarian efforts, and inquire into specific topics from “The Big Book of Answers”.
We urge our community to help support future delegations to attend UN Conferences and events through our Delegate Fund.
Ratify Movement Speakers Series
UNA-SF does not automatically endorse any ideas presented in these virtual speakers series, however we are deeply committed to making the voices of all participants heard. Here is a list our or past dialogues.
From Mandated Reporting to Community Supporting. Speaker: Roman James, LA County Commission on Children and Families, and the Domestic Violence Alliance in LA County.
Sextortion. Speaker: Teena Halbig, President UNA-USA-Kentucy.
Economic Empowerment and Leadership for Rural Women Speaker, Oleksandra Harmash, Director of Programs Rural Women Business Network.
Beijing+30 CSW 69 Program Planning and Interventions, Speaker: Dr Soon Young Yoon, Cities for CEDAW History and Futures Project.
16 Days of Activism to End Gender Based Violence, Speakers: Susan B. Anthony, President and Advocacy Co-Chair of Zonta International, Club of Berkeley/ North Bay, and Chaiti Banerjee is a technology leader, Board Chair and STEM Advocate, dedicated to the education and empowerment of Women and Children worldwide.
The Intersection of Disability, Women and Gender. Speaker: Janie Mejas, Women Enabled International.
CEDAW and the Rights of Indigenous Women, Speaker: Rosalee Gonzales, Continental Network of Indigenous Women of the Americas.
Conflict, Crises, and Climatic Emergencies. Speaker: Lady Tee Thompson, the Eminent Empowerment Champion of Human Rights, Women and Youth Development, UNA-USA Women Affinity Chair.
Ratify Movement - Growing A Brand. Speaker: Danielle Bissonnette Founder Wise Insights.
Ending Child Marriage, Speaker: Rima Nashashibi, is the Founder and President of Global Hope 365.
CEDAW Abroad. Speaker: Dr. Soon Young Yoon, Adviser on the Gender Advisory Panel to the UN President of the 76th General Assembly.
CEDAW. Speaker: Dr. Emily Murase, former Director of the San Francisco Status of Women Department and President of the San Francisco USD Board.
Strategies for Ratification of the CEDAW. Speaker: Nancy Kirshner-Rodriguez, former Executive Director of the California Status of Women and Girls and President of the San Francisco Status of Women Commission.
Organizing for Ratification of CEDAW. Speakers: Dr. Gail James, Women’s Intercultural Network, US Women’s Caucus at the UN, Midwest Coalition for CEDAW. Jan Strout, Co-Leader, Bozeman for CEDAW Initiative, President, Montana NOW, Co-Chair, Global Feminist National Committee.
Strategies for Building Support for the CEDAW and CRC. Speaker: Ashley Raveche, UNA-SF Member, Deputy Director of Social Policy for the League of Women Voters of California.
Advancement from Extreme Poverty. Speakers: Jessica Bartholow, Chief of Staff to State Senator Nancy Skinner, Member, National Academy of Social Insurance, National Diaper Bank, Alliance for Period Supplies, Western Center for Law and Poverty.
Protecting Children from Fatalities and Abuse with Technology. Speaker, Ruby Guillen, MSW, CIS.
Leading the Commissions on the Status of Women. Speaker Nancy Bremeau, Commissioner, Santa Clara County Commission on the Status of Women, SCC CAW CEDAW Task Force, Association of California Commissions for Women, and ACCW.
Detention. Speaker: Roxana Damas, MBA, Founder, and CEO of RGD Enterprises, Inc., was selected as a 2017, U.N. Empower Women Champion for Change, Board member of the U.N. Association East Bay.
Increasing Collaboration within and with Organizations to Ratify CEDAW. Speakers: London Bell, J.D. LL.M., President and CEO, Bell Global Justice Institute, Speaker: Himaja Nagireddy, Harvard MS Environmental Health 2022, Co-Advisor UNA USA Women Affinity Group. Speaker: Micaela Leonarte Paredes, Harvard Kennedy School MPP 2024.
Women Leaders to Achieve Equal Rights with CEDAW, Speaker: Kathryn Johnson, Board Member for the International Leadership Association, Food Commons, IP3, the Carol Emmott Fellows for Women in Health, and OmniMed.
The Power of Petition for the Protection of Women and Children, Speaker: Jimin Lee, Director of Trust and Safety at Change.org.
CEDAW in San Diego: Poverty, Race and Intersectionality. Speaker Parisa Ijadhi-Magsoodi, Commissioner and Vice Chair of the San Diego County Commission on the Status of Women and Girls.
Moving the Ratification of CEDAW from DC to Congress. Speaker Karen Mulhauser, President of Mulhauser and Associates.
Broward County CEDAW Ordinance Enactment for 31 Florida Cities. Speaker: Dr. Eileen Davis-Jerome, South East Representative to the UNA USA National Council, Chair, Partnerships and Collaboration Committee, World Federation of United Nations (WFUNA).
How CEDAW Removes the Causes of Human Trafficking and Protects Survivors. Speaker: Antonia Lavine, Director of the San Francisco Collaborative Against Human Trafficking (SFCAHT).
CEDAW’s Global Lens. Speaker: Lady Tee Thompson, Founder and Executive Director of the International Organization Agrobiz.org.
Kentucky was the First States for CEDAW, Speaker: Teena Halbig, Vice Chair of the United Nations Association of Kentucky Division, and Public Policy Chair for the AAUW of Kentucky.
UN In Their Hands: Women Taking Ownership of Peace through the lens of women photographers, UN Peacekeeping Operations, UN Women, and Department of Political and Public Affairs. Speakers: H.E. Martha Pogee, Assistant Secretary General, Africa.
Strengthening the California Resolution and Legislation with CEDAW, Speaker: Michelle Teran-Woolfork, Director of Policy and Legislation for the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls.
Pornography, Sex Trafficking, and CEDAW, Speaker: Susan A. Anthony, Principal and Producer of events for communities, Vice President, Zonta International.
If you have any questions about the Ratify Movement Program or are interested in joining our mailing list for upcoming Speakers Series events, UN Commission on the Status of Women Conferences, or if you are interested in becoming a delegate, please inquire below.