Our Voices Matter: Girls’ Leadership at CSW
Advocating for girls’ rights is more important than ever.
21 March 2025CSW69 was a tipping point for girls’ rights. Without urgent action, global gender equality could be worse in 2030 than when the Sustainable Development Goals were agreed in 2015.
Photo: Joel Sheakoski
Commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 1995, (the landmark declaration where 189 countries adopted the most comprehensive global agenda for the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls), CSW69 arrived at a time when adolescent girls are at risk of having fewer rights than their mothers and, in some cases, even their grandmothers.
Ensuring that the voices and leadership of adolescent girls and young women is central to all of our engagements is at the heart of everything Plan International does. Their full and active participation in policy processes, events and discussions is crucial to putting – and keeping – the rights of girls on the global agenda.
Youth advocates who traveled to New York as part of Plan International’s official delegation to CSW69 were invited to reflect on their time spent at the United Nations. Because as Vithya, a youth advocate from Germany, declared: “Young people are not just the future. We’re here, we’re ready, and we refuse to be silenced.”
What were you most excited about before coming to CSW?
Mairéad: I was most excited about learning about how the often obscure and opaque UN and CSW system works. As an outsider to the UN system, I was curious about how a young delegate like me could advocate for change and have an impact on the proceedings of CSW. I found that it was really through being in the space, learning from other youth advocates, NGO representatives, and State representatives, that I began to get a better grasp of how things work and my role within that. I can only say that I’m now excited to return to the UN and CSW in some capacity in the future to continue to work towards meaningful change!
Sadeen: I was most excited to be part of conversations that shape global policies on gender equality and to connect with like-minded young changemakers. The opportunity to voice the concerns of girls and young women from my community on an international stage was something I deeply looked forward to.
Vithya: Learning more about global advocacy work and the inner mechanisms of international organizations like the UN.
Amelie: I wanted to believe this conference would be a space for real action, not just empty words. I was excited about the possibility of leaders listening – not just acknowledging injustice but committing to dismantling it. But I was also skeptical. Too often, these spaces celebrate discussions as if it’s the solution itself, while real change remains painfully slow. I came hopeful, but prepared to challenge the inertia that holds progress back.
What was your favourite part of CSW?
Amelie: This may sound a bit weird, but it was definitely the frustration. The raw, undeniable anger of young activist who are done waiting. I saw girls and young women call out empty promises, demand accountability, and refuse to accept that the world is just so. That was powerful. Because patience is a privilege, and too many women don’t have the luxury of waiting while their rights are debated like a political compromise.
Sadeen: The powerful discussions led by youth advocates. Hearing firsthand experiences from young leaders around the world reinforced the importance of youth representation in decision-making spaces. The energy and passion in these sessions were truly inspiring!
Vithya: My favorite part was meeting all of the other Plan Youth Delegates and having such a great community to connect with.
Mairéad: Meeting with other like-minded youth advocates from around the world. It’s not often that you get the chance, as a young person, to interact with and learn from such a diverse group of people. It was nice to know that we shared in our passion for gender equality and that we can build transnational platforms and partnerships to collaborate and work together. I was very proud to be able to cheer on my fellow Plan International youth delegates at every opportunity I got; we were an inspiring group! My only wish is that I could have met with more young advocates!
What was the most frustrating part of CSW?
Vithya: Noticing the presence of anti-rights groups while we were advocating for human rights and equality.
Mairéad: At times it seemed like the inclusion of youth voices, particularly Global Majority youth voices, was tokenistic and performative. It was frustrating to be invited, and to see other young people be invited, to have a seat at the table but not to be given the respect to be taken seriously as knowledgeable agents of change. It sometimes felt that there was a gap between the aspirations of inclusion and engagement that were being touted and the lived realities of participating in CSW. On one level, it was reassuring and validating that other youth people shared my frustrations, however, on another level, this demonstrates how deep-rooted and institutionalised these issues are.
Amelie: After almost two intense weeks, I think the most frustrating part is the realization how patient the world remains with injustice. It was hearing the same promises, the same commitments that have been made year after year, while millions of women continue to suffer. It was the realization that, for many, gender equality is still viewed as a matter of convenience rather than an urgent, non-negotiable human right. The slow pace of change is infuriating when you know that every delay costs lives.
Sadeen: One of the most frustrating parts was seeing how little space was given to youth voices in official discussions. While youth-led sessions were impactful, there was still a noticeable gap in how much our perspectives were incorporated into high-level decision-making processes.
What is one thing that surprised you this week?
Mairéad: How open and receptive State and NGO leaders were to feedback and input from young people like me. In my meeting with the Irish Ambassador to the UN and the Irish Minister for Health, I was pleasantly surprised by how attentive both powerful leaders were to hear mine and my fellow Plan International Ireland delegate’s perspectives on local, national, and global issues related to gender equality. It did not feel like we were there to tick a box, but were taken seriously, insofar as is possible. Also, in conversations with other NGO staff members and representatives, I was happy to be included as an equal and as someone with an important point of view to share.
Vithya: How much comfort and solace I would find in our informal debriefs with the Youth Delegation.
Amelie: I was surprised and deeply moved by the sheer contrast between the passion of young advocates and the hesitation of global leaders. It is young people who are pushing boundaries, demanding radical change, and refusing to wait. It was both inspiring and sobering to see how much of the real work is done by grassroots activist, while decision-makers often remain comfortable in incremental progress.
Sadeen: The sheer diversity of perspectives present at CSW. It was eye-opening to hear how gender inequality manifests differently across various regions, yet how interconnected our struggles are. The solidarity among advocates from different backgrounds was both empowering and inspiring.
What message will you take back to the girls and women in your community?
Sadeen: I will tell them that our voices matter. Change may seem slow, but every effort we make contributes to a larger movement. We must continue to push for our rights, demand a seat at the table, and support one another in advocacy efforts.
Vithya: I will take back to my community that there is so much strength and power in lifting up one another and that we’re never alone in the fight for a truly feminist world.
Mairéad: Despite the precarious global political landscape and the rising tide of anti-rights and anti-gender rhetoric across the world, I am taking back a message of hope and solidarity to the girls and women in my community. It can sometimes feel that we are working alone and in siloes, worrying that the work we do will not have a lasting impact or is being threatened by hostile forces. However, the most powerful thing about CSW is that it showed me that there are thousands, if not millions, of other passionate advocates, young and old, who are all working towards the same goal: a gender equal world that works for all, and not just a select few. Now more than ever, we need not to lose hope but rather to come together and work collectively for the change we want to see. I want to share this much-needed sense of determined optimism, grounded in empathy and mutual learning, with my community: we are not alone.
Amelie: I will take back the message that our voices matter, that silence is complicity, and that we cannot wait for permission to demand change. I want every girl to know that her dreams are just as valid, just as important, as any boy’s. And I want her to know that if the world refuses to make space for her, she must take it anyway.
What do you most want world leaders to remember long after CSW is over?
Vithya: I want world leaders to remember that we are ready to have a say in decisions that concern our future, we just need to be taken seriously.
Amelie: I want world leaders to remember that equality is not a favor, not a privilege to be granted at their convenience – it is a fundamental right. I want them to remember that while they hesitate, millions of girls are waking up to a reality they did not choose, a reality defined by violence, fear, and limitations. And I want them to remember that history will judge them, not by their words, but by their actions.
Mairéad: Gender equality is not an issue that can be bracketed to two weeks a year at CSW. Instead, gender-transformative approaches should underpin every policy decision and political action. We need strong, feminist world leaders to stand up to those who seek to tear down the work of CSW and the Beijing Platform for Action over the last thirty years and beyond; leaders who are unequivocally committed to advancing a better world for all. Now is not the time for sitting back and staying quiet, now is the time to speak up, especially for those whose voices go unheard.
Sadeen: I want world leaders to remember that youth are not just the future; we are the present. Policies that shape our lives should not be decided without us. Inclusion and meaningful participation of young people must be a priority, not an afterthought.
What is one key takeaway or lesson you learned from CSW?
Amelie: The key takeaway from CSW is that advocacy is relentless. It does not end with a speech, a resolution, or a signed document – it requires constant pressure, constant action. I have learned that change does not come from institutions alone; it comes from the persistence of those who refuse to be ignored.
Sadeen: One key takeaway is that collaboration is key. Real change happens when different stakeholders, governments, civil society, and youth, work together. Advocacy is strongest when it is collective, inclusive, and persistent.
Mairéad: Although the UN and CSW system are not perfect, there is power in gathering with other feminist activists and decision-makers in a moment of great political uncertainty and challenges to gender and development/humanitarian work. Finding solidarity, community, and commonality in our goals and aspirations helps us to see the light in these dark times: we are not alone.
Vithya: It’s okay to not see an immediate change in our society because of the advocacy work we do, as long as we don’t stop fighting.
Did CSW change your perspective on advocacy or global decision-making? If so, how
Sadeen: Yes! CSW reinforced that advocacy must be both local and global. While international platforms amplify voices, real change happens when policies are implemented on the ground. Bridging the gap between global commitments and local realities is essential.
Mairéad: My experience at CSW underscored the importance of the youth-led, feminist advocacy of civil society actors like Plan International in bringing the real issues and lived experiences of under-represented and marginalised communities to the forefront of global decision-making processes. High-level decision-making in international institutions like the UN can often seem quite distant and disconnected from our day-to-day life, but they have a material effect on all our lives. CSW showed me that I, and other young people like me, can and should have a seat at the table because it is our future that is at stake. We have a duty, and must be given the opportunity, to provide a much-needed critical, feminist, and youth-centred voice in global decision-making.
Amelie: Yes, CSW reinforced my belief that advocacy must be bold, unapologetic, and persistent. It made me more aware of the disconnect between grassroots activism and high-level-decision-making, and how crucial it is to bridge that gap. It also reaffirmed that real change is driven by those who refuse to accept the status quo.
If you could change one thing about CSW, what would it be and why?
Vithya: I would prefer for CSW to be held in a country that is more accessible for people from the Global South, especially those who may face passport restrictions that make traveling to New York difficult.
Amelie: If I could change one thing about CSW, it would be to shift the focus from discussions to concrete actions. Too often, these conferences become echo chambers where the same ideas are repeated, but implementation remains slow. I would want more direct commitments, more accountability, and a stronger presence of those directly affected by the policies being debated. Women and girls on the frontlines of oppression deserve more than just words – they deserve justice.
Sadeen: I would ensure that youth voices are integrated into official decision-making sessions. We bring innovative solutions and firsthand experiences that should shape policies, not just be heard as side conversations. Being part of CSW was a transformative experience, and I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to these critical discussions. I look forward to continuing the advocacy work and ensuring that the voices of young women and girls are heard at every level.
Mairéad: I would make CSW more accessible, youth-friendly, and inclusive in a concrete sense, by addressing and dismantling the intersecting barriers to youth participation along institutional, geographical, and financial lines. I would like to see CSW take place not only in New York, but also in different locations in the Global South to facilitate the greater access and participation of a greater geographical diversity of youth advocates. If we want the just, gender-equal future to which the Beijing Plan for Action aspired thirty years ago, we need to include girls and young women, in all their diversity, at the decision-making table.
Categories: Sexual and reproductive health and rights, Youth empowerment
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