As the first week of the 2026 UN Women’s Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) concluded, a resounding theme emerged from the sessions: young women’s participation must be matched by genuine power and protection. Despite their active involvement in peacebuilding, politics, and digital arenas, young women continue to face structural challenges that prevent them from exerting real influence.
The day began with a joint session hosted by several international bodies, including UN Women and the OSCE, highlighting the intersection of Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agendas. Sarah Hendriks of UN Women emphasized the structural sidelining of young women, noting that their participation in consultations often does not translate into real influence where resources are allocated. This concern is echoed by a joint peacebuilding initiative involving various UN agencies aiming to address the funding and inclusion gaps that young women face globally.
Contributing to the dialogue, Felipe Paullier pointed out the current surge in global armed conflicts, urging a shift in narrative to place young women at the center of peace discussions. Kyrgyzstan’s initiatives were showcased as a model for integrating climate and water security into national actions plans, with Italy announcing its own forthcoming youth-focused peace strategy.
The question of political representation was further examined through sessions organized under the WYDE Women’s Leadership initiative. Despite young women making up a minuscule percentage of global parliamentarians, figures like Bina Maseno of Badili Africa highlighted systemic barriers such as femicide, unpaid care work, and trafficking, which remain underrepresented in political manifestos. The need for policy frameworks that ensure political environments accommodate women was loudly articulated, stressing the importance of moving beyond tokenism.
In the digital sphere, the rising tide of online violence against women was addressed in a session organized by the EQUALS Global Partnership. Experts like UN Women’s Jayathma Wickramanayake shared alarming statistics about the pervasive nature of online abuse, advocating for a shift in responsibility to social platforms through “safety by design” principles, as exemplified by Australia’s eSafety Commission.
These panels collectively underscored that mere presence is insufficient. Addressing the gaps in power dynamics requires structural changes that involve comprehensive funding, legal frameworks, mentorship, and a thorough redesign of institutions. To truly empower young women and enhance their roles in critical global discussions, these changes are imperative.
The nuanced discussions at CSW70 affirm the urgent need to transform policies and practices to ensure not only participation but also real empowerment for young women. The full coverage of this compelling narrative can be found here.