LJUBLJANA/NEW YORK, 29 March 2025 – On March 15 2025 global leaders, policymakers, scholars, and advocates gathered in New York City for the UN Women CSW69 side event, 80 Years and Beyond: Defending Women’s Rights through Multidisciplinary Action for a Sustainable Future. This landmark event underscored the urgency of strengthening global partnerships and cross-sectoral collaboration to advance gender equality, combat gender-based violence (GBV), and promote women’s rights as essential pillars of sustainable development.
As UN Women marks its 80th anniversary, the event reflected on the progress made in advancing gender equality while recognizing the need for accelerated efforts to bridge the remaining gaps. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a crucial framework for achieving gender justice; however, significant challenges persist. Women worldwide continue to face barriers in access to justice, protection from violence, and equitable representation in governance and decision-making. The event focused on revitalizing the Beijing Platform for Action and CSW’s role in shaping gender policies.
The event organizers from the Hope Pyx Global, National Council Member of UNA-USA and IFIMES emphasized the need for urgent action, stating, “Technology can be a powerful tool for empowerment, but it has also become a weapon for traffickers and perpetrators. We must ensure that digital transformation prioritizes safety, accountability, and justice for women and marginalized communities.”
The event featured a dynamic panel of experts, policymakers, and survivor advocates who explored various intersections of gender equality and sustainability. IFIMES has largest number of speakers – three of them. Key discussions included:
● Women & Creativity
Edna dos Santos-Duisenberg
Frm. UNCTAD Chief, Creative Economy Program, now of the Culture for Peace,
● Invisible Borders: Gender Violence as a Driver and Consequence of Migration
Aylin Chalup
Former Congressional Intern, Office of Vicente Gonzalez TX-34
● Tech for Good: Combating Digital Exploitation and Human Trafficking in the Digital Age Eileen Dong
Executive Director, Hope Pyx Global
● Women and the Economy: Advancing Digital and Economic Inclusion in Latin America
Valentina Carvajal
Information Officer, IFIMES (Latin America)
● Women in Peacebuilding: Overcoming Obstacles to Become a Voice for Justice
Joseph Evans
Lieutenant Colonel (Retired), US Army
● Healing Through Movement: Using Martial Arts for Empowerment
Jamie Miller
Women Engagement Committee Member, Philadelphia Mayor’s Office
● Breaking the Silence: How Education Disrupts Cycles of Domestic Violence in Latinx Communities Yulianna Acuna
Intern, Permanent Mission of Costa Rica to the United Nations
● Empowering Women, Transforming Futures: Advancing Rights and Equality in the Philippines, Asia-Pacific, and Beyond
Jehanie Milky Nagon
Information Officer, IFIMES Philippines
● Rights, Equality, Empowerment: Upholding The Essence of Who Runs The World
Nasya Aiskha Safira
Information Officer, IFIMES Indonesia
The discussions emphasized the urgent need for legislative reforms, corporate accountability, survivor-centered approaches, and technological solutions to ensure that women’s rights remain at the core of UN’s 2030 Agenda on Global Goals.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams commended the impact on the safety of New York City and their global influence stating: “HOPE and its team empowers, educates, and equips stakeholders and survivors with tools to combat human trafficking and all forms of sexual abuse, exploitation, and gender-based violence. I am pleased to recognize this benevolent organization for its efforts to make a positive impact across the five boroughs and far beyond. I join in applauding this amazing organization for its many contributions to our international metropolis.”
Ljubljana/New York, 29 March 2025
