CSW70 Delegate Blog Post
I never thought there would be a referendum against women, let alone against Black women. What became a stark reality is that Black women in America are no different from our sisters in other nations who fight for opportunities, equality, and economic power while battling against violence, marginalization, and economic suppression. As a delegate at the seventieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), I came to the conference to experience it through the lens of an American Black woman. But the convening opened my eyes to the similarities in our struggles, rather than the differences that might be defined by demographics or psycho-graphics. We all aspire to what some may label the “American Dream,” but it is, in fact, a global aspiration; as we do not hold a monopoly on “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” regardless of how it manifests.
The saying, “You strike a woman, you strike a rock,” is a South African phrase I took away from the G20 parallel event. It resonated with me because women are the foundation of society, as we are in pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness. As another saying goes, we are the ones who rock the cradle of those who rule the world. Women must not forget their strength and ability to shape leaders. Additionally, women must be respected for this power. As an official from Estonia shared, with power comes responsibility, and this responsibility should lead to the protection of human rights. The fundamental principle that will allow women to live without the fear of becoming child brides, experiencing female genital mutilation, or being objectified online and through artificial intelligence—while also ensuring access to clean water, equal pay, and land ownership—is a matter of human rights. It is high time for my country and community to learn from the global community how we can, must, and will continue to make strides in protecting human rights.
We can make strides by addressing accountability gaps. We need to ensure that our regulators are effective as we seek to align new norms with the current justice system. It is crucial that our efforts to ensure and strengthen access to justice are not merely retributive or distributive. We must focus on procedural and restorative justice to achieve meaningful progress and outcomes. An example of this is Eritrea, where they have empowered women and girls through community courts, resulting in equal pay and stricter laws against offenders of sexual assault, harassment, and rape.
Eritrea shows the advancement of women and girls relies on collective agency across different locations, ethnicities, economic statuses, and educational levels. Our individual beliefs, goals, and actions will remain mere concepts unless we forge a path that enables us to work together to advance norms that redistribute power for the benefit of all women and girls.
As I navigate the intersection of being Black and a woman in America, it becomes increasingly clear to me that these identities are not mutually exclusive; rather, they provide me with a perspective that addresses policies and structural barriers that can make a significant difference in achieving inclusivity and equity for all women and girls. Both professionally and personally, I am even more committed after attending the CSW70 to fostering collective agency for women and girls from all walks of life to effect change, regardless of location, ethnicity, economic status, or educational level.
