International Solidarity: The UN Commission on the Status of Women
By Eleanor Anderson
“Why is it that we are more afraid of a woman with a book than a man with a gun?”
Over spring break, seven local community members and four others from across the country attended the United Nation (UN)’s 70th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York. Together, they represented the Consortium of Saint Joseph while learning from and interacting with international leaders fighting for justice for women. The 11 representatives of CSJ spent their week attending panels, workshops, and meetings put together by nations represented in the UN, international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other international organizations (IOs), often presented with insightful truths like the one quoted above.
The primary theme of the conference was “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.” Session topics ranged from legal empowerment for sex workers to protections for those living in active war zones. The UN declared 2026 as the Year of the Woman Farmer, so several sessions emphasized the importance of land rights for women, the connection between the land or climate and women’s health, and other means of autonomy for women working and living in agrarian cultures. Delegates had the opportunity to attend events happening in the UN headquarters building as well as parallel events in the many UN-affiliated locations around Manhattan.
Of the CSJ delegates, four of the attendees are students at St. Kate’s: Eleanor Anderson ‘26 (Economics, and Political Science), Emmanuella Brefo ‘28 (International studies and Women and International Development), Eleanor Lightfield ‘28 (Political Science) and Thu Nguyen ‘28 (Philosophy and Political Science). The students were selected by faculty members because of their engagement in and out of the classroom as well as their interest in legal careers and international development. Additionally, a Saint Kate’s alum and former St. Joseph Worker, Rachel Kennedy ‘08 (Political Science) joined the local group because of her continued dedication to women’s rights and community service. Alongside a current CSJ employee Lisa Murphy, and another former St. Joseph Worker who currently serves as an Assistant Ramsey County Attorney, Monica Shaffer, the delegates from Minnesota embodied several facets of the CSJ Catholic Social teachings that aim to make the world a better place.
The CSW itself was highly insightful and educational. This does not mean, however, that the experience was without fault. Many sessions centering voices from the Middle East and other conflict zones were cancelled throughout the week as speakers were denied visa entry into the United States, or travel was deemed unsafe. Members of the CSJ delegation who have attended the CSW in the past noted several times the smaller number of people in attendance, likely as a result of travel restrictions put in place by the current federal government. At the same time, all attendees from the CSJ delegation noted how few men were present at the conference. While everyone applauded the UN for centering and uplifting female voices and experiences, the participants recognized that women’s rights should not simply be of interest to women; in order for there to be lasting change, men need to listen to the experiences and wisdom that female leaders have to offer.
Despite these drawbacks, everyone on the trip shared their profuse gratitude for being able to attend the CSW, and several denoted their experiences as “life-changing.” For all four students, this was the first time they visited New York, and they made sure to experience the city to the fullest extent outside of conference hours. Between Broadway shows, walk-through tours of the New York Public Library, Grand Central Station, and Times Square, and New York culinary classics like bagels and pizza, the Katie’s made use of the social and cultural opportunities that the Big Apple has to offer. Meanwhile, every participant had a personal connection to the UN that made them excited to attend; whether they were Model UN participants as kids, studied the UN in law school, or have close personal ties to countries that found their sovereignty under the UN, being able to sit within the famous halls of the UN headquarters and meet international diplomats proved to be an impactful experience. When asked to describe their experience in one word, the delegates responded as follows:
“Eye-opening. Inspired. Amazing. Immersive. Hopeful. Informative. Dialogue. Connected. Community. Though-Provoking. Solidarity.”
Interested in learning more or participating in future years? Find a poster created by students at the Sister Seraphim Gibbons Research Symposium, and watch for an event in the Abigail Quigley Center for Women from students promoting their experience.
