Youth Blog

Daily Report – March 10, 2025: UN 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women

Campaign Life Coalition (CLC) sent a delegation of nine pro-life young people to the 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) to engage with global discussions that concentrate on issues directly impacting women – such as education, health and human rights. Many of these discussions are, unfortunately, focused on pushing the controversial issues of abortion, gender ideology and seeking gender equality through the proposed implementation of feminist foreign policy – which pushes legitimate issues impacting women, like maternal mortality rates, to the wayside. This week, our delegates are actively reporting on the events, engaging with and challenging panelists, and building relationships with other delegations and NGOs. Their primary mission is to challenge ideologies that promote abortion and defend the sanctity of human life, ensuring the voice of the unborn is heard in the global discourse on women's rights. Yesterday’s events showcased significant challenges, many of which are in direct conflict with pro-life and pro family principles.

In one of the first events of the week, titled, “Promoting Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Complex Contexts,” organized by FOKUS – Forum for Women and Development, the panel discussed the promotion of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), which includes abortion and abortifacient contraception, in “complex contexts” like war-torn regions. Imelda Kanyesige from UPLIFT West Nile shared her experience in training thousands of women and girls on SRHR, with potential funding from and in consultation with FOKUS. She acknowledged that SRHR is a taboo topic in her region, but she claimed that they have garnered local support from women and district officials. Imelda explained that during training sessions, local leaders are invited so that they can be “reassured” that their work is not about changing traditions, but about creating an impact – which reveals the deceptive nature of these supposed training forums.

Imelda shared that their national curriculum board just developed a framework to shield against the effects of modernity, claiming that the framework is focussed on the conservation of tradition to push back against attempts to dissent from cultural and religious norms. 

The session became increasingly hostile when CLC youth delegate, Josie, asked Imelda how she defined "safe abortion." Josie asked, "Is a 'safe abortion' when only one human being dies? Because that seems contradictory, like a safe war or a safe execution." Imelda seemed uncomfortable answering the question, but she eventually claimed that "safe abortion" is putting women's health first. Anne Mette Øvrum from FOKUS intervened, telling panelists they did not have to answer questions and even suggesting that our CLC delegates leave "if [they] did not want to listen." Despite the tension, our delegates remained committed to engaging in meaningful dialogue – which should permit the inclusion of unique and challenging perspectives.

See a full video report on this event here:

This event underscores the troubling push to normalize abortion under the guise of SRHR, while disregarding the inherent value of every human life. Pro-life advocates must continue to challenge these initiatives and ensure that women and girls are provided with support that does not involve the destruction of life.

In the parallel event titled, “We seek Partners: Annually Funded Reproductive Health Learning App,” organized by Invest in a Girl, a new educational app designed to promote knowledge of SRHR was presented. The app, Baykin 2.0, was created by a programmer from Myanmar and aims to reach users in rural and impoverished areas by functioning offline. With 8,000 users in Myanmar and interest from about 20 other countries, the app seeks to address SRHR topics. The hope is to eventually branch from basic concepts like consent in relationships to transgender ideology, which certainly poses significant concerns.

Priscilla Lee from Invest in a Girl discussed the challenges the app faces in rural areas, where cultural sensitivities can hinder its adoption. Lee claimed that one of the significant obstacles to adoption is the claim that the app promotes “risky behaviours” like premarital sexual intercourse. While the app may provide valuable education in some contexts, it also represents a significant risk in promoting potentially harmful ideologies. For example, its inclusion of topics like transgenderism could foster confusion and undermine the understanding of biological sex, leading to further societal and cultural harm.

While it remains clear that this app does have the potential to do a lot of damage, especially if greater funding is approved by UN agencies and it is promoted widely, the sad root of it is that the woman who began it, Hla Hla, said she did not know where babies came from until she was 18 and feared drinking the same tea as a boy might get her pregnant. Likewise, her husband had similar misconceptions. Unfortunately, they have taken a legitimate need for authentic education on human sexuality and relationships much too far.

In the session titled, “Nordic Ministers’ Panel: Join Us in Pushing for Progress” organized by the Nordic Council of Ministers (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden), the Nordic ministers for gender equality discussed the growing challenges to women's and girls' rights worldwide, including increasing resistance to gender equality – likely due to the controversial accompaniment of access to SRHR. The Nordic ministers have signed a common declaration to counteract these supposed “setbacks” and continue advocating for progress to be made in the advancement of abortion “rights.” They also shared the urgent need for action and solidarity in the face of these threats.

Sanni Grahn-Laasonen, Finland’s Minister for Social Security, emphasized the importance of pushing for progress in gender equality, even as “setbacks” occur globally. She highlighted the risk of backlash against women's rights, noting that one in four countries reported such pushback in the last year alone. She stressed the importance of building new alliances and coalitions to continue advancing gender equality. Minister Grahn-Laasonen also spoke about the worry for her own daughters' future and the need to protect the hard-earned rights and achievements, especially in the face of conservative, pro-life movements in many Nordic countries.

Magnus Heunicke, Denmark’s Minister for Environment and Gender Equality, voiced concerns over the pushback against gender equality, which he called a serious threat to the progress made in the past few decades. He underscored the need to fight for gender equality, as many believed these rights were secure. Minister Heunicke pointed out the rising debate on strengthening abortion rights globally, stressing that reproductive rights—specifically the right to supposed “safe” and legal abortion—remain a key focus for Denmark’s legislative efforts.

During the Q&A portion, a pro-life attendee asked the panel if they had any resources to help women who experience post-abortion trauma. In response, Minister Heunicke stated, "if you have trauma, regardless of where it comes from, she can get help from society. But I will also answer your question that I am without a doubt, I'm really sure that both the physical and the mental health issues are much more, much bigger if you were to have illegal abortions. So legal abortions are both better for your mental health and for your physical health. I think that's also important."

While acknowledging the need for support for women, this response reflects a common pro-abortion argument—that legal abortion is “safer” for women’s mental and physical health. However, this assertion overlooks the truth that abortion itself kills an innocent human being, and there is no such thing as a truly “safe” abortion. The procedure always results in the loss of a child's life, and it is deeply important to consider the trauma that comes from taking that life. This blatant disregard for the real suffering of post-abortive women further perpetuates the unmet need for greater post-abortive support ministries to bridge the gaps between the abortion industry and women suffering post-abortion.

Sweden’s Minister for Gender Equality, Åsa Lindhagen, noted the importance of adding the “right” to abortion into Sweden's constitution to safeguard it in the face of growing pushback from pro-life activists. She emphasized that the fight for gender equality is ongoing and requires vigilance and active engagement to prevent regression – which certainly gives the pro-life movement some credit.

The Nordic ministers made it clear that although there are many positive steps forward—such as increasing access to education and the fight against violence against women—the work is far from over. They stressed the importance of upholding women’s rights in all aspects of life, especially in light of international, pro-life and pro-family pushback.

The discussion also touched on the importance of addressing online violence and harassment, with the ministers reiterating the need to continue fighting for “safe spaces” for women and girls both offline and online.

Sirið Stenberg, Minister of Social Affairs and Culture, Faroe Islands, talked about their attempts to pass an abortion law in the Faroe Islands. The proposal failed due to a 50/50 divide on the issue in the country. Magnus Heunicke, Minister for Environment and Gender Equality, Denmark, then stated that women from the Faroe Islands would be welcome to come to Denmark to commit their abortions.

An event hosted by the German mission to the U.N., was titled “Feminism for the Win: Strategies to Defy and Defeat Anti-Feminist Movements.” The purported goal was to showcase “effective” strategies for combating anti-feminist movements. The speakers came from varying backgrounds— Germany, Poland, Argentina, and the United States.

Naureen Shameem, the executive director of NOOR, characterized conservative movements as “neo fascist” and “authoritarian.” One speaker from Germany claimed that conservative movements “undermine the rule of law” and “destabilize democracy.” Much of the panel focused on vilifying conservatives without offering substantial evidence of these claims.

When the panelists discussed strategies to respond to “anti-feminist” movements, their suggestions included creating “databases” of anti-feminist incidents and resorting to bold “insults” to challenge conservative opposition. One panelist, Marta Lempart, a Polish activist, was particularly radical. When asked by CLC delegate Josie how they could claim to support human rights while ignoring the rights and dignity of the unborn, Marta dismissed the question, calling the term “unborn” a “propaganda word,” repeatedly calling it “stupid.”

Later, CLC delegate, Liana, challenged the panel with a question about examples of authoritarianism on the right, especially when it is often more evident on the political left. When mentioning abortion, the room became hostile, with attendees telling the delegate to sit down, refusing to answer the question, and taking photos of the delegate in an intimidating manner.

Lempart responded to another question by stating that the time for politeness was over and that debates should involve insults. She declared, “I hate these people,” and “I want them gone.” This openly hostile rhetoric further exemplified the extreme nature of the discussion.

After the event, Liana attempted to engage with Lempart. She wished to ask a simple but profound question: “Do you hate me?” Lempart refuses to talk with her, however.

The whole event highlighted the stark contrast between the pro-life ethic of dialogue, understanding, and dignity, versus the hostility expressed by the other side. It underscores the emotional and radical responses of the left, who are unwilling to engage in meaningful debate. As the CLC delegates reflected, the increasingly extreme tactics of anti-life movements are indicative of their struggle. By maintaining our commitment to dialogue and love, we are confident that the pro-life movement will ultimately prevail.

These CSW side and parallel events highlighted the ongoing global battle over women’s rights, especially in the areas of abortion and reproductive health. Despite overwhelming pro-abortion sentiments, the pro-life delegates remain steadfast in their commitment to promoting the dignity of every human life and ensuring that women are supported with love and respect. There is a clear need for continued advocacy and engagement to combat the radical ideologies pushing for abortion and to uphold the rights of the unborn.