DCA at the UN: Advancing gender equality on the global stage

DCA is proud to be part of an Australian delegation heading to the United Nations for the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women  (CSW69), taking place from 10 to 21 March 2025. 

This year’s session is particularly significant as it marks 30 years since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a landmark commitment to advancing gender equality worldwide. 

At CSW69, global representatives will come together to reflect on progress made, assess ongoing challenges, and explore how we can accelerate action towards gender equality and women’s empowerment. These discussions are also key to advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

Throughout the session, NGOs, government delegations, academics, and civil society leaders will share insights and collaborate on solutions. As part of these conversations, DCA will engage in key dialogues, bringing our expertise on workplace inclusion to the global stage. 

DCA contributing to two key sessions at CSW69

DCA is proud to be directly involved in two key parallel sessions at CSW69. 

How to register for CSW69 as a virtual attendee:

  • You can register to attend CSW69 for free and virtually, by visiting the CSW69 attendee registration page and following the prompts to sign up.
  • Once you are logged in to the site you will then be able to browse the many events on offer throughout the two weeks.
  • To access the DCA events:
    • Search for the two DCA events using session titles below in the search bar, then save them to your personal CSW69 Agenda and calendar item.
    • Or, for easy access to the DCA events during the forum, use the zoom links provided below at the time of each event.

Uniting Across Borders: Global Allyship in the Face of Resistance

Tuesday, 11 March 2025 at 4:30 PM (New York Time)
Wednesday, 12 March 2025 at 7:30 AM AEDT (Australia)

DCA is partnering with our GIDA partner, the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion, on a session tackling the challenges of allyship in an increasingly polarised world. With resistance to diversity programs growing in some regions, global collaboration has never been more critical.

This session will explore how organisations can strengthen allyship across diverse cultural and political landscapes. While resistance to inclusion varies by region, the need for strong, consistent allyship remains universal. Together, we’ll outline key allyship principles to help organisations navigate and thrive in this challenging environment.

The panel will include:

  • Sheetal Deo, DCA’s Director of Education, Diversity Council Australia

  • Dr. Virginia Mapedzahama, DCA’s Scholar-in-Residence & Director of Special Projects, Diversity Council Australia

  • Marni Panas, Chair of the Board of the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion.

Women and Intersectionality at Work: Inclusive Approaches to Organisational Leadership  

 Tuesday, 11 March 2025 at 6:30 PM (New York Time)
Wednesday, 12 March 2025 at 9:30 AM AEDT (Australia)

Our Scholar-in-Residence and Director of Special Projects, Dr. Virginia Mapedzahama, will be leading a session on  the significance of applying an intersectionality lens in gender equality work. 

Workplace gender-equality initiatives often treat women as a homogenous group, assuming all benefit equally. However, these efforts can only be inclusive of all women when they centre voices of those most marginalised by complex and compounded intersecting structures of inequity. 

The session will present methodological insights and lessons learnt from several intersectional workplace gender equality projects undertaken by the consortium (AWAU, Australia Human Rights Commission, Diversity Council Australia, Settlement Services International, Chief Executive Women and The University of Sydney). We will offer frameworks for developing nuanced approaches to workplace equity that advance women’s economic empowerment to ensure no woman is left behind.   

The session will include representatives from African Women Australia Incorporated, Australia Human Rights Commission, Diversity Council Australia, Settlement Services International, Chief Executive Women and The University of Sydney.

Panelists include:

  • Lisa Annese, CEO, Chief Executive Women (CEW)
  • Dr. Anna Cody, Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Australian Human Rights Commission
  • Dr. Dimitria G Groutsis, Professor of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, The University of Sydney Business School
  • Dr. Virginia Mapedzahama, DCA’s Scholar-in-Residence & Director of Special Projects, Diversity Council Australia
  • Juliana Nkrumah AM, Manager, Gender Equality and Women’s Safety, Settlement Services International and Founder, African Women Australia Incorporated (AWAU)
  • Dr. Astrid Perry OAM, Head of Women, Equity and Domestic Violence, Settlement Services International
  • Shalani Tharumanathan, Project Manager – RISE, Diversity Council Australia

Why CSW69 matters

The Commission on the Status of Women plays a pivotal role in shaping global gender equality policies. At the end of the session, UN Member States will agree on a set of actions and recommendations, known as the Agreed Conclusions, that serve as a blueprint for advancing women’s rights worldwide.

DCA is honoured to again be contributing to these critical conversations alongside governments, civil society, and global experts. By sharing our research and learnings, we aim to drive meaningful change and amplify women’s voices on a global stage.

We look forward to a dynamic and impactful CSW69 — stay tuned for updates.