Uniting Across Borders: Global Allyship in the Face of Resistance

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).

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 have 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 shared insights and collaborate on solutions. As part of these conversations, DCA engaged in key dialogues, bringing our expertise on workplace inclusion to the global stage. 

DCA has partnered 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 explored 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 included:

  • 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.

The following resources are now available for viewing:

  • Presentation in PDF
  • Recording of the event via Vimeo with playback speed control and captions below