What is CSW?
The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is the principal UN body dedicated to promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment. CSW70 is the 70th session of this annual gathering, held from March 9-19 2026 at the UN Headquarters in New York.
This year’s priority theme is ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls. This includes promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, and addressing structural barriers.
Why does this matter for trans communities?
CSW is one of the remaining entry points in UN gender equality frameworks that allow for the inclusion of LBTI, trans, and gender diverse people.
What is GATE doing at CSW70?
Our Executive Director, Erika Castellanos and our Human Rights Officer, Best Chitsanupong, both trans women, are attending CSW to ensure trans and gender diverse voices are upheld and included in essential discussions.
As a part of the LBTI caucus, GATE joined the Women’s Rights Caucus in signing and sending a joint statement calling on member States to adopt the text of agreed conclusions and reject hostile amendments. You can read the submitted joint statement here.
10 March
On 10 March, GATE participated in the Townhall Meeting with the Secretary-General. This is a direct dialogue between the UN’s highest leadership and civil society organizations with ECOSOC status, such as GATE.
11 March
GATE was honored to participate in the LBTI Caucus CSO meeting with Luxembourg’s delegation at their Permanent Mission in New York. We engaged directly with the Minister for Gender Equality and Diversity, Yuriko Backes, Ambassador H.E. Olivier Maes, and other senior officials.
Why was this meeting important for trans communities?
Anti‑gender movements continue to spread across borders, fueling panic and undermining access to essential services for trans and gender diverse communities. We can’t let that continue!
GATE emphasized the urgent need to address the global backlash against Gender Equality and its impact on trans-led organizations.
We concluded with three key recommendations:
- systematically monitor anti-gender actors operating within multilateral spaces,
- meaningfully consult affected communities when assessing these threats, and
- strengthen financial and institutional support for the civil society organizations on the frontlines of this work.
12 March: Join our session on LBTI Bodily Autonomy & Justice
The LBTI Caucus is hosting a side event “LBTI Bodily Autonomy and Justice”. This event is hosted in partnership with GATE, Outright International, RFSL, Bi+ Equal, COC Nederland and Rainbow Railroad. During this event, our Executive Director, Erika Castellanos, is a speaker and will be raising trans and gender diverse communities’ voices.
What is this session about?
The session explored how trans, lesbian, bi+, and intersex women’s right to self-determination is shaped and often restricted by legal systems, institutional discrimination, and criminalization. Grounded in lived experiences, the discussion highlighted how LBTI activists from the Global South challenge harmful narratives promoted by anti-gender movements, building resilience and strengthening community-led pathways to safety and justice.
Erika Castellanos, GATE’s Executive Director, gave a speech on the impact of anti-rights movements on bodily autonomy for trans and gender diverse communities worldwide. Understand what is happening and what can be done.
13 March
On Friday 13th March, GATE will be joining the LBTI caucus reception at Outright International’s office.
16 March
On Monday 16th March, our Human Rights Officer, Best Chitsanupong, will deliver a statement at the interactive dialogue among youth representatives on the priority theme 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 (official session).
Watch the session live on 16 March.