Luxembourg Highlights Women’s Rights & Gender Equality at UN CSW70

From Monday 9 to Thursday 12 March 2026, Luxembourg’s Minister of Gender Equality and Diversity, Yuriko Backes, participated in the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) in New York, United States.

According to Luxembourg’s Ministry of Gender Equality and Diversity, the minister’s programme included a series of exchanges, roundtables and events aimed at promoting gender equality and access to justice for all women and girls.

Minister Backes attended the commemoration ceremony of International Women’s Day ahead of the formal opening of the 70th session of the CSW, in the presence of international figures engaged in this cause, including activist Malala Yousafzai, actress Anne Hathaway and singer Michelle Williams.

During the general debate, Minister Backes stressed that: “Today more than ever, we must ensure that we have strong accountability systems, both nationally and internationally, anchored in a rules-based order, with rules that apply to everyone, without discrimination. No matter the gender identity or sexual orientation.”

The ministry noted that, for the first time in 70 years, the conclusions of the CSW were adopted by vote rather than by consensus, as had previously been the case. This was due to the fact that a number of states are challenging long-established principles and terminology relating to women’s rights, particularly the term “gender” and principles concerning bodily autonomy and reproductive health services. The United States was the only member state of the Commission to vote against the conclusions.

The minister also stressed the urgency of continuing to actively defend the fundamental rights of women and girls. She recalled that Luxembourg is the second country, after France, to initiate parliamentary procedures to include the freedom to have an abortion in its Constitution, reaffirming its commitment to reproductive rights and bodily autonomy.

Minister Backes also participated in a ministerial roundtable on the central theme of CSW70: “Guaranteeing and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls”. On this occasion, she reaffirmed Luxembourg’s determination to maintain strong legal structures, particularly to combat gender-based violence and ensure equitable access to justice for all.

As Minister of Defence and Minister of Gender Equality and Diversity, Yuriko Backes also delivered a speech at an event co-sponsored by Austria, Ecuador and Luxembourg on the role of women as actors in security and peace. She emphasised the need to include women at all levels of conflict prevention and peacebuilding efforts and referred to Luxembourg’s second national action plan on women, peace and security as an illustration of the country’s support for this priority area.

The minister also participated in the launch of the exhibition “Thinking of You” by artist Alketa Xhafa Mripa, a symbolic work denouncing impunity for sexual violence committed during conflicts. The launch with Benelux partners at the Permanent Representation of Luxembourg to the United Nations was followed by a march to Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza, where the exhibition was installed.

Her programme also included a ministerial breakfast of the European Union organised by Cyprus, which currently holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union, in the presence of European Commissioner for Equality Hadja Lahbib, as well as a Benelux ministerial lunch organised by the Netherlands.

Minister Backes also participated in a roundtable entitled “From Promise to Progress: Advancing the SRHR – Gender Equality Nexus”, organised by Sierra Leone and the SheDecides movement, where she reaffirmed Luxembourg’s firm support for affordable and safe access to sexual and reproductive healthcare and services worldwide.

On the sidelines of the official sessions, the minister attended an event organised at Luxembourg House by the Luxembourg American Chamber of Commerce on women’s entrepreneurship and leadership as key drivers of change.

She also delivered the welcome speech during the screening of the documentary “The Sharp Edge of Peace”, organised by Luxembourg together with France and UN Women, which addresses the quest for transformative justice for Afghan women.

Finally, Minister Backes held several bilateral meetings with international officials, including Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mariana Betsa, UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous, UNFPA Executive Director Diene Keita, Center for Reproductive Rights Programme Director Enid Muthoni, Security Council Report Executive Director Shamala Kandiah, as well as representatives of the LBTI Caucus and Outright International.