CSW69 Parallel Events (March 10-21, 2025)
BPW International’s parallel events at the 69th Commission on the Status of Women, Beijing+30.
1. UN CSW (side event)
Topic: Empowering Gender Equality: Breaking Barriers
Organizer: Permanent Mission of Malaysia to the United Nations, IFBPW, FBPW Malaysia, FBPW Nepal
Time, date and venue: Tuesday, 11 March 2025; 1:30 – 2:30 pm; Permanent Mission of Malaysia, 313 East 43rd Street New York NY
Opening: H.E. Dato’ Dr. Ahmad Faisal Muhamad, Permanent Representative of Malaysia to the United Nations
Speaker: Her Excellency Datuk Dr. Maziah binti Che Yusoff, Secretary General of the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, Malaysia
Speaker: His Excellency Lok Bahadur Thapa, Vice President of ECOSOC, Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations
Speaker: President Diana Barragan International Federation of Business and Professional Women
MC: Siobhan Dilly, FBPW New Zealand
Moderator: Lisa Fong, BPW Hong Kong
Panelists:
Kellie Coombes, Chief Executive for the Ministry for Women; Zarin Hainsworth, Chair of the National Alliance of Women’s Organisations UK; Jessilina Rana, United Nations Advisor, CIVICUS; Luciana Marins, Manager of Strategic Projects, General Superintendence of Economic and Social Development
Closing remarks: FBPW Malaysia President Dato’Seri Rozaini Nawawi
Attendance: 88
Major information collected: Speakers emphasised courage, collaboration, and authenticity when it comes to policy action to ending gender equality barriers. They highlighted the importance of mentoring, challenging systemic barriers, and creating inclusive spaces. Storytelling was central—sharing lived experience to empower others. Speakers encouraged resilience, lifting each other up, and driving change through community, compassion, and purposeful leadership.
2. NGO CSW (virtual parallel event)
Topic: Climate Justice and Development: The Role of Women in Agroecology
Organizer: IFBPW, BPW Brazil
Time date and venue: 13th March, 16:30 PM EST
Opening: Alison Regina Mazza Lubascher
Moderator: Dr Thalita Verônica Gonçalves
Panelists:
Initial Presentations
- Kátia Mastroto, Coordinator of the Environment Commission of BPW Presidente Prudente
- Valquíria Candido da Silva, COOPERPAC/Committee of Waste Pickers of the City of SP
- Bianca Santos Lopes, APACC
- Alexandra de Moura Nogueira, Coordinator of the JuriBusiness Committee of BPW Brazil
Discussion Panel
- Mediation and Final Considerations: Thalita Gonçalves e Silva, Coordinator of the Environmental Committee of BPW Brazil
- Participation: Ana Cristina Franzoloso, Du Bem Sustentável / BPW Campo Grande and Cristina Gorajski Visconti, IFBPW Standing Committee Agriculture Chair
Closing remarks: Cristina Gorajski Visconti, IFBPW Standing Committee Agriculture Chair and Thalita Gonçalves e Silva, Coordinator of the Environmental Committee of BPW Brazil
Attendance: 64
Major information collected: The event discussed climate justice and the role of women in agroecology, focusing on the intersection between climate justice, economic empowerment and sustainability. The speakers shared their experiences and projects, including a collectors cooperative, an aquaponics project and a recycling program, highlighting the negative impacts of aerial spraying of pesticides and the importance of sustainable agriculture. The event concluded with discussions on agroecology, climate justice and the role of women, with plans for future collaborations and project presentations.
3. NGO CSW virtual (parallel event)
Topic: Empowering Women’s Leadership: Breaking Barriers in Economy, Decision-Making and Technology
Organizer: IFBPW Standing Committee Business, Trade and Technology, BPW Istanbul, Istanbul Nişantaşı University
Time date and venue: 13:30 EDT 12th March 2025
Moderator: Selda Alemdar Dincer
Panelists:
- Prof. Dr. Göknur Akçadağ – Academic expert on gender studies and social policies
- Nazlı Taşbaş – BPW Young Representative, focusing on youth employment and entrepreneurship
- Banu Kiper – Managing Director at Wilo Group, highlighting the role of women in engineering and leadership
- Petek Özkan Altındal – CMO with expertise in B2B SaaS and high-tech industries, sharing her journey in overcoming barriers
- Ceyda Süer – Founder of Flexvision Technology, discussing inclusive leadership in the tech sector
Attendance: 100
Major information collected:
Our discussions revolved around key topics such as breaking systemic barriers, leveraging technology for gender equality, and evaluating the impact of past commitments, including a review of the Beijing Declaration and Action Platform. The role of academia, civil society, and businesses in shaping future strategies was at the heart of the conversation, emphasizing the need for multi-stakeholder collaboration to drive meaningful change.
An important takeaway from the event was the need for actionable plans for the next decade. We explored how to equip young professionals with the right skills, foster diversity in leadership, and ensure that gender equality remains a priority in decision-making processes.
4. NGO CSW (virtual parallel event – hybrid: on-site in Zurich)
Topic: WOMEN IN BUSINESS AND AI: NAVIGATING THE GENDER GAP
Organizer: BPW Switzerland, BPW Club Zurich, Sheerah Kim
Time date and venue: 14:30 EDT, 12th March 2025, Virtual and Impact Hub Zurich
Moderator: Sheerah Kim
Panelists:
- Keynote: Dr. Angela Müller (AlgorithmWatch CH)
- Panel: Adelheid Moxon (Women in Digital Switzerland), Nikki Böhler (intersections), Carmen Somm (BPW Club Kreuzlingen)
- Live Broadcast: Andrea Scheller (Wikimedia CH), Léonie Kirchgeorg (AI Business School) – Tech & Chat moderation by Nathalie Klauser (intersections)
- Opening & Closing: Barbara Haller Rupf (BPW Switzerland), Merle Zur (Female Founders Initiative, Impact Hub Zurich), Sheerah Kim (BPW Club Zurich)
Attendance: 164 Virtual Platform Online, 100 On-site at Impact Hub Zurich
Major information collected:
A key concern is that increasing AI adoption will lead to greater inequality if unequally adopted across demographic groups (Cazzaniga et al., 2024).
- What is the role that policy makers, educators, programmers and corporations play currently – and what is our ask for the future? (Keynote)
- How do we cultivate and develop critical thinking and resilience in order to navigate potentially biased AI generated content? (Panel)
- How can AI algorithms help to promote DEI Diversity, Equity & Inclusion? (Panel)
- What are the key factors and assessment frameworks of ethical practice of Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning? (Panel)
- What might our interactions with AI systems look like if they were designed from feminist values? (Panel & Deep Dive)
- How can one contribute individually in order to alleviate the gender gap with respect to Large Language Models and Talent Pools? (Deep Dive)
5. NGO CSW Physical (parallel event)
Topic: Empowering women in economic through education
Organizer: Taipei Tenyuan Club, BPW Taiwan (Caroline Chou)
Time date and venue: 10:30 EDT, 10th March 2025, 11th Floor, CCUN
Moderator: Caroline Chou
Panelists:
- Dr. Herlin Chien – Topic: Bolder Action Needed for Boosting Womenomics in Asia Pacific
- Ms. Carolyn Savage – Topic: When Women and girls from low social economic environments have access to education, they can break down barriers to economic empowerment.
- Ms. Sujata Tiwari – Topic: “Rethinking Education: From Mindset to Empowerment – Beyond Degrees: The Real Value of Education”
Attendance: 100 persons (Recording watching – more than 50 persons)
Major information collected:
- The correlation between Education and economic empowerment to Women.
- The best case sharing from Taiwan, New Zealand, Singapore, and Asian countries.
- Children and young women education in Asia pacific – cases sharing
- The importance of Continuing education and lifelong learning
- How to break down the barriers of education
- How to encourage women to keep learning
- The solution to bring the opportunities of education.
- Rethinking education through the mindset building.
6. NGO CSW (Physical Parallel event)
Topic: Economic Empowerment of Women Entrepreneurs, Gender Equality, Sustainable Development Goals.
Organizer: Carol Hanlon, BPW Australia
Time date and Venue: 12:30 pm, 10 March 2025, Church center
Moderator: Carol Hanlon, Belmont BEC Inc. (G100, BEC Global) BPW Business Incubator, TCF Global (TCF WA Inc. & TCF Australia) Western Australia
Panelists:
- Padma Raman, Executive Director, Office for Women, Australian Government Head of Delegation.
- Irene Natividad, President of Global Summit of Women, USA – a global overview of women in leadership.
- Delia Domingo Albert, Chair, ASEAN Society Philippines – women in peace and security.
- Sioban Dilly, BPW NZ, UN Regional Rep presented on behalf of Neelima Basnet 1st Vice President UN, BPW International, Nepal, UK – women designing a sustainable future.
- Susan O’Malley, Past Chair, NGO CSW, USA – how women live under conflicts – Iran, Ukraine, Gaza, Syria.
- Jesmeen Khera, International Women’s Peace Group, Republic of Korea.
- Sara Azimi, Peivande Gole Narges, Iran – supporting women & orphan girls through training, education, social enterprise projects.
- Tiffany Larson, Days for Girls International, USA – unlocking the potential of women through locally led menstrual health programming.
- Kasey Venter, Hope Project, Western Australia – critical need for crisis accommodation in Australia.
Attendance: 70-80
Major information Collected:
- Overview of CSW69 & the Anniversary of Beijing +30
- Global overview of women in leadership, boards and parliaments
- Women in peace and security across the Asian region
- Women designing a sustainable future
- Challenges women face in countries experiencing internal conflicts and war
- Solidarity and education are essential to building world peace and justice.
- Supporting women & orphan girls in Iran through training, education, social enterprise projects.
- Unlocking the potential of women through locally led menstrual health programming.
- Critical need for crisis accommodation in Australia
- Empowering women entrepreneurs through small business training and mentoring projects, fashion sustainability, G100 MSMEs and global export opportunities.
7. NGO CSW69 (Physical parallel event)
Topic: Breaking the Silence – Ending Stigma Around Health & Violence
Organizer: Tainan Pink Mulan Association (Taiwan)
Supporting organizations: IFBPW, Pink Africa Foundation, African Women’s Leadership Organization (AWLO)
Date & Time: March 12, 2025 (10:30 AM – 12:00 PM)
Venue: Church Center for the United Nations, 2nd Floor, New York
Moderator: Chingwen Kao (2025-2026 President of Taipei Tenyuan Club, BPW Taiwan / 2025-2027 IFBPW Standing committee member for United Nations)
Panelists:
- Stella Kammitsi – “Economic violence against women: the hidden violence” – Vice-President, Board of BPW Cyprus; Former Chairperson, Standing Committee for Legislation – BPW International
- Carolyn Savage – “hidden violence & its impact on women’s employment, health & economic empowerment” – NZ Registered Architect; BPW New Zealand Executive Secretary (2024–2027); Former President, BPW New Zealand (2014–current)
- Zainab Akpan – “breaking barriers: women leading humanitarian efforts” – Vice President, NWG National Women’s Group, Nigeria; Leading African Health and Gender Equality Efforts
Attendance: 150 people
Major information collected:
- Hidden Violence Against Women – The panel emphasized that many forms of violence against women remain hidden and underreported. These include intimate partner violence, economic abuse, workplace bullying, and online harassment.
- Underreporting of Sexual Assault Cases – In New Zealand, an alarming 93% of sexual assault cases go unreported, reflecting deep societal stigma and victims’ lack of trust in law enforcement and judicial systems.
- Long-term Consequences of Hidden Violence – Women who experience these forms of abuse often suffer from chronic mental health issues and face diminished opportunities for employment and financial independence.
- Promotion of ILO Convention No. 190 (C190) – The panel called for the implementation and enforcement of ILO Convention No. 190, which addresses violence and harassment in the world of work.
- Severe Impacts of Workplace Violence – Victims often experience absenteeism, are forced to resign, or suffer from mental health conditions such as depression and PTSD. In extreme cases, bullying has led to suicide.
- Alignment with Global Goals – The session advocated for stronger alignment with SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
- Key recommendations: Cross-sector partnerships among NGOs, government agencies, businesses, and educational institutions; Education and awareness programs; Legal and policy reforms that prioritize victim protection; Safe reporting mechanisms and survivor-centered support systems.
8. NGO CSW (Physical Parallel Event)
Topic: Empowering Women Through Education and Community Action
Organizer: Soroptimist International of Taipei Girls’ Power
Co-Organizers: BPW Taiwan – Kaohsiung Chapter, Legacy Premier Foundation
Time, Date, and Venue: March 14, 2025 | 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM, Church Center UN, 11th Floor, New York City
Opening: Angela You-Wei Feng – President, Soroptimist International of Taipei Girls’ Power; Co-Founder, NESS Wellness
Moderator: Izadora Letchacoski – Young BPW International Representative
Panelists:
- Angela You-Wei Feng – President, Soroptimist International of Taipei Girls’ Power
- Cindy Wu – International Affairs Committee Representative, BPW Taiwan-Kaohsiung Chapter
- H.E. Amb Dr. Remi Duyile – Founder, Legacy Premier Foundation
Closing Remarks: Soleil River Nation – Professional model, actor, accomplished artist, and published musician
Attendance: 90
Major Information Collected:
This event significantly enhanced the global visibility of all participating NGOs and NPOs represented by the panelists, particularly in advancing policy discourse centered on women and girls of all ages. It fostered meaningful international collaboration—most notably among Taiwan, Nigeria, Brazil, and the United States—and promoted gender-inclusive strategies across education, entrepreneurship, underprivileged communities, grassroots initiatives, and economic development. Furthermore, the event reinforced strategic alliances among IFBPW, the Legacy Premier Foundation, and the Soroptimist network, while also inspiring youth leadership. It underscored the collective power of education, advocacy, and global cooperation in advancing the empowerment of women worldwide.
9. NGO CSW (Virtual parallel Event)
Topic: CONNECTING VOICES: Inclusive and Effective Communication for Women’s Empowerment and Global Sustainability
Organizer: International Federation of Business and Professional Women – Standing Committee on Development, Training, and Employment
Time, date and venue: Tuesday, 11 March 2025; 12:30 – 1:30 pm (New York time); Virtual Event on Zoom
Opening: H.E. Ambassador Diana Barragán, President of the International Federation of Business and Professional Women (IFBPW)
Moderator and Panelist: Ms. Patrícia Cáceres, Speech Therapist and Chair of the IFBPW Standing Committee on Development, Training, and Employment
Moderator 2: Caroline Chow – BPW Taiwan – member of the IFBPW Standing Committee on Development, Training, and Employment
Panelists:
- Ms. Francesca Burack, Strategic Advisor and IFBPW Vice President for Membership
- Dr. Antoinette Rüegg, Past President of IFBPW
- Hon. Minister Morgana Richa, Minister of the Superior Labor Court of Brazil
Closing Remarks: Ms. Neelima Basnet, Architect and IFBPW Vice President for the United Nations
Attendance: 72 participants
Major information collected:
Speakers highlighted the essential role of inclusive and effective communication in achieving gender equality and driving sustainable development. The session focused on the transformative power of voice—as a tool for empowerment, advocacy, and leadership—and how communication practices can influence perceptions, bridge differences, and build trust across cultures and generations.
Key messages included:
- The importance of authenticity, strategic presence, and empathy in women’s leadership and public discourse.
- The need to strengthen women’s confidence in using their voices to lead, influence, and mobilize change.
- Communication must be inclusive and interactive, allowing for open dialogue, active listening, and collaboration.
The interactive panel format enabled real-time audience participation and a final open forum, where participants shared reflections and questions, reinforcing the message that co-creation and connection are critical to advancing women’s voices globally.