Morocco participated in the 68th annual Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68) on Monday at the UN headquarters in New York, represented by Minister of Solidarity, Social Inclusion, and Family, Aawatif Hayar.
This year’s edition was entitled “Accelerating the Achievement of gender equality and the Empowerment of all women and Girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and Financing with a gender perspective.”
Representatives from member states, UN entities, and non-governmental organizations accredited by ECOSOC from all regions of the world participated in the event.
Discussions between the participants focused on the strategies and resources required to eradicate women’s poverty and promote gender equality.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlighted the “devastating” impact faced by women and girls as a result of escalating conflicts and crises globally. While acknowledging that significant progress has been made over the years, Guterres noted that patriarchy “is far from being defeated” and is actually “gaining ground.”
He added that accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls requires adequate financing and appropriate policies.
“Budgets and policies must align with ambitious goals for women’s participation and urgent investments in women’s peacebuilding,” he asserted.
Addressing the “threat” posed by new technologies, especially Artificial Intelligence, to women’s rights, the senior UN official underlined that male-dominated algorithms could perpetuate inequalities in activities ranging from urban planning to credit assessments to medical imaging.
“It is time for governments, civil society, and Silicon Valleys worldwide to join a massive effort to bridge the digital gender gap and ensure women have decision-making roles in digital technology at all levels,” Guterres said.
The UN Commission on the Status of Women is a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Created in 1946 and composed of 45 members, it is the world’s leading intergovernmental body dedicated exclusively to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women.