What is a written statement?
A written statement is an official document submitted by an ECOSOC-accredited NGO (like IAW) to be considered during UN sessions such as CSW70 (Commission on the Status of Women, 70th session in 2026).
Written statements allow civil society to:
- Present analysis of key issues (e.g. justice, gender equality, older women’s rights)
- Share grassroots evidence and perspectives
- Offer formal recommendations to UN Member States and agencies
Who can submit written statements?
Only NGOs that hold consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) are eligible to submit written statements. This includes international advocacy organisations like our IAW.
When IAW obtained general consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in 1947, it was one of the first nine NGOs to be granted this status. Of the 6,657 organisations currently (October 2025) with consultative status, only 133 have general consultative status.
Why are written statements important?
Written statements are a powerful tool for feminist and human rights organisations to:
- Bring grassroots voices and lived experiences to global policy platforms
- Shape the language used in UN outcome documents and resolutions
- Push governments and UN bodies toward greater accountability on critical issues like gender-based violence, access to justice, and economic equity
Example:
IAW’s Written Statement to CSW70
In our Written Statement to CSW70 we address:
- Barriers to justice for women and girls
- Women’s underrepresentation in decision-making
- Challenges facing older women in economic, social, and digital spaces
The statement includes concrete legal and policy recommendations for governments to advance gender equality worldwide.
One Response
Our written statement this year was supported by twelve of our allies, some of them other international NGOs like Zonta and Soroptimists and one is our very active Affiliate in Canada, Canadian Federation of University Women, whose statement we also gladly endorsed.
Reading over these statements before co-signing them, is continuing education for IAW feminist activists every year.