By Mauli Mehta, International Events Manager

The 70th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), held from March 9–19, 2026, at UN Headquarters in New York, convened governments, UN agencies, civil society, and global health partners to advance this year’s priority theme: ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls. At a time when the rule of law is under increasing strain, the discussions underscored a critical reality—legal inequality continues to shape women’s lives, and closing these gaps requires coordinated, cross-sector action.

Coming Together for SRHR: The Stronger Together Coalition

The Stronger Together Coalition Strategy Meeting, convened by WHGI and UN Women, brought together members of the Stronger Together Coalition and the Action Coalition on Bodily Autonomy and SRHR. The goal was clear: identify shared priorities where collective action can drive meaningful impact.

The Action Coalition update highlighted both scale and momentum. More than 300 leaders and commitment-makers are now engaged, with a core group advancing work across four action areas—including expanding comprehensive sexuality education (CSE)—and developing six implementation blueprints. Cross-coalition collaboration is already underway, from joint efforts addressing FGM in The Gambia to broader regional engagement initiatives.

From left to right: Arpan Patel, UN Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY), Kellie Welborn, and Mauli Mehta (WHGI).

Key Priorities

Two themes emerged most strongly from the discussion.

1. 1. Myth-busting and counter-narratives generated significant energy. Participants emphasized that misinformation is not incidental—it is a deliberate tactic used by anti-rights actors to stall progress. In response, there is a need for practical, accessible tools that civil society and community networks can use—not just policy products designed for global audiences. Language accessibility is central to this effort.
   2. Youth integration and feminist leadership raised important questions. How can coalitions move beyond consultation to meaningfully center youth movements? Examples of integrated models across multiple countries offered a starting point, but participants agreed that more intentional approaches are needed.

Participants identified several immediate areas for collaboration, including coordination around the Commission on Population and Development (CPD), contributions to the Youth Manifesto process, and potential joint action on expanding CSE. More broadly, the meeting reinforced that the overlap between coalitions is both real and valuable—and that the focus must now shift from whether to collaborate to how to do so effectively.

WHGI also co-sponsored and participated in When Funding Retreats, Rights Recede: The Gendered Cost of Under-Investing in HIV, a CSW70 side event organized in partnership with UN Women, UNAIDS, SADC, and other partners.

The session brought together governments, UN agencies, civil society, and youth leaders to examine how declining investments in HIV and gender equality are eroding access to justice and essential services—particularly for adolescent girls and young women.

The message was clear: when financing retreats, rights follow. Three priorities emerged—sustained, gender-responsive financing; inclusive legal reforms; and meaningful youth and community leadership. At a moment of shifting global priorities, participants underscored that progress on gender equality and HIV cannot afford to stall.

Across CSW70, the William H. Gates Sr. Institute for Population and Reproductive Health played a convening and catalytic role—bringing partners together, shaping key conversations, and advancing practical pathways for collaboration. From strengthening coalition alignment to elevating urgent issues at the intersection of HIV, gender, and justice, WHGI’s engagement reflects a broader commitment: ensuring that global dialogue translates into coordinated action, sustained investment, and measurable progress for women and girls.