The Maldives has officially commenced its first term as a member of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the opening of the seventy-first session held at UN Headquarters in New York.
Elected on 4 April 2025, during proceedings at the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Maldives will serve a five-year term from 2026 to 2030, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s engagement with global gender equality initiatives.
The occasion follows the conclusion of the seventieth session of the CSW, which ran from 9 to 19 March under the theme “Ensuring and Strengthening Access to Justice for All Women and Girls,” focusing on inclusive legal systems, the elimination of discriminatory laws, and dismantling structural barriers.
During the recent session, Dr Ali Naseer Mohamed, Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the United Nations, delivered a statement underscoring the nation’s progress in advancing women’s leadership in governance and decision-making. He highlighted the Maldives’ use of data-driven policies, strengthened legal protections, and expanded access to support services for women and girls.
At the Group of 77 and Emerging Partners Ministerial Roundtable—co-hosted by the Maldives, Timor-Leste, Brazil, South Africa, Kazakhstan, and UN-Women—Ambassador Dr Ali Naseer emphasised the critical need for gender-responsive financial mechanisms to accelerate sustainable development and achieve gender equality.
In another historic first, the Maldives, represented by officials from the Ministry of Social and Family Development, delivered a Voluntary National Presentation at the Commission, outlining its national commitments and achievements toward gender equality. This presentation underscored the nation’s evolving role on the global stage in championing women’s rights.
Established in 1946, the Commission on the Status of Women remains the principal UN body dedicated to promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women worldwide, convening annually to shape international standards and policies.