Where can I find information about the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)?

The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women.

A functional commission of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), it was established by UN Economic and Social Council resolution 11(II) of 21 June 1946.  The CSW is instrumental in promoting women’s rights, documenting the reality of women’s lives throughout the world, and shaping global standards on gender equality and the empowerment of women.

In 1996, ECOSOC in resolution 1996/6 expanded the Commission’s mandate and decided that it should take a leading role in monitoring and reviewing progress and problems in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and in mainstreaming a gender perspective in UN activities.

Each year, ECOSOC issues a document entitled "Election of members of the functional commissions of the Economic and Social Council" that lists the current members of all the functional commissions in the annex [document symbol: E/YYYY/9].

Membership information of the CSW is also annexed in the Annotated provisional agenda and proposed organization of work for each session (document symbol: E/CN.6/YYYY/1). In 1984-1985, the documents were issued in A/CONF.116/PC/INF.3 and A/CONF.116/PC/INF.5 respectively.

CSW membership comprises 45 States elected by ECOSOC on the basis of equitable geographical distribution as follows:

• 13 members from Africa,
• 11 from Asia,
• 9 from Latin America and Caribbean,
• 8 from Western Europe and other States,
• 4 from Eastern Europe.

New members are elected for a four-year term when the term of the incumbent expires.

Since 1987, the CSW has been adopting multi-year programmes of work that contain priority themes for discussion and action at its annual sessions.

• 2025: E/RES/2022/5 of 8 June 2022
• 2021-2024: E/RES/2020/15 of 17 July 2020
• 2020: E/RES/2018/8 of 12 June 2018
• 2017-2019: E/RES/2016/3 of 2 June 2016
• 2015-2016: E/RES/2013/8 of 24 July2013
• 2010-2014: E/RES/2009/15 of 2009
• 2007-2009: E/RES/2006/9 (in: E/2006/99, pages 24-28)
• 2002-2006: E/RES/2001/4 (in: E/2001/99, pages 20-21)
• 2001: E/2000/27 (page 4)
• 1997-2000: E/RES/1996/6 (in: E/1996/96, page 20)
• 1993-1996: E/RES/1990/15
• 1988-1992: E/RES/1987/24