"Gender Disparity at CSW68: A Meeting Dominated by Male Speakers"

The UN's annual meeting promoting equality for women and girls began with five male speakers in a row, prompting apologies and unease among attendees. The first woman to speak, Chetna Gala Sinha, emphasized the need to invest in women, followed by a young woman from Malawi representing youth. UN Women's executive director, Sima Bahous, highlighted the rising backlash against gender equality and the need for funding to lift millions of women and girls out of poverty. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza and emphasized the suffering of women and girls in conflict situations.