215. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade her views on the 70th Commission on the Status of Women, held in March 2026; whether Ireland made a national statement or joined any co-sponsored statements during the proceedings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42073/26]

Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls is a central priority for Ireland, both in our foreign and domestic policy. The 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) took place from 9th to 20th March this year, and was an important moment for further progress on access to justice for women and girls.

The 70th session of the CSW took place against a backdrop of sustained pushback on gender equality in the multilateral system and more broadly. However, the adoption of the Agreed Conclusions offers hope that world leaders can continue to come together to deliver for women and girls around the world. Ministers from more than 80 countries travelled to New York for the CSW, showing the ongoing importance of the session and its continuing convening power.

Ireland’s 23-person delegation was led by Minister of State Emer Higgins and included representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, civil society and two UN Youth Delegates.

Ireland delivered three national statements: in the CSW General Debate, the Ministerial Roundtable on Older Women and the High Level Meeting on Violence Against Women.

The EU delivered a statement on behalf of the EU Member States at the opening of the CSW.

Ireland also joined the following joint statements at CSW: the cross-regional Joint Statement on access to justice for all women and girls, the Joint Statement on the participation of women in all decision-making systems, the Joint Statement of the LGBTI Core Group, the Joint Statement by the Group of Friends for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls, and the Joint Statement on the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan.

This was the first CSW since the ‘CSW revitalisation’ process, successfully co-facilitated by Ireland and St Kitts and Nevis in 2025, and a number of improvements were delivered in the session as a direct result.