Sixty-sixth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW 66)

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. It 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.

The sixty-sixth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW66) will take place from 14 to 25 March 2022. 

The priority theme of CSW66 is “Achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of climate change, environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programmes.”

On 17 March, WHO will be co-sponsoring the side event “Changing legislation: when women move mountains” . The objective of the event is to recognize women and girls’ leadership in protecting health by promoting changes in climate change and environmental policies and processes, including legislation. 

Air pollution alone is responsible for approximately 7 million deaths annually as over 90% of the global population breathe unhealthy levels of air pollution, largely resulting from the burning of the same fossil fuels that are driving climate change. It’s difficult to imagine the human face of these 7 million persons losing their lives to air pollution but, behind the numbers, we find the stories of girls like Ella Kissi-Debrah and her mother Rosamund.

Nine-year old Ella passed away in February 2013 following three years of seizures and 27 visits to the hospital for breathing problems. Her mother Rosamund has become an important advocate for clean air and set up a foundation (The Ella Roberta Family Foundation). Thanks to Rosamund’s determination, Ella’s death certificate is the first one in the UK, and potentially the world, that has air pollution listed as the cause of death. This ruling is a big step in recognizing the harmful health effects of exposure to air pollution. Rosamund has since become a WHO Advocate for health and air quality. 

Women and girls shouldn’t only be presented as victims of climate change and environmental degradation. Like Rosamund, they are also agents of change, and it is crucial to ensure their meaningful participation in relevant climate change and environmental processes, including in legislation.

Event details:

Changing legislation: when women move mountains
Thursday 17 March
8.00 – 9.30 EDT (UTC-4)/13.00 – 14.30 CET (UTC+1) 

Participants