The energy was electric, the sisterhood was unshakable, and the mission was clear: Justice is not justice until it reaches every African woman and girl.

From March 9th to 20th, 2026, the UN Headquarters in New York transformed into a vibrant hub of feminist resistance and brilliance for the 70th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70). Under the urgent priority theme of Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, FEMNET took up space, spoke truth to power, and ensured that the African feminist voice wasn’t just heard—it was leading.

Our journey started with a deep dive into the heart of the matter during our parallel event: “African Women and Girls Transforming Justice Systems Through Policy and Advocacy.” We gathered a powerhouse of advocates, legal experts, and policymakers to ask the burning question: What does access to justice truly look like for us? While we celebrated the legal wins on paper across our continent, we didn’t shy away from the hard truth: there is still a massive gap between a law being signed and a woman in a rural village actually feeling safe and protected.

Curious about the magic we made? [Click here to see FEMNET at CSW 70 / our events at CSW 70] and [Click here to read the full highlights of our parallel event]

The highlight of our engagement at CSW 70? Definitely the African Regional Caucus on March 11th. We convened over 100 fierce African girls and young women to review the position statements birthed during the Africa Disrupt CSW70 held in Accra, Ghana.

For us, justice in the African context isn’t just about courts; it’s about economic justice, climate justice, and dismantling the patriarchal and colonial structures that hold us back. We explored how justice must be intersectional—addressing everything from land rights to digital safety.

This year was unlike any other. In a move that caught many off guard, the Agreed Conclusions were adopted on the very first day, March 9th, after intense negotiations throughout February.

But here’s where it gets spicy: for the first time in history, the conclusions weren’t adopted by consensus but by a recorded vote. The final tally? 37 in favour, 1 against (USA), and 6 abstentions. The win for us is that the text is a feminist victory! It focuses on accelerating legal reforms, strengthening Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), tackling GBV, and protecting our sisters on the frontlines—the women human rights defenders.

However, there’s still tension as the United States voted against the document, attempting to strip away language on intersectionality and redefine “gender.As for the resistance, thanks to a “no-action motion” and a broad coalition of support, these regressive attempts were blocked. We stood our ground to protect our human rights frameworks!

As co-convenors of the Women’s Rights Caucus (WRC) and leads of the Communications Working Group, FEMNET was at the center of the narrative. On March 10th, our very own Michelle Anzaya (Information and Communications Assistant) took the virtual stage at the WRC Press Conference.

Speaking on behalf of African feminists, Michelle laid out the challenges we face and reaffirmed our unwavering stance: Our rights are not up for negotiation.

Read the powerful press statement here. [Insert Link]

CSW70 may be over, but the work is just beginning. We are taking the energy from New York and the fire from Accra back to our communities. We are not just asking for a seat at the table, but we’re also building our own justice systems—ones that are inclusive, feminist, and unapologetically African.

Aluta Continua! The struggle continues, and so does our collective power. 

#CSW70 #AfricaDisruptCSW #WomenLeadJustice #FEMNETatCSW