THE NEW YORK DIARY

Commitment. Collaboration. Camaraderie.

The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is a long-established forum that gathers women and women’s rights activists in New York each year to reflect on the progress made toward women’s equality and empowerment. In its sixty-ninth (69th) year, the 2025 gathering marked a significant milestone, taking place thirty years after the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995).

Among the various side events organized to commemorate this year’s theme, the Institute for African Women in Law (IAWL), in collaboration with the Office of the Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers and the New York University School of Law, hosted a symposium focused on General Recommendation No. 40 regarding Equal and Inclusive Representation of Women in Decision-Making Systems (CEDAW/C/GC/40). Titled “Accelerating Gender Equality in Law and Leadership: Africa in Post-Beijing,” the symposium was co-sponsored by several organizations, including the New York City Bar, the largest city bar in the U.S., the International Senior Lawyers Project (ISLP), the NYU Birnbaum Women’s Center for Leadership, and various student organizations from the NYU School of Law. The discussion was moderated by Judge Lisette Shirdan-Harris, a board member of IAWL and a retired judge of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.

Dean Troy McKenzie, Dean of the NYU School of Law, opened the symposium with remarks highlighting that “2025 marks 30 years since the Beijing Declaration, which was 50 years since the founding of the United Nations. The Beijing framework was a landmark effort for advancing gender equality and has been instrumental in promoting gender equality worldwide. At the same time, we recognize that much work remains, especially in our profession. In alignment with the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women’s General Recommendation 40, this conversation will examine the progress made and the persistent challenges facing women in law across the continent of Africa. Think back 30 years ago when the Beijing Platform for Action was launched- while that seems like a very long time in the grand panorama of history, it is, in fact, not so long ago. The conversation we are having today presents an ongoing opportunity to engage with key ideas and challenge our assumptions as we identify pathways for further meaningful change.”

Ms.Elizabeth Adu, Chair of the IAWL Board of Directors, highlighted the IAWL's work in leveraging research to advocate for change in the legal profession across African countries. She thanked NYU Law School for hosting the public forum and invited students to join the IAWL’s vision for change.

Ms. Sevérine Losembe, a member of the African Affairs Committee of the New York City Bar, pointed out that although women graduate from law schools at high rates throughout Africa, several challenges hinder their full pursuit of a legal career. She expressed the New York City Bar’s commitment to joining the fight for gender equality in the legal profession.

Professor Meg Satterthwaite, a law professor at the NYU School of Law and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, has played an instrumental role in advancing the IAWL Gender Equality in Law Campaign since it was launched in Accra, Ghana, on July 5, 2025. In her overview remarks on women in judiciaries, she emphasized that “gender equality is anchored in all the major human rights conventions and enshrined in the UN Charter. It is generally understood to be a ius cogens norm, so why are we still lagging behind the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? Gender equality in the judiciary is not just an ideal; it is essential to justice itself.”

In a rapid fireside chat, the panelists thoroughly discussed the representation of women in decision-making roles within international organizations, the challenges faced by women lawyers and judges in Africa, and the underrepresentation of women in international arbitration bodies. Each panelist also offered recommendations to address the identified gaps and challenges.

As Chair of the UN Working Group on Discrimination Against Women and Girls, Ms. Laura Nyirinkindi has an extensive background as a lawyer, civil rights advocate, and global leader in women’s rights. She provided details about her mandate and the working group's role in promoting the rights of women and girls. She stated that “adopting special temporary measures is critical alongside other measures to ensure that women lawyers participate equally on the same basis as men in both the public and private sectors - this is what we hope to see in the future.”

Prof. Rose Rameau, an international arbitrator and associate professor of law at Albany Law School in New York, shared that while Africa leads in signing international treaties, including bilateral arbitration agreements, there is a concerningly low representation of women in international arbitration panels. She recounted her experience as the president of a three-member arbitration panel, where many assumed she was the secretary. She emphasized the need for African governments to nominate women to arbitration panels and encouraged women to believe in themselves, step forward, and embrace challenges when they arise. She concluded by stating, “Women are incredibly competent; they get things done. When you have a woman in your tribe, you can rest assured that no stones will be left unturned, and that’s the beauty of our diversity.”

Ms. Irene Akoth Otto, representing the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), expressed her excitement about hearing the public discussions on the potential for cross-national collaboration to support women in law.

One of the major highlights of the symposium was the after-event reception, which allowed students to engage with the speakers, network and share their experiences and thoughts on gender equality in law.

My takeaways from the New York event.

Commitment: Commitment to gender equality is essential at local, national and global levels, and public symposia and discussions are necessary to keep the movement alive.
Collaboration: The outstanding collaboration among IAWL, the Office of the Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, the New York City Bar, the ISLP, the Office of the Dean of the NYU School of Law, and student organizations ensured the success of the event.
Camaraderie: The joyful moments and networking opportunities fostered new relationships, shared knowledge, and renewed our commitment to building a global community dedicated to accelerating action for gender equality in law.

Drying the ink

Feminist work is hard work. Justice work is hard work. Gender justice work is hard work.

But did you know that beneath the events and programs, more goes into the planning and execution of such events? I carried banners from Maryland to New York

I handed the baton to Professor Meg Satterthwaite, who carried them from my hotel to the NYU campus

Feminist work is not only about writing reports and issuing statements. We roll our sleeves and do the heavy lifting when the need arises.

Will you join us in doing the heavy lifting? Your support matters. Find out how you can be a part of the movement. Get in, lift up, carry on!

Until next time………