UN CSW70 Parallel Forum Explores Women’s Access to Justice

The 70th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) is currently being held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. On March 12, Venerable Miao Chu from Fo Guang Shan New York Temple led Fo Guang members representing the Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) to attend and learn from the forums, gaining insight into policies and practical experiences from different countries in protecting women’s safety, promoting access to justice, and advancing women’s empowerment.

The forum titled “From Local Practice to Global Commitment: Taiwan’s Multi-Level Strategies for Advancing Women’s Access to Justice” was held at the Salvation Army venue, bringing together representatives from academia, the legal profession, the public sector, and civil society organizations to share Taiwan’s experiences in enhancing women’s rights, preventing domestic violence, and advancing social and institutional reform.

Dr. Pan Wei-gang, founding leader and Chairperson of the Modern Women’s Foundation and President of the BLIA R. O. C., stated that ensuring women’s access to justice is not merely a legal issue, but also involves broader social systems and practical implementation. She emphasized that meaningful progress requires legal reform, institutional development, and cross-sector collaboration. Taiwan, she noted, has long promoted anti–gender-based violence legislation and established cooperative mechanisms among government, civil society, and communities. These efforts have accumulated valuable experience in violence prevention, victim support, and institutional reform, which she hopes can serve as a reference for the international community.

Huang Min-hui, Mayor of Chiayi City and Director of the BLIA R. O. C., shared perspectives from local governance, noting that gender inequality often stems from multiple factors, including resources, institutional structures, and social support systems. Chiayi City has implemented the “Five Pillars of Women’s Empowerment” strategy—focusing on learning capacity, quality of life, economic empowerment, violence prevention, and gender awareness—to build a supportive urban environment for women’s development through education, economic support, and safety networks.

Lei Meilin, Treasurer of the BLIA New York Supervisory Committee, remarked after the forum that international experiences show that promoting gender equality requires not only institutional reform, but also fostering a broader societal awareness of respect, inclusiveness, and care. Through exchanges at the parallel forum, participants can witness global efforts to safeguard the dignity of women and girls—efforts that resonate with the Humanistic Buddhist values of compassion, equality, and respect.

On the same day, a high-level meeting titled “Group of Friends for Eliminating Violence against Women and Girls—Five Years On: Securing Achievements and Ensuring Durable Impact”, jointly promoted by the European Union, Mongolia, Morocco, and New Zealand, was held at the United Nations Headquarters. 

Representatives from various countries shared policy experiences in preventing violence against women and girls. They emphasized that comprehensive legal frameworks, multi-sector collaboration, sustained long-term funding, and strong partnerships between governments and civil society are essential to building effective systems for violence prevention.

Bayarsaikhan Baljinnyam, Head of Mongolia’s Authority for Family, Child and Youth Development, noted that Mongolia has made gradual progress in improving the conditions of women and girls in rural areas, particularly within traditional nomadic lifestyles, through policy reforms and the establishment of social support systems.

Helen Leong, Director of the BLIA New York Chapter, stated that hearing experiences from different countries was deeply inspiring and reinforced the importance of ensuring that the voices of women and girls are heard. She added that the Commission on the Status of Women serves as an important international platform for dialogue, enabling stakeholders worldwide to collectively address issues of women’s safety and equality.