Fo Guang Members Participate in UN CSW70, Focusing on Women’s Leadership and Intergenerational Cooperation

The 70th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) is being held in New York, focusing on global issues such as women’s education, gender equality, and women’s leadership. On March 13, monastics from the Fo Guang Shan New York Temple and representatives of the Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) attended a forum at the United Nations to gain deeper insight into how different countries promote women’s participation in public affairs and decision-making through cross-national exchange and observation.

The forum, themed “Intergenerational Engagement for Advancing Young Women’s Leadership,” was jointly organized by the European Union, UN Women, and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG).  Venerable Jue Rang and Venerable Zhi Chuan from Fo Guang Shan New York Temple, along with Micelle Hu, Director of the BLIA World Headquarters America East Fellowship Committee, and Eunice Shih, President of the BLIA Songhe Subchapter attended.

The forum highlighted that while digital transformation has brought efficiency and convenience, women in the online space continue to face discrimination, hate speech, and privacy risks. Combined with structural challenges such as patriarchal norms and economic constraints, women still encounter multiple barriers to development in the public sphere.

Maria Eugenia Gay Rosell, Deputy Mayor of Barcelona, Spain, noted that women’s participation in leadership helps public policies better reflect people’s needs and promotes social cohesion and sustainable development.

Hon. Ruth Cross-Kwansing, Minister for Women, Youth, Sports and Social Affairs of Kiribati, emphasized that integrating traditional wisdom with digital technologies, along with collaboration with younger generations, can generate more sustainable solutions for society.

Francesca Pustudetti, representing the Italian Youth Ambassadors Association, called for the establishment of systems and platforms that support young women’s leadership, enabling youth voices to influence international policymaking and contribute to peace, justice, and inclusive governance.

During the exchange session, Venerable Jue Rang stated that inclusive leadership is essential for social stability and world peace, and that the Buddhist promotion of tolerance, acceptance, and being compassionate resonate strongly with the international community’s pursuit of equality and mutual respect.

Venerable Zhi Chuan also shared that observing practical experiences from different countries deepened his belief that the Humanistic Buddhism’s “Three Acts of Goodness, Four Givings, and Five Harmonies” as an important foundation for promoting social well-being and world peace.

Micelle Hu remarked that the forum highlighted the importance of education in women’s development, noting that continuous learning and international exchange not only enhance skills and confidence, but also broaden global perspectives.

Eunice Shih added that the forum emphasized the importance of young women’s participation in public affairs, offering meaningful insights into breaking gender barriers and cultivating intergenerational leadership. It reminded her of the Fo Guang Scouts’ concept of fostering leadership from an early age, and that such learning can be extended to broader social participation and public service in the future.