ISDAO at CSW69: Strengthening the voices of structurally marginalized women in global spaces

This year marks 30 years since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a landmark framework in the fight for women’s rights globally. While this declaration has contributed to the advancement of gender equality, it is essential to recognize that these commitments must include all women—trans women, lesbians, bisexual women, sex workers, drug users, women with disabilities, and all those whose realities remain invisible in major international discussions.This year marks the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a landmark framework in the global struggle for women's rights. While this declaration has helped to advance equality between women and men, it is essential to recognize that these commitments must include all women - trans women, lesbians, bisexuals, sex workers, drug users, women with disabilities and all those whose realities remain invisible in major international discussions.

This year, ISDAO returns to the CSW space, hosting a parallel event through the NGO CSW platform and, for the first time, participating in the official CSW sessions. Beyond providing financial and logistical support, we will actively accompany our partners as they navigate this strategic space, collaborate with other movement actors to foster key conversations, and deepen our engagements with our Komboa and Love Alliance consortium partners.

Our Session at NGO CSW (Virtual)

Funding Women's Rights: Making the case for LBQT, SWs, and other marginalized women

Nearly 30 years after the Beijing Declaration, LBQT women and sex workers in Africa remain largely excluded from funding opportunities. Their organizations are underfunded, their realities overlooked, and rigid donor structures continue to restrict their access to resources. Traditional funding mechanisms often fail to recognize their unique needs, favoring established organizations and offering little flexibility for grassroots movements, especially in West Africa, where the landscape evolves constantly.

Yet, inclusive and innovative funding models have shown that change is possible. ISDAO’s participatory grant-making model puts decision-making power in the hands of communities, ensuring that LBQT women and sex workers lead their movements. By prioritizing flexible and responsive funding, ISDAO supports organizations in adapting to shifting realities, sustaining their work, and driving long-term change.

What do these communities need?

• More inclusive and flexible donor requirements
• Funding structures that adapt to local realities
• Just, feminist, and transformative grantmaking models

Join ISDAO for this critical conversation during CSW69 where activists, funders, and researchers will come together to assess progress since Beijing 1995, identify ongoing challenges in accessing funding, and propose concrete solutions for more inclusive funding practices.

Date: Thursday, March 20, 2025
Time: 1:30 PM GMT (Abidjan); 2:30 PM GMT+1 (Nigeria); 9:30 AM EDT (New York)
Venue: Zoom
Registration link: tinyurl.com/isdao-csw69

Other commitments at CSW69

• Support for West African activists : This March, we will provide financial and logistical support, as well as accompaniment to West African activists to participate in the official UN CSW space and the NGO CSW Forum. We are also looking forward to supporting our partners in documenting their experiences in the space, to serve as a resource for other activists in the future. We will also highlight the work of our partners and amplify their voices in the space.
• Participation in various spaces and events: ISDAO team members will attend and participate in multiple spaces and events organized by our consortium partners (Komboa and Love Alliance) and other movement partners. We will use this time to connect and engage with intersecting struggles within the feminist movement.
• UHAI activist space at CSW69: UHAI-EASHRI is curating a space at CSW69 for activists to connect, network, and exchange. We encourage activists and partners from West Africa to take advantage of this space to connect with and strengthen ties with activists from East Africa and beyond. If you’re in New York, feel free to stop by to meet others, grab a coffee, or simply take a break.
  When: March 12 and 13, 2025
  Where? Please email info@isdao.org to request the address.
• Our postponed session: We initially planned to host a session on integrating the priorities of marginalized women into the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. However, due to logistical constraints, we have postponed this session to April 29, 2025, at 2 pm GMT. We invite you to register for the session to be able to receive updates. Please register here.

Will you be in New York for CSW this March? Would you like to connect with the ISDAO team? Write to us at info@isdao.org to let us know.

If you cannot make it to New York, but still want to get involved in NGO CSW69, visit the NGO CSW website to register and find out more about virtual participation.

The CSW is an important space for amplifying the voices of all women. Together, let’s continue advancing the women’s rights agenda, with no exclusions.