Reflections from CSW69

Why we showed up again 

Our participation at CSW69 was driven by a singular goal: to ensure that older women are recognised as rights holders and celebrate the vital contributors they have made to gender equality. Alongside our network members, including Age International, HelpAge USA, HelpAge Germany, Solidarity is Global Insitute (SIGI Jordan), Kadirat (Tunisia), Malawi Human Rights Resource Centre (MHRRC), and ACAMAGE (Cameroon), we attended to influence key policy discussions and advocate for change. 

In the lead-up to CSW69, we gathered voices from women who attended the Beijing Conference in 1995. Hearing their stories was both inspiring and sobering. These women, who fought so hard for gender justice decades ago, and continue to fight for it for themselves and new generations, at times often find themselves battling invisibility in the very movement they helped build. Whilst we took a moment to celebrate the achievements thirty years, it was a stark reminder that gender equality must be a lifelong pursuit, not something that expires with age. As an older women activist in her eighties said to me – ‘I don’t want my granddaughters to be fighting for the same things I have been fighting for the last 30 years.’ 

Bringing older women’s voices to the table 

At CSW69, we spotlighted older women’s experiences and leadership through two powerful events: 

A side event titled ‘Years of Her Life – Gender-Responsive Social Protection Across the Life Course’ was co-hosted by HelpAge, UNICEF and SPIAC-B members. This session explored how social protection must respond to the evolving needs of girls and women across their lives. Our year-long collaboration with SPIAC-B has shown the power of partnership in driving inclusive policies. 

One of the most compelling moments came from Paulette Metang, a HelpAge network member from Cameroon, who spoke about the challenges older women face in accessing social protection. Her testimony was a powerful reminder that gender equality policies must reflect women’s lived experiences throughout their entire life course—and how the accumulation of disadvantage leaves many older women behind. 

In collaboration with HelpAge USA, we hosted a networking event: ‘Beijing+30: Older Women as Trailblazers, Then and Now’. Listening to Ambassador Gertrude Ibengwé Mongella, a key figure in the 1995 Beijing Conference, and Emma Kaliya from MHRRC Malawi was deeply inspiring. Their lifelong commitment to gender equality continues to shape the movement today. People came to hear their stories and learn from the work they’re doing with and for older women. 

I also had the privilege of connecting with members of the NGO Committee on Ageing in New York. Their openness and experience, combined with my eagerness to learn, created a meaningful exchange I’ll carry forward. 

Progress, but not enough 

CSW69 brought some important acknowledgment of older women: 

• The Political Declaration included improved language on a life course approach to gender equality and acknowledged the need for age-disaggregated data. However, a reference to ageism that had appeared in an earlier draft was disappointingly removed from the final version, failing to understand the important issues faced by many older women as they age – whether it’s via media, unconscious bias or discrimination in communities and the workplace. 
• A resolution was adopted requesting a dedicated session focusing on older women at next year’s CSW- an important step toward sustained engagement and truly understanding the issues. We will need to ensure that this really includes voices of older women 
• Ageing and demographics are now being considered as potential emerging themes in the CSW revitalisation process. 

These gains are important – but they’re not enough. Older women are still too often overlooked by member states. In fact, some proposals to include them faced notable resistance. Why? 

Is it the perceived cost of an ageing population? Was that behind the pushback on proposals focused on older women’s health and care? Or is it something deeper – that despite all our rhetoric, we still define women by their reproductive and economic roles, and see older women as having moved beyond both? 

If so, this is exactly what the gender equality movement must challenge. 

Why this matters more than ever 

As I left CSW69, I kept thinking about the women who made my own advocacy possible. On my final day, I attended a “Veterans Session” where Mama Mongella spoke. Her message was clear and powerful: “Action. I have taken action throughout my life. Whatever you do for gender equality, make your actions count.” 

Her words stayed with me. I reflected on what I’ve done, what’s been done before me, and the path we’re creating for the next generation of women. This is a fight that demands solidarity – across generations, across movements. 

If we are serious about gender equality, we cannot continue to exclude older women. We must honour their contributions, confront the inequalities they face, and ensure they are present and heard in every space where decisions are made. This isn’t just about inclusion – it’s about justice. 

CSW69 reminded me that the struggle continues. But it also showed the strength of persistence. Older women have always been part of this movement, leading in their families, communities, and on the global stage. 

Let’s go beyond words. Let’s turn inclusion into action. Let’s make change together. 

This post is written by Tanvi Patel, Gender Policy Adviser at HelpAge International.

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