Shortly after the founding of the United Nations in 1945, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the UN set up the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in February 1947, dedicated exclusively to the promotion of gender equality.
The CSW is instrumental in promoting the rights of women and girls around the world and is the principal body documenting the reality of women and girls’ lives, shaping global standards and driving the advancement of women.
While UN member states vote on resolutions, selected NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisations) are given consultative status and actively invited to participate in the work of the CSW and play a key part in holding member states to account.
Since 1984, Soroptimist International is very proud to be one of the official organisations awarded general consultative status at the UN Commission on the Status of Women. Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland was awarded special consultative status since 2017.
See more information on the set up of the UN and CSW.