Open Letter to UNCSC and UN Leaders and Decision-Makers
Dear Civil Society Conference Leaders and United Nations Decision-Makers,
We, the undersigned global, South-led, intersectional feminist, human rights, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, gender equality, youth-led, women’s rights organizations, and others, working across justice movements, would like to express our deep concerns with the formation of Impact Coalitions, which have become the focus and main outcome of the United Nations Civil Society Conference (UNCSC). We are disappointed to see this UNCSC process become the primary way in which civil society, including feminists, can feed into the upcoming Pact and Summit of the Future (SOTF), the drafting and negotiations of which have been ongoing since December. We find that the purpose of the Impact Coalitions, including their conception, implementation and impact beyond this conference, remains unclear and do not truly advance a multilateral, multi-stakeholder, participatory and inclusive process as originally promised. In this regard, we would like to share the following concerns and reject the Impact Coalitions extending beyond the UNCSC. We propose that instead, time, energy, and resources be focused on strengthening, resourcing, and increasing the access of existing civil society engagement mechanisms, such as the Major Groups and other Stakeholders (MGoS) and multi-stakeholder platforms, such as the Generation Equality Forum (GEF) Action Coalitions and the Compact on Women, Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action (WPS-HA Compact).
Our concerns include:
- The Impact Coalitions lack adequate and transparent information around their role, formal positioning in the UN structure, resourcing, and sustainability. We are overwhelmingly concerned about the lack of clarity and transparency on the purpose, structure and positionality of the Impact Coalitions within the UN system. Specifically, we remain unconvinced that the Impact Coalitions will have any long-term impact on UN processes or existing civil society advocacy efforts. The UNCSC organizers and Impact Coalition leaders have not adequately or transparently defined the onboarding or engagement process for stakeholders. The Impact Coalitions do not have a funding mechanism to remunerate civil society’s leadership and participation in these coalitions, which further risks limiting civil society access and participation in the SOTF process — while they rely entirely on the free labor of our organizations. The selection process for the themes and participants of the Impact Coalitions has been characterized by a concerning lack of transparency. This has led to duplicative, overlapping mandates, and no clarity on who has convened or joined the Coalitions. This gives rise to significant concern surrounding a lack of participation, leadership and representation from diverse civil society, including inter alia, youth and feminist stakeholders from the Global South. We note that this confusion will create a structure where Impact Coalitions work in silos, rather than coordinating together, on intersecting and similar issues. Further, we remain unconvinced on the intended long-term impact of these Impact Coalitions post-SOTF, and have yet to see the sustainability of these Coalitions in a post-2030 accountability mechanism. The lack of transparency on the roadmap of work shifts the burden to civil society to protect against backsliding on human rights and gender equality indefinitely.
- The Impact Coalitions duplicate, delegitimise, and undermine existing civil society engagement mechanisms, such as the MGoS, and multi-stakeholder coalitions, such as the GEF Action Coalitions and the WPS-HA Compact. Not only are these existing mechanisms underfunded and overstretched, but they are also struggling with shrinking civic space at the UN. More broadly, the Impact Coalitions risk diverting attention away from the wider issues of shrinking civic space and civil society access at the UN. By creating and asking civil society to join Impact Coalitions, we divert our already limited and critical time, technical and financial resources from existing, established civil society mechanisms and coalitions. This leads us to work in silos rather than in community, and duplicates our work without applying lessons learned and moving towards more efficient and meaningful participation within the existing processes and spaces.
- The Impact Coalitions are not set up as inclusive and safe spaces and risk worsening the corporate and anti-rights capture of the UN, including strong backlash on gender equality and women’s rights across all UN processes. We are already facing increasing backlash from anti-rights organizations who seek to undermine the mandates and participation of the MGoS and Action Coalitions in UN processes. We must ensure that our resources are combined to work in unison to uphold all human rights and to prevent the regression of all human rights. Because the selection of chairs and participating organizations has not been transparent, there is no oversight or accountability structure for their implementation to ensure that all Impact Coalitions are based on the values of equality, justice, and human rights. Similarly, there is no accountability or repercussions for Impact Coalition participants that do not respect the human rights for all individuals and who use the Impact Coalitions to promote an anti-rights agenda.
- The Impact Coalitions critically lack meaningful participation and leadership of Global South feminist and women’s rights organizations, including in the broader SOTF process, and the lack of response to the concerns already raised by some Action Coalition leaders on establishing separate processes.
- The Impact Coalitions do not clearly articulate their intention or strategy to influence the Pact of the Future, the Declaration for Future Generations, or the Global Digital Compact, given that many negotiations have already begun and several iterations of the text have been shared. The strategic value-add of the Impact Coalitions and how they will engage with Member States remains unclear and can distract from the effort that is needed to ensure the meaningful and inclusive participation of CSOs in the SOTF processes.
We therefore urge that you:
- Refrain from creating new structures that lack purpose, impact, or resources; that further drain resources and effort from already capable and existing CSO engagement mechanisms; and that divert attention away from broader issues related to shrinking space for diverse civil society participation. We urge you to instead support, strengthen, and resource existing civil society-led mechanisms, including the MGoS, the GEF Action Coalitions and the WPS-HA Compact, who have official stakeholder status in the 2030 Agenda and Beijing processes, all of which the SOTF is meant to accelerate.
- Strengthen the existing mechanisms through which CSOs input into UN processes, including the MGoS, the GEF Action Coalitions, and the WPS-HA Compact, by having these groups monitor, integrate, and implement the outcomes of the UNCSC. Built on the pillars of mutual trust and intergenerational and cross-regional expertise, the MGoS serve as a mechanism to enable broad, diverse, and autonomous self-organisation by the widest range of recognised constituencies. As a formally recognized mechanism by Member States, the MGoS should persist in facilitating diverse stakeholder engagement in this process. Similarly, GEF Action Coalitions are global, multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize governments, civil society, international organizations and the private sector to catalyze collective action, create intergenerational and cross-regional dialogue, and increase investments to advance gender justice. Likewise, the WPS-HA Compact serves as a multistakeholder process that drives transformative action for sustainable and inclusive peace through monitoring and assessment of progress on gender equality and peace processes, focusing on financing and advocacy. The work of the MGoS, the GEF Action Coalitions, and the WPS-HA Compact must be further resourced, strengthened, and made more accessible to all civil society, especially those from structurally excluded communities in the Global South. We therefore recommend that the MGoS and GEF Action Coalitions are better resourced and supported to lead the conversations and outcomes related to the SOTF, including by sharing the key outcomes from this conference.
- Clearly articulate how the UNCSC recommendations will be incorporated into the formal SOTF outcome documents–the Pact of the Future, Declaration for Future Generations, and Global Digital Compact–and how these outcomes will be centered at the September SOTF meetings in New York. We call for a formal presentation of these outcomes to Member States, and the transparent and comprehensive incorporation of civil society’s demands into future iterations of the SOTF negotiated documents.
- Establish and communicate clear accountability mechanisms with practical steps from the outcomes of the UN Civil Society Conference leading up to the Summit of the Future. Meaningful engagement of CSOs and feminist movements cannot be an afterthought and tokenistic. It must be included in the design phase from the onset of the process.
We thank you for your consideration and remain committed to working with all UN and UNCSC leaders and decision-makers, including the co-chairs and the expert and planning sub-committees, to strengthen the outcomes of the UNCSC to reflect and amplify the real needs and demands of feminist movements and organizations. We look forward to jointly building the UN we need, for feminist futures towards and beyond the SOTF.
Sincerely,
- A+ Alliance for Inclusive Algorithms
- AbibiNsroma Foundation
- ACCEDER
- Acción Ciudadana por la Democracia y el Desarrollo
- Action Group for Health, Human Rights and HIV/AIDS (AGHA)
- ActionAid
- Advocacy for Change Foundation
- AFAP
- AFDA Familias Diversas
- Africa Center for Health Systems and Gender Justice
- Africa Organisation for Youth African at UN
- African Diaspora Workers Network (ADWN)
- African Forum and Network on Debt and Development
- AFRICAN INITIATIVE OF WOMEN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS (WHRD INITIATIVE)
- Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA)
- Agenda Ciudadana por la Educación
- Aid Organization
- Aidos
- AIHMS-Global
- Akili Dada
- Akina Mama wa Afrika (AMwA)
- AMPLIFY Girls
- Appui Solidaire pour le Renforcement de l’Aide au Développement (ASRAD-BURKINA FASO)
- Arab Campaign for Education
- Amref Health Africa
- Armstrong Women Empowerment CBO
- ARROW
- Asia Dalit Rights Forum
- Asia Pacific Alliance for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
- Asia Pacific Regional CSOs Engagement Mechanism (APRCEM)
- Asia South Pacific Association for Basic and Adult Education (ASPBAE)
- Asociación Ciudadana por los Derechos Humanos
- Asociacion por ti mujer
- Association d’Aide à l’Éducation de l’Enfant Handicapé (AAEEH)
- Association d’Entraide Médico-Sociale AEMS-asbl
- Association des Jeunes Filles pour la Santé de la Reproduction (AJFSR)
- Association for Farmers Rights Defense (AFRD)
- Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia (AHRE)
- Association For Promotion Sustainable Development
- Association Goo Bi Yazura (AGBY)
- Association of Voluntary Actions for Society (AVAS)
- Association pour la Conservation et la Protection des Écosystèmes des Lacs et l’Agriculture Durable
- Association pour la défense des droits des aides ménagères et domestiques (ADDAD Burkina Faso)
- Association pour une meilleure insertion socioprofessionnelle des filles et femmes du Cameroun
- Athena Network
- AVAS
- Batonga Foundation
- Belmont BEC Inc. & TCFWA Inc.
- Beyond Beijing Committee (BBC) Nepal
- Binti Network
- BlueNet Solutions Ltd
- BOXGIRLS KENYA
- BPW Australia
- BRAC
- Brave Movement
- Bureau de Recherche en Genre et Développement
- Business and Professional Women Western Australia
- Bustop TV
- Campaña por el Derecho a la Educación en México
- Carboneguinee
- Católicas por el Derecho a Decidir Argentina
- Católicas por el Derecho a Decidir México
- CEDAW Committee of Trinidad and Tobago
- Center for Economic and Social Rights (CESR)
- Center for Reproductive Rights
- Center for Rights Education and Awareness
- Centre for Accountability and Inclusive Development (CAAID)
- Centre for Environment, Human Rights & Development Forum (CEHRDF)
- Centre for Health Rights Community Based Organization
- CHOICE for Youth and Sexuality
- Christian Action for Development and Support
- Citizen Network For Rural Development Kenya
- CLADE
- Coalición Colombiana por el Derecho a la Educación
- Coalition for Action on 1325
- Coalition For Grassroots Human Rights Defenders-Kenya
- Coalition for Sustainable Development of Russia
- Coast Sex Workers Alliance
- CommonHealth
- Community Care Collective
- Community-Led Solutions CBO
- Congratulation Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd
- Conserve Initiative
- Consortium of Women Empowerment
- Corporación Miles Chile
- Delete Nothing
- DHEWA (Development for Health Education Work & Awareness) Welfare Society Chakwal Pakistan
- DISABILITY PEOPLES FORUM UGANDA
- Diverse Empowerment Foundation
- Diverse Voices and Action (DIVA) for Equality
- Dr Uzo Adirieje Foundation (DUZAFOUND)
- ECE-RCEM
- Echoes of Women in Africa
- Education and Academia Stakeholder Group
- Education as a Vaccine
- Elimu Yetu Coalition
- Elite LBQ
- Empathy for Life Integrated Development Association (ELiDA)
- Equal Voices
- Equality Bahamas
- Equality Rights Alliance
- Equally Unique Initiative
- Equipop
- ETC Group (Action Group on Erosion, Technology and Concentration)
- Ethiopian Women Rights Advocates
- Fahari ya jamii
- Family Organization for Empowerment (FOREM)
- Federation of Deaf Women Empowerment Network- Kenya (FEDWEN)
- Federation of Free Workers (FFW)
- Feminist Humanitarian Network
- Feminist Manch
- Femme Forte Ug
- FEMNET African Women’s Development and Communication Network
- Fiji Women’s Rights Movement (FWRM)
- Fiji Youth SRHR Alliance
- For Equality
- Forum for Women in Development, Democracy and Justice
- Fòs Feminista
- Framework Convention on Global Health Alliance
- Frontline AIDS
- Fundacion Arcoiris por el respeto a la diversidad sexual
- Fundación para Estudio e Investigación de la Mujer (FEIM)
- Galck+
- Gatef Organization
- GDMR
- Gears for Change Initiative
- Gen Africa Foundation
- Gender and Economy Research Center NPGE
- Gender Links
- GESTOS – Brazil
- Girl Concern
- Girls Education Mission
- GIRLxGIRL
- Global African SHEROES Union
- Global Campaign for Education
- Global Digital Inclusion Partnership (GDIP)
- Global Health Awareness Research Foundation (GHARF)
- Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (GI-ESCR)
- Global Network of People Living with HIV
- Global Network of Women Peacebuilders
- Global South Coalition for Dignified Menstruation
- Gramin Punarnirman Sansthan
- Green Hill
- Greenspring Development Initiative
- GROOTS KENYA
- Groupe de Réflexion et d’Initiative pour l’Avancement de la Grand’Anse (GRIAG)
- Helga
- Hope Beyond Foundation
- Hope For Future Generations
- Hope Single Mothers with Disabilities
- HRC RIGHT TO INFORMATION TRUST NGO
- ILGA World
- Inclusive Voices of Intersex Transgender and Queer Foundation
- Indian Crisis & Support Agency
- Indian Social Action Forum
- Indigenous Peoples Major Group for Sustainable Development
- Initiarive Pananetugri pour le Bien etre de la Femme (IPBF)
- INITIATIVE FOR EQUALITY AND NON DISCRIMINATION
- Initiative for Right View (IRV)
- Interconnected Justice Kenya
- International Community of Women Living with HIV Southern Africa ICWSA
- International Council for Adult Education
- International Disability Alliance
- International Network of Liberal Women
- International Planned Parenthood Federation Africa Region (IPPFAR)
- International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF)
- International Trade Unions Confederation
- International Women’s Fund Azerbaijan
- Inuka Women foundation
- Ipas
- IRDAS
- IYAlliance
- Journalists for Human Rights
- Jóvenes Redlac
- Kamukunji Paralegal Trust (KAPLET)
- Karachi Research Chair
- KEFEADO
- Kenya Female Advisory Organization
- Kenya Human Rights Commission
- Kenya Sex Worker’s Alliance
- Kenyan Peasants League
- Key Watch Ghana / Intersex Movement Ghana
- KIASWA
- Kisleb Lbq Organization
- KP Consortium
- KuchuTimes Media Group
- Ku.Sal Marginalized Women Organization
- Lake Region Womxn Health and Equal Rights
- Lanka Fundamental Rights Organization
- LARWHER
- Last Mile4D
- Launch Girls
- LEDESER, Strategic Litigation on Sexual and Reproductive Rights, Civil Association
- LEHA KENYA
- LIFE HEALTH EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION TRUST
- Linda Mazingira Initiative Kenya
- Love To Help Organization
- Madhira Institute
- Make Mothers Matter
- Mapinduzi Community (MACO)
- Men2men
- MenaFem Movement for Economic development and Ecological Justice
- MenEngage Alliance
- Most at Risk Young Mothers and Teenage Girls Living with HIV Initiative (MOYOTE)
- Mother and Child Rehabilitation Center
- MOVMIENTO UJERES DOMINICO HAITIANA (MUDHA)
- MSWHARI C.B.O
- MWA
- NairoBits Trust
- Nala Feminist Collective
- Namibia Diverse Women’s Association (NDWA)
- National Campaign for Sustainable Development Nepal
- National Foundation for Australian Women
- NAWO
- NETRIGHT
- Network for Community Development
- New Women Connectors
- Nexus Youth Initiative
- Ngao Inclusive Hub
- NGO Federation of Nepal
- Nguvu Collective
- Norsaac
- North American Climate, Conservation and Environment (NACCE)
- NTBC-K
- ODRI- Office against Discrimination, Racism and Intolerance
- Okogun Odigie Safewomb International Foundation
- ONG Plus de Sida dans les Familles
- Organisation des Jeunes la Voix du Social pour le Développement (OJVSD)
- Organisation Yinéyinédian pour la Nature et le Développement Durable (OND)
- Pakistan Development Alliance
- Pan African Positive Women’s Coalition-Zimbabwe
- Participatory Development Action Program
- Pathways for Women’s Empowerment and Development/ Integrated Agricultural Training Center (PaWED-IATC)
- Pathways Policy Institute (PPI)
- Patiska Platform – New Technologies and Older Women
- Peace Track Initiative
- Peperusha Binti CBO
- Programme d’Actions pour le Développement au Congo asbl (RDC)
- PROMSEX, Centro de Promocion y Defensa de los Derechos Sexuales y Reproductivos
- Psychological Responsiveness NGO, Mongolia
- Purple Royale: Trans Voices Amplified
- Pussy Power Movement
- Q-Initiative CBO
- Queerprism256 podcast
- Radha Paudel Foundation
- Rainbow Women of Kenya
- Raise Your Voice CBO
- Realizing Sexual and Reproductive Justice (RESURJ)
- RECODEF Sénégal
- Red de Defensoras del ambiente y el buen Vivir
- Red de Salud de las Mujeres Latinoamericanas y del Caribe/ Latin American and Caribbean Women’s Health Network
- Red Ecofeminista Latinoamericana y del Caribe
- Reproductive Health Network Kenya
- Réseau Africa Volontaire (RAV)
- Réseau Femme et Développement au Nord Kivu
- Réseau MUSONET
- Resource Center for Women and Girls
- RFSL
- Rural Woman Empowerment Initiative
- Rutgers
- Sahaj
- SEDRA Extensión, Desartollo Rural Agricultural
- SERAC-Bangladesh
- Siaya LBQTGNC Feminist Community
- Sinatsisa Lubombo Women and Girls Empowerment organization
- Smartladies Women Group
- Society for Conservation and Sustainability of Energy and Environment in Nigeria (SOCSEEN)
- Society to Heighten Awareness of Women and Children Abuse (SOTHAWACA)
- Sonke Gender Justice
- Soroptimist International
- Soroptimist International Perth Club
- SRHR Africa Trust (SAT)
- Stakeholder Group of Persons with Disabilities
- Stonyhills Africa
- Success Capital Organisation
- Sukaar Welfare Organization
- Sustainable Development Foundation
- Sustainable Research Foundation
- Swop Ambassadors
- Tag a Life International (TaLI)
- Tanga Community of Feminists
- Temple of Understanding
- The Amazon Leadership Initiative TheALI
- The Eagles for Life Kenya
- The Gender Lab
- The Grail
- The Hummingbird Grassroots Centre
- The Iridescent Family
- The Lotus Identity
- The Organisation for Young Women’s Dignity (TOFYWD)
- The Populace Foundation International (TPFI)
- The Queer Republic
- The YP Foundation
- Together 2030
- TransHuman Project
- Tribeless Youth
- Trust for Indigenous Culture and Health (TICAH)
- Twaweza Community Development Agenda
- Ubuntu Law and Justice Centre
- UHAI EASHRI
- Unathi Children’s Network
- Union Women Youth Center Azerbaijan
- United Youth Social Symposium for Education and Development and Development (UYSSED)
- University of the Witwatersrand
- Utu Wetu Trust
- Uzalendo Afrika Initiative
- Vecinas Feministas por la Justicia Sexual y Reproductiva de América Latina
- Vikas Adhyayan Kendra
- VIKASH-SAMUKHYA
- Vision for Children and Youth Forum
- Vision GRAM-International
- VSO Make Way Program
- VWA FANM AYISYÈN (VFA)
- Wangu Kanja Foundation
- We Believe Community Organization
- We Women Lanka
- WECF International
- WEDO
- Wemos
- Western Kenya Lbqt Feminist Forum (WKLFF)
- WHRD
- WO=MEN Dutch Gender Platform
- Womankind Worldwide
- Women and Modern World Social Charitable Center
- Women and Rural Development Networks
- Women Can Do It
- Women Collective Kenya
- Women Deliver
- Women Empower and Mentor All (WEmpower)
- Women Empowerment Against Poverty of Nepal (WEAPoN)
- Women Enabled International
- Women for a Change
- Women Human Rights Defenders Hub (Kenya Hub)
- Women Human Rights Defenders Network in Malawi
- Women in Adult and Vocational Education (WAVE)
- Women in Global Health Niger (WGH-Niger)
- Women of the South Speak Out (WOSSO)
- Women Working Group (WWG)
- Women’s Development Innovators
- Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights
- Women’s Health Initiative Ghana
- Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF)
- Women’s International Peace Centre
- Women’s Leadership Centre
- Women’s Major Group
- Women@TheTable
- WOMENLINE
- World Health Improvement Program Rehabilitation Organization – TB Care and Control Jammu and Kashmir
- WUNRN-Women’s UN Report Network
- Y+ Global
- Youth Empowerment Movement Kenya (YEM Kenya)
- Yesaid Society
- Young Feminist Europe
- Young Feminist Network (YFemN)
- Young Voluntary for the Environment
- Youth Advocacy Development Network
- Youth Advocacy Network Sri Lanka
- Youth and Women for Change in Eswatini
- Youth Changers Kenya
- Youth Coalition For Sexual and Reproductive Rights
- Youth for Sustainable Development
- Youth Fraternity for Change
- Zamara Foundation
- Zambia National Traditional Counselors Association
- Zipcare Women Initiative