AST Participation at the UN CSW70

March 9-19, 2026 | New York

We are very proud to share that AST organized and contributed to three important panels during the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) in New York held between March 9 and 20, 2026.

The first event, the panel on “Authoritarian Power and Women’s Bodies,” was held on March 16 and organized by AST.

Moderated by Dr. Hafza Girdap, AST spokesperson and Assistant Professor at Hofstra University, this event addressed how authoritarian regimes deploy control over women’s bodies as a mechanism of political power. Discussions highlighted the transnational nature of gender-based violence and emphasized the urgent need for collective resistance and global solidarity.

Speakers included Sevinç Özarslan, exiled Turkish journalist; Rachel Miner, CEO of Bellwether International; Professor Manisha Desai, Stony Brook University; Dr. Shilan Fuad Hussain, Marie Curie Fellow; and Cindy Morris, Co-founder of Women Who Change the World. Each panelist contributed critical insights on structural violence, survivor advocacy, and feminist resistance.

Selected Speaker Remarks

Rachel Miner, CEO, Bellwether International: Rachel Miner emphasized that genocide is a predictable human rights violation that disproportionately targets women, highlighting the importance of trauma-healing practices that center women’s lived experiences and are implemented by locally trained practitioners.

Dr. Shilan Fuad Hussain, Marie Curie Fellow: Dr. Shilan Fuad Hussain stressed that ending gender-based oppression requires naming interconnected practices—what she terms the “Patriarchal Trifecta”—and addressing them through coordinated educational, economic, and judicial empowerment.

Cindy Morris, Co-founder, Women Who Change the World: Cindy Morris underscored that restoring women’s agency through collective efficacy and a liberation mindset is essential to advancing and sustaining women’s rights.

Professor Manisha Desai, Executive Director, Center for Changing Systems of Power, Stony Brook University: Professor Manisha Desai highlighted the global rise of ethnonationalist ideologies such as Hindutva and called for cross-religious, multiracial coalitions to challenge transnational fundamentalisms and supremacies.

Sevinç Özarslan, Exiled Turkish Journalist: Sevinç Özarslan drew attention to the silencing of women and ongoing systemic abuses in Turkey, urging the international community to confront and act against widespread violations of women’s rights and dignity.

Dr. Hafza Girdap: Dr. Hafza Girdap concluded by emphasizing the transnational nature of authoritarian gendered oppression and the urgent need for sustained, visible advocacy and collective resistance to uphold human dignity.

The second event, “Bibliotherapy for Youth,” was held on March 9 and organized by Set Them Free in collaboration with AST.

Moderated by AST’s Criminal Justice and Human Rights Researcher, Ebru Kaya, this session showcased evidence-informed perspectives and lived practices from clinicians and youth participants who have integrated literature into mental health and justice education programs. Speakers included clinical psychologist Melike Güray and UN Youth Project participants Zunera Haider (Hofstra University), as well as high school juniors and seniors from Canada and the United States: Mehtap Guven, Yusuf Kaval, Ishak Alan, and Semra Erkisi.

Young advocates reflected on how reading, storytelling, and dialogue can support young people’s mental well-being and help them better understand gender equality and justice. Their discussion highlighted how stories can build empathy, awareness, and confidence, particularly among youth.

The final event, the panel titled “Women, Justice, and the State,” was held on March 11 and organized by Sociologists for Women in Society.

AST spokesperson and Hofstra University professor Dr. Hafza Girdap participated in this panel as a speaker, highlighting the experiences of Yazidi women. The discussion focused on how violence, stigma, and legal systems shape women’s lives and identities, and why it is critical to continue raising awareness at the international level.

The AST delegation, along with UN diplomats and global speakers, also participated in a networking reception organized by the Journalists and Writers Foundation (JWF).

We thank all of you for your continued support. Your commitment helps us bring these important issues to international platforms.