CSW 56: WILPF Final Report and Summary of Events

April 2012
United Nations Headquarters, New York

The 56th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) took place at United Nations Headquarters in New York from Monday, 27 February to Friday, 9 March 2012. This session focused on the theme of "the empowerment of rural women and their role in poverty and hunger eradication, development and current challenges." Sadly, no outcome document (on agreed conclusions) was adopted by Member States. This was only the second time that the CSW had failed to agree on an outcome document. WILPF and other women’s groups expressed strong disappointment at the inability of parties to adopt an agreed conclusion able to promote and solidify the role of Rural Women in Development as agents for change and progress in their society.