We, young feminists in ALL our diversity, are here to hold our governments accountable to the commitments they have made to guarantee gender equality, eliminate all forms of discrimination and violence against us, and achieve the full realisation of all of our human rights. As young feminists, most of us were too young to attend the Beijing Conference in 1995. We acknowledge much has been achieved over the past 20 years in the areas of education, employment opportunities for young women, and political participation of young women in national and regional platforms; however, many gaps remain.

On the occasion of the 59th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) and the 20-year review of the Beijing Platform for Action, we express our deep disappointment at the exclusion of the majority of Civil Society Organisations’ (CSOs), women’s rights and feminist organisations from the process of negotiating the political declaration. The CSW must continue to be a platform for CSOs, women’s and feminist organisations to actively, effectively, and meaningfully participate and hold our governments accountable.