At CSW69 in New York - Keturah Shammah Strengthens Global Advocacy

Girls Education Mission (GEM) International, a UN ECOSOC-accredited organization and a key member of the UN Women Generation Equality Action Coalition against Gender-Based Violence, played a pivotal role in the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

Represented by its Executive Director, Keturah Shammah, GEM International actively contributed to global dialogues focused on advancing gender equality and addressing gender-based violence (GBV). The organization’s impactful engagement included an invitation from UN Women to speak at the Push Forward Dialogues and co-hosting a high-level side event in partnership with SAFE Coalition for Human Rights (SAFECHR) USA.

In response to a global call for impactful practices in addressing gender backlash, UN Women received nearly 200 submissions. Recognizing GEM International’s outstanding youth-led and community-driven strategies, UN Women invited Keturah Shammah to present at the Push Forward Dialogues: Impactful Practices in Pushing Forward for Rights, Equality, and Justice in the Context of Beijing+30 and Beyond.

The session, held on Friday, 14th March 2025, from 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM at the UN Women Headquarters, featured GEM International’s innovative approaches to overcoming gender-related challenges. In her presentation, Shammah highlighted:

 ✔Gender Backlash and Digital Challenges – The systemic barriers and rising opposition to gender equality efforts, particularly affecting young girls in digital spaces.

✔Community Engagement and Youth-Led Mobilization – Grassroots campaigns, digital advocacy, and policy engagement as tools for countering gender backlash.

✔Multistakeholder Collaboration – Successful partnerships with local governments, civil society organizations, and international bodies to strengthen GBV prevention and reporting mechanisms.

✔Transformative Impact – The role of GEM International in increasing GBV case reporting, influencing policy change, and ensuring gender-responsive educational systems.

Beyond the UN Women event, GEM International further solidified its advocacy leadership by co-organizing a high-impact side event with SAFE Coalition for Human Rights USA. The event, titled “Beijing+30 Year Reflections: 4 Countries, 3 Continents”, took place on Wednesday, 20th March 2025, from 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM at the Church Center, New York City.

At this global forum, Keturah Shammah delivered a powerful address on “Sustainable Models for Advancing Education and Empowerment of Girls in Nigeria.” Her presentation provided critical insights into: 

✔ Policy and Programmatic Challenges Affecting Girls’ Education – Structural barriers and gaps in Nigeria’s education system.

✔ GEM International’s Innovations and Best Practices – Community-driven education initiatives, technology integration, and advocacy successes.

✔ Future Strategies – Strengthening partnerships, scaling up gender-responsive education programs, and ensuring sustainable learning solutions for marginalized girls.

The active participation of GEM International at CSW69 resulted in significant milestones, including:

✔ Strengthened Global Advocacy – Positioned GEM International as a leading voice in combating gender backlash, GBV, and advancing girls’ education.

✔ Expanded Multistakeholder Partnerships – Deepened collaborations with UN Women, SAFECHR USA, policymakers, and civil society organizations.

✔ Policy and Programmatic Influence – Fostered cross-continental knowledge sharing, inspiring best practices and collaborative solutions.

✔ Increased Visibility for GEM International’s Work – Amplified recognition of its transformative initiatives in gender equality and education empowerment.

GEM International remains committed to driving global change in gender justice, education, and advocacy. The organization’s engagements at CSW69 have paved the way for future collaborations, greater policy influence, and a strengthened international presence in shaping the next decade of gender equality advancements.