On the sidelines of the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), the Bahá’í International Community (BIC) co-hosted an event with a very particular focus: the role of trust in advancing the principle of gender equality. 

“Trust and trustworthiness are indispensable prerequisites for the long-term success of any collective endeavor,” said BIC Representative Liliane Nkunzimana, who helped organize the event and co-facilitated it. “More and more frequently their importance is highlighted at the United Nations.” 

In addition to being a stand-alone event in the context of CSW, the event also served as the first in-person meeting of an ongoing virtual initiative titled “B+30 and Beyond: A Series to Build Trust”. The series is co-organized by the BIC in collaboration with NGO CSW/NY, the Young Feminist Caucus, the Generation Equality Action Coalition on Feminist Movements and Leadership, and the Global Governance Innovation Network.

“The aim of the series is to support frank conversations around the role of trust and collaboration in relation to power and decision-making in the gender equality discourse,” Nkunzimana explained. “These issues are particularly relevant in light of the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, and questions about the current moment and paths forward for the gender equality movement.” 

Intergenerational partnership was a prominent element of the CSW event. Particular effort was made to extend invitations to younger feminists, while also welcoming the attendance of several long-standing practitioners. 

“There is a particular vibrancy that can arise when the energy and aspirations of youth are put in touch with the experience and perspective of seasoned elders,” Nkunzimana said. “This is the third year we have been hosting gatherings with young activists during CSW, and expectation and excitement for the space is really starting to grow.” 

The three previous installments of the “trust series” focused on various aspects of feminist principles and their implications for the “Beijing+30” anniversary and lead-up. 

The first event took stock of developments over the past 30 years, particularly from the standpoint of movement-building. The second event considered feminist thought leadership and power dynamics, with specific consideration given to building and maintaining unity within a movement. And the third explored intersections between feminism and the multilateral order, including the role that feminist principles can play in strengthening that order. 

The organizers of the series have drafted a white paper outlining important questions for further dialogue and articulating principles for continued collaborative action.