Crif moderating the World Jewish Congress side event at the CSW in the United Nations

The event took place on the sidelines of the 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW), in collaboration with We Are Not Weapons of War, the International Council of Jewish Women (ICJW), and the Permanent Missions of Austria, Czechia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Bulgaria, Germany, Romania, Israel, and Canada.

The discussion, titled “Women, Conflict, and Peace: A Universal Feminist Vision,” underscored the urgent need to recognize and address violence against women while showcasing the critical role of women leaders in conflict resolution and peacebuilding around the world.
Speakers placed a particular emphasis on the impact of Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023 on female victims and drew inspiration from their resilience in the aftermath.

The event was moderated by Marie-Sarah Seeberger, Head of International Affairs at Crif. During her opening remarks, she made a powerful call for justice for Jewish women, stressing what happened in Paris on March 8th, during International Women Day:

“I’m very moved today to be here because I feel I have the responsibility to bring to this podium the voices of my Jewish sisters who were humiliated on Saturday on the streets of Paris. Is this the feminism we want? The one that says it’s better to be anti-Israel, anti-Zionist, and antisemitic than to simply be pro-women?”

Cette semaine, le Crif était à New York pour modérer le side event du @WorldJewishCong à la Commission pour le statut des femmes #CSW69 de l'@UN @ONU_fr.

Dans ses remarques introductives, @MsSeeberger a tenu à dénoncer la tournure dramatique de la journée du 8 mars à Paris :… pic.twitter.com/xxgHeDA8Ec

— CRIF (@Le_CRIF) March 13, 2025

Amb. Danny Danon, Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, said, “Far too often, conversations about gender equality are seen as issues alone for women to partake; but if we are truly committed to gender equality then men must listen, men must advocate, and men must stand alongside the brave women fighting for their rights and demand that those rights are upheld.”

Ruth Messinger, Global Ambassador and Former President of the American Jewish World Service (AJWS), added, “The research shows that when women are at the table during peace discussions, groups are more likely to reach some sort of agreement.”

• The panel discussion then high level speakers:
• Ariela Blätter, President and CEO, Women In International Security
• Céline Bardet, President and Founder, We Are Not Weapons of War
• Nava Ben-Or, Co-founder, Dinah Project
• Eetta Prince-Gibson, Journalist, member of Dinah Project
• Jennifer Long, CEO, AEquitas

Key themes included:

• The systematic use of gender-based violence in conflict and the necessity of holding perpetrators accountable.
• The barriers to women’s inclusion in peace negotiations and post-conflict reconstruction efforts.
• Strategies for strengthening international legal frameworks and policy commitments to gender equality in conflict and post-conflict settings.

Andreea Mocanu, Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Romania to the United Nations, delivered closing remarks.

You can watch the recording of whole here.