When Human Rights Are Under Attack Around the World, Silence Is Not an Option

By Ariadna Benevetti

Courtesy of Ariadna Benevetti

In January of this year, the Chilean Ministry of Women’s and Gender Rights selected me to join the Chilean Official delegation for CSW 69 (The 69th Commission on the Status of Women).

Held each March at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, UNCSW brings together global leaders, activists, and experts to discuss progress, setbacks, and strategies to advance women's and girls’ rights.

It was my first time traveling to another country— and traveling alone. At just nineteen years old, I packed my bags not only with clothing (which my airline kindly left in Lima for three days), but with the determination —mine and that of many girls— to demand gender equality and make our voices heard.

A Critical Year for the World - And Feminist Movements

This year marks 30 years since the Beijing Declaration and Platform of Action, and 50 years of commemorating International Women’s Day. But instead of celebrating progress, we found ourselves facing deep and dangerous rollbacks.

From the rise of conservative movements, genocides, to attacks on sexual and reproductive rights, women’s rights are under pressure like never before. Our rights cannot be taken for granted - and CSW 69 made it painfully clear.

Key Themes that Shaped CSW 69

Across high-level sessions, town hall meetings, and side events, a few themes were powerfully stated:

• The need for intersectional approaches to gender-based violence, especially for marginalized groups.

• The urgent need to protect gender equality in the midst of democratic backsliding.

• The importance of meaningful youth engagement in creating long-lasting solutions.

As a young activist from Latin America, I sought out conversations that centered girl-led movements, the need for comprehensive sexual education, civic education, and inclusive policy-making. I got the opportunity to amplify the voices of hundreds of youth back home.

A Moment I’ll Never Forget

Courtesy of Ariadna Benevetti

As I attended the launching event of the Malala Fund Report on Girls Vision for Education, and I got the chance to meet Malala Yousafzai's father and co-founder of Malala Fund, I got into the mission to give some copies of the report to the authorities.

I had the chance to present it to Michelle Bachelet (former president of Chile and our first female President). As we shook hands with her, I made a joke to the other delegates about how I was never going to wash my hands again. But what struck me most were the small chats with youth from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, who, like me, are pushing for comprehensive sexual education, for dignity in healthcare, and for safe public spaces to live and attend school. These are universal needs, and our generation is boldly demanding them.

The Work Is Far From Over

Progress is not linear. And in many parts of the world—including mine—we’re observing dangerous trends: misinformation about gender issues, fear-driven policies, conservative movements on the rise, and resistance to comprehensive sexual education.

I saw governments and grassroots leaders at the same tables. I saw diplomats listening to young activists. I saw a possibility.

But it’s not enough. We need more intersectionality. We need more radical decisions that could make us finally eradicate gender based violence. It’s critical that we are close to the end of the 2030 agenda for the SDGs, and we are still so far away from achieving them. Now more than ever, we need to join and fight together for our rights and protect the unprotected ones.

Hope is a Strategy—And a Responsibility

As I returned to Chile, I carried with me a renewed sense of purpose. I’m committed to ensuring that the CSW is a living process back home.

With the Embassy of Canada, I’ll co-lead a dialogue between authorities and civil society on how we address gender-based violence. With my organization, we’ll host a series of conversations with youth alongside UN Women and other Institutions to bring these global debates to our local communities. Some of them are about gender based violence in sports, the importance of comprehensive sexual education and socioemotional education to address gender based violence, and how Women and Girls face GBV in conflict situation zones.

Moreover, with Girl Rising (and my Non-Profit), as I got selected to their Dr Natasha Stevens Legacy Fund, we are going to do a series of activities on marginalized communities to talk about menstrual education.

I also want to express my gratitude to She’s the First, a non-profit where I am an Activist Fellow, as they also invited me, and with their invitation to attend CSW, I got the chance to meet the UN Secretary General, António Guterres, at the General Assembly Hall.

Because comprehensive sexual education is not indoctrination—it is liberation.

I invite you, reading this, to ask yourself:

What would the world look like if we truly listened to girls?

Then, help us build it.