Six Students Participate in Global Gender Equity Discussions at CSW 70

From March 16 through 19, the Harvard Foundation, with support from the College's Intellectual Vitality initiative, brought six students to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), the principal global intergovernmental body dedicated to gender equality. Representing Harvard were Shayna Leng ’27, Tammy Lee ’27, Meera Sholevar ’28, Gabrielle Demuren ’28, Anniyah Rizvi ’29, and Sophia Krueger ’29. The trip was part of the Harvard Foundation’s Academic Community Engagement initiatives, which aim to connect students’ classroom learning with global policy and affairs beyond the classroom.

Students engaged with discussions on youth participation in UN processes, access to justice for women and girls, and the intersections of caregiving, climate change, and economic justice. They examined public health challenges related to behavioral addictions among women, and explored women's leadership, political participation, and protection in conflict and post-conflict settings, including Ukraine and Syria. For first-year student Anniyah Rizvi ’29, the breadth of these conversations was both humbling and invigorating: "Attending CSW70 was undoubtedly one of the highlights of my first year at Harvard. The opportunity to engage with activists, government leaders, diplomats, and nonprofit leaders dedicated to gender equity was transformative and energizing."

For many students, CSW deepened both their academic interests and sense of professional purpose. For Meera Sholevar ’28, a student aspiring to enter the healthcare field, the conference was especially clarifying: "The conference confirmed that I don't just want to be a practicing physician, but someone also engaged in social, policy, and global issues. I came away more committed to an advocacy- and policy-oriented, research-driven career where I can contribute to systemic change in women's and children's health."

The delegation also took part in private briefings with UN Women, UNICEF, and the EU Delegation, gaining a behind-the-scenes look at how multilateral institutions design and implement policy on women's and children's rights. For Sophia Krueger ’29, seeing these spaces led and run by women made previously abstract career paths feel attainable: "While I was always drawn to work in diplomacy or human rights law, these paths never felt tangible enough for me to genuinely picture myself in them. This conference changed that."

Students will bring these insights back to campus through programming with the Harvard Foundation, in partnership with student organizations, faculty, departments, and centers, helping to deepen dialogue on gender justice and inform advocacy efforts within the Harvard community and beyond. Overall, the trip allowed students to connect classroom learning with real-world advocacy, diplomacy, and global policymaking—and for many, it ignited something lasting. As Gabrielle Demuren ’28 reflected: "I felt inspired, affirmed, and energized, but also deeply saddened by the harsh realities. More than anything, I felt a growing sense of determination. Something in me has been ignited—a call to step into global affairs with courage and intention. I am committed to carrying this torch forward."