UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) New York March 2026

I joined thousands of women from around the world at the United Nations for the 70th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).


The Commission has convened annually for 70 years and traditionally takes place each March at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, bringing together governments, civil society organisations and activists to advance gender equality and the rights of women and girls worldwide.


As a member of Soroptimists International Great Britain and Ireland (SIGBI), I joined their delegation, which is a member of the UK Civil Society Women’s Alliance (UKCSWA). The Alliance is an umbrella body comprising over 500 organisations and individuals across the UK. It works to promote and protect the rights of women and girls, both in the UK and globally, with a particular focus on the full implementation of international legal instruments to which the UK is a signatory. Collectively, its members represent millions of women and girls and address the full range of issues affecting their lives. The Alliance celebrates its strong relationship with civil society, particularly in championing the voices and experiences of women and girls.


This year’s priority themes at CSW were “Access to Justice” and “Women in Decision-Making.” Delegates explored the barriers women and girls face in seeking justice, as well as strategies to increase women’s leadership and representation at all levels.


There were hundreds of events taking place across New York City, and I participated in events daily, looking at the impact of education on all women' s and girls’ lives. Below is a snapshot of some of my meetings.


I met with the Minister for Women, Baroness Smith and Uma Kumaran, U.K. MP, who chaired an event on Education, Entrepreneurship and Justice at the Baha'i International Centre (BIC), where I was part of a working group looking at the barriers young people face when trying to access education and find possible solutions.


I attended a side event, “Knowledge is Power: Education as the First Step to Justice for Women and Girls”, at the Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations, where I heard from a panel of experts exploring the powerful connection between education and access to justice. This highlighted policy actions, partnerships and evidence-based approaches aligned with the CSW70 priority theme and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); notably SDGs 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).


I was honoured to attend a CSW parallel event hosted by Isa Buencamino of Wow (Women of The World Coaching) and Ivanna Dela Torre, founder of Herrd. I was an expert voice on a panel looking at Women’s Leadership and Access to Justice. There were three fishbowl panels where the audience joined the table and discussed a topic. One topic was Women’s Barriers to Economic Participation.


Education as a First Step to Justice Hosted by the Permanent Mission of Ireland in collaboration with Soroptimist International and Graduate Women International, this event focused on formal, nonformal, and vocational education as a foundation for legal empowerment and access to justice.


I took the opportunity to connect with other women working collectively to improve the lives of all women and girls globally. It was inspiring to listen to many speakers, including Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations, who encouraged us all to continue to work on the challenges to achieving gender equity for all women and girls.


One of our SSF Ambassadors, Helen Porter, also attended the conference as part of the SIGBI delegation. She said, “ I was fascinated to learn that for young widows in sub–Saharan Africa, their number one concern is that their children remain in school. The poverty brought on by widowhood often prevents this. Keeping their children in school reduces child marriage and the risk of terrorist recruitment.“)


Share your knowledge and remember a small drop of information can cause a ripple and may even cause a wave.” Berthe De Vos Neven, Director of Advocacy, Soroptimist International

Ann Beatty • April 3, 2026

UNESCO UK ASPnet celebrates young people planting seeds of hope around the world

By Ann Beatty • October 8, 2026
The 2026 UNESCO UK ASPnet Seeds of Hope Competition Online Awards Ceremony took place on 30 September 2026 and was attended by over 70 participants, including young people, teachers, the Competition Judges and UNESCO Commission representatives. The ethos of the Competition was ‘ to recognise, value and celebrate the efforts of all young people who entered the Competition, and their contribution towards helping UNESCO realise many of its key objectives, especially with regard to sustainability and climate challenges’. 2026 is the second year that UNESCO UK has undertaken the Seeds of Hope for a Better Future Competition. The Competition featured 50 projects, involving 13 countries across six continents, and representing 67 educational institutions from all sectors (early years, primary, secondary and tertiary). Significantly, this was more than double the participation in the 2025 Competition, with thousands of young people taking part in, or being impacted . Eight winners from Brazil, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and Slovenia received Gold Certificates and shared the £5000 prize pot. Seven Kenyan Teacher Training College projects were also collectively recognised for projects that strongly support the sustainability and climate change objectives of UNESCO through ongoing work of local, regional, national and international importance, and received the 2026 UNESCO UK ASPnet Seeds of Hope Legacy Award . 

UNESCO ASPnet UK schools on the theme of peace was presented to Pope Leo XIV at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris

By Ann Beatty • September 25, 2026
A moment to be proud of and a reminder of why young people’s voices matter. Today, artwork created by students from UNESCO ASPnet UK schools on the theme of peace was presented to Pope Leo XIV at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, alongside artwork from young people in other countries. What an amazing opportunity for our students to have their creativity, ideas and hopes represented on an international stage. For me, this is what UNESCO ASPnet is about: creating opportunities for young people to connect across cultures, express themselves creatively, learn from one another and imagine a better future together. The power of young people’s creativity: their voices being part of an international conversation about education, peace, culture and our shared future. UNESCO’s programme for Pope Leo XIV’s visit specifically focused on education, artistic creation, AI, information integrity and peace. The work was part of a mural that brings together 80 original creations marking UNESCO’s 80th anniversary, produced as part of the "International Youth for Peace" competition organized by France TV and UNESCO.

Change Starts with a Will: Leave a Legacy That Helps Transform Education

September 7, 2026
Most of us want to leave the world a little better than we found it. Whether that's through the people we love, the values we pass on, or the causes we care about, we all hope our legacy will make a difference. One of the simplest ways to do that is by writing a will. This autumn, we are proud to be taking part in the Change Starts with a Will campaign, allowing our supporters to write or update their will free of charge through our trusted partner, Octopus Legacy. Why writing a will matters Writing a will isn't just about deciding who inherits your possessions. It's about making sure your wishes are respected and providing peace of mind for the people you care about. Having a will means you can: Protect the people you love. Make important decisions about your estate. Reduce uncertainty for your family. Leave a lasting gift to a cause that reflects your values. Many people put off writing a will, believing it's something to think about later in life. In reality, it's one of the most important documents you'll ever create. A legacy that supports education Steve Sinnott dedicated his life to championing education as a fundamental human right. His belief was simple but powerful: every child deserves the opportunity to learn, and every teacher deserves the support they need to inspire future generations. Today, we continue that mission by working with partners across the world to improve access to quality education, strengthen teaching and support communities where education can change lives. When you choose to leave a gift in your will to The Steve Sinnott Foundation, you're helping ensure that this work can continue for years to come. After taking care of family and friends, even a small gift could help provide learning opportunities, strengthen education systems and create brighter futures for generations to come. A gift that lasts beyond a lifetime Legacy gifts play an important role in helping charities plan for the future. Your support could help us continue investing in sustainable education projects, supporting teachers and ensuring more children have access to the education they deserve. It's a powerful way to ensure your values live on long into the future. Write your will for free As part of our Autumn 2026 campaign, we're offering supporters the opportunity to write or update their will free of charge through Octopus Legacy. There is no obligation to leave a gift to The Steve Sinnott Foundation, but we hope you'll consider remembering us after you've taken care of those closest to you. Together, we can continue Steve Sinnott's vision of a world where education changes lives. Find out more If you've been thinking about writing your will, there's never been a better time. Our free will service is available until 31 October 2026 , making it easy to protect the people you love while considering the lasting impact your legacy could have on education worldwide.  https://octopuslegacy.com/online-will?channel=partner Change starts with a will. And together, we can help create a future where education is accessible to everyone.