Nominations for Civil Society Organizations’ Representatives

Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) is seeking Civil Society Organization (CSO) delegates to join the Canadian delegation to the 70th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW 70), which will take place from March 9 to 20, 2026, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

Civil society organization (CSO) representatives can serve on Canadian delegations to international meetings, including the UNCSW, to share their expertise, help build their knowledge and understanding of the United Nations (UN), and meet and share experiences with other organizations from around the world.

Key responsibilities

Candidates selected to be part of the Canadian delegation will have the following responsibilities:

• Participate in meetings/briefings with the Canadian delegation before, during, and after the UNCSW 70, as appropriate
• Provide advice to the Canadian delegation on their area(s) of expertise pertaining to the UNCSW 70 priority and/or review themes, and contribute to Canada-organized side events, as appropriate
• Liaise with Canadian and international CSOs attending UNCSW 70, including taking part in briefings and meetings for Canadian CSOs on ongoing events and developments
• Following the UNCSW 70, disseminate information on the results of the session and organize follow-up activities, as appropriate, and contribute to a delegate report on key takeaways, lessons learned, and recommendations for future consideration 

Nomination criteria

Nomination packages must clearly demonstrate how the candidate meets the following criteria in order to be considered to serve on the Canadian delegation.

Demonstrated Commitment to Gender Equality

The cover letter must describe the candidate’s commitment to gender equality in Canada or internationally. Include specific examples of the leadership, advocacy, research, education, or lived experience that demonstrate meaningful contributions to gender equality.

Thematic Knowledge and Experience

The cover letter must provide a narrative that demonstrates the candidate’s understanding of the UNCSW 70 themes listed below. Within 600 words or less, reflect on the experiences, insights, and values that shape the perspective the candidate would bring as a member of Canada’s delegation. These perspectives may be drawn from academic studies, community involvement, advocacy, lived experience, or other forms of engagement. Use specific examples to illustrate how the candidate has interacted with these issues and how this experience would contribute to advancing them on the international stage.

• Ensuring and Strengthening Access to Justice for All Women and Girls
• Promoting Inclusive and Equitable Legal Systems
• Eliminating Discriminatory Laws, Policies, and Practices, and Addressing Structural Barriers
• Advancing Women’s Participation and Eliminating Violence
• Applying an Intersectional Approach

Asset criteria

• Work / volunteer / extracurricular / lived experience on advancing gender equality, such as:
  • Degree in women’s/gender studies
  • Courses/training taken on feminist studies, gender equality issues, 2SLGBTQI+ issues, etc.
  • Written paper / essay / work report / panellist / presentation on a gender equality-related issue
  • Grassroots advocacy experience and/or expertise in topics related to advancing gender equality (e.g. gender-based violence, women in leadership, women’s political participation, women’s economic empowerment, sexual and reproductive health and rights, 2SLGBTQI+ issues, education, Indigenous women and girls, intersectional discrimination, etc.)
  • Creative project (e.g. blog post / completed a podcast / posted a video) focusing on a gender equality issue
• Bilingual (English and French)

Submission guidelines

Submissions should include:

1. A completed nomination form
2. A cover letter describing how the candidate meets each of the nomination criteria 
3. The candidate’s curriculum vitae (CV) or resume
4. Two letters of support from two different civil society organizations
5. Confirmation of the candidate’s availability to attend the first week of UNCSW 70 from March 9-13, 2026 (travel will be on March 8 and March 14)

Individuals nominating someone other than themselves should inform candidates of the nomination prior to the submission of the nomination package.

Candidate eligibility

WAGE is seeking nominations from candidates who can fulfill the responsibilities and meet the nomination criteria set out above. In addition, selected candidates must be:

• a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident 
• residing in Canada and able to travel to and from New York City from Canada
• available to attend the first week of UNCSW 70 from March 9 to 13, 2026 (travel will be on March 8 and March 14)^{Footnote 2} Footnote ;
• representing a Canadian women’s rights organization or CSO that serves and advocates for diverse communities, including those traditionally underserved or marginalized
• a minimum 18 years of age

Special notes

• As with previous years, the Canadian delegation should represent the diversity of Canada (i.e. include considerations of age, ability, 2SLGBTQI+, Black, racialized, Indigenous identity, etc.). The voluntary provision of any intersectional identity information (including but not limited to gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, ability, racial or ethnic background), as deemed relevant by the candidate, is welcome within the application. Please note that there is no requirement to provide this information.
• To encourage youth engagement at UNCSW, the Canadian delegation may consist of multiple youth delegates, defined as being between the ages of 18 and 35 by January 1, 2026.  The voluntary providing of this information, as deemed relevant by the candidate, is welcome within the application.  Please note that there is no requirement to provide this information.
• Applicants who have been selected in the previous five years as a member of the Canadian delegation to UNCSW will not be considered for this process.
• Delegates must be available on an ad hoc basis (2-3 hours per week) from late-January to early March 2026 for written consultations and delegation meetings.
• During UNCSW 70 from March 9-13, 2026, the time commitment will be 6+ hours/day.

How to apply

The nomination package (completed nomination form, CV, cover letter, and letters of support) must be emailed to FEGC.CCFNU-UNCSW.WAGE@fegc-wage.gc.ca, with “UNCSW 70 Application: [Name]” as the subject of the email, by 11:59 pm EST on  November 16, 2025. Please include how the assessment criteria are met in the cover letter. Incomplete nominations or nominations received after this deadline will not be considered. Please do not apply if the candidate does not represent a registered non-governmental organization in Canada; private sector businesses are ineligible.

Please note that only those selected will be contacted. For any questions, please contact FEGC.CCFNU-UNCSW.WAGE@fegc-wage.gc.ca.