The 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council took place from 24 February to 04 April 2025. The ongoing liquidity crisis experienced by the United Nations, which deeply affects the Council’s functioning, has once again put civil society organisations under an additional and significant burden - especially when it comes to accessing hybrid modalities and organising side events. The United Nations Office at Geneva is now charging civil society for the use of interpretation booths at side events as well as for the use of any type of hybrid modality, such as Webex.

Human Rights do not happen in a void. Currently, a total of 3.3 billion people live in countries that spend more on interest payments than on education, health or climate investment. How can we expect that the standards that we negotiate and push for in this Council are implemented without even the possibility of adequate resourcing, which is forced by the international financial architecture?

International Women’s Day emerged from the struggles of working-class women advocating for fair wages, better working conditions, and voting rights. Yet today, corporate power and abuse have expanded, with a few corporations and ultra-wealthy men wielding unchecked influence that impacts the lives of billions without accountability.

While progress has been made, significant gaps remain in ensuring equitable access to youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information and services. Many adolescents and young people, especially in rural and hard-to-reach areas, continue to face barriers such as inadequate health infrastructure, shortages of trained healthcare providers, and financial constraints that prevent them from accessing essential services.