UN CSW70 Forum Focuses on Women’s Health Justice

At the 70th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), a forum held on March 18 under the theme “Beyond Band-Aids: Innovations to Improve Women’s Healthcare” brought together representatives from religious communities, the medical field, and non-profit organizations. Participants engaged in dialogue on issues including women’s health, human rights protection, and medical ethics, with BLIA members actively participating and demonstrating deep concern for the well-being of women worldwide.

The parallel forum was organized by the Holy See, the international non-profit organization FEMM, and medical experts from various countries. Attending on behalf of the Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) were Venerable Neng Xian and Venerable Ming Hua of Fo Guang Shan New York Temple, along with Cindy Wang, Vice Supervisor of the BLIA New York Chapter Elder Advisor Committee; Helen Leong, Director of the BLIA New York Chapter; Eunice Shih, President of the Songhe Subchapter; and Wen Yanni from the Elmhurst Subchapter, reflecting the Buddhist community’s engagement with global women’s health issues.

The forum opened with remarks by H.E. Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, who emphasized that access to high-quality healthcare is a fundamental human right for women and a foundation for equal participation in social and economic life. He pointed out that many women around the world still face barriers—geographical, socio-economic, cultural, and institutional—that limit their access to essential care and medical resources, highlighting the ongoing need to advance health equity.

Anna Halpine, CEO of FEMM, noted that reducing women’s experiences of fatigue and emotional fluctuations to mere gender traits overlooks women’s health rights and deprives them of the ability to understand their own physiological rhythms and make autonomous healthcare decisions.

Dr. Danielle Koestner, Chief Medical Officer of the FEMM Foundation, added that women’s symptoms are often dismissed or normalized, leading to undiagnosed and untreated underlying conditions, increasing health risks and even threatening lives.

During the discussion, Venerable Neng Xian cited a passage from Between Ignorance and Enlightenment by Venerable Master Hsing Yun: “The problems of human confusion can only be resolved through awakening.”  She reflected on gender bias within modern healthcare systems and called for greater awareness and understanding of both body and mind, encouraging a shift beyond existing frameworks.

Venerable Ming Hua added that women should be encouraged to speak up for their own health needs, and to seek appropriate care within healthcare systems that integrate both scientific and humanistic perspectives.

BLIA participants also shared their perspectives. Helen Leong pointed out that inequality in women’s healthcare not only affects individual well-being but also has broader implications for family stability and societal development, emphasizing that both institutional reform and changes in social attitudes are necessary to achieve true health equity.

Eunice Shih drew on the Buddhist framework of “hearing, thinking, and practicing” to emphasize that access to healthcare alone does not equate to health justice. She noted that only through in-depth understanding, rational thinking, and practical action can long-standing imbalances in healthcare systems be addressed.

Wen Yanni shared personal experiences, calling for greater societal attention to women’s physical changes and potential risks during pregnancy, and advocating for more comprehensive support systems and healthcare protections.

Through this cross-sector dialogue between religion, medicine, and civil society, the forum deepened international awareness of women’s health rights and highlighted the shared commitment of diverse groups to advancing gender equality and health justice.