Last week, global leaders, policymakers, activists, researchers and representatives of civil society gathered in New York for the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) at the United Nations.
For several days, rooms across the UN headquarters were filled with conversations about one fundamental question:
How far have we really come in advancing equality for women and girls, and what still needs to change?
The answer that emerged throughout the sessions was both encouraging and sobering.
Progress is undeniable.
But it is also far slower than many people realise.
Several speakers shared a striking reality: in the past forty years, women’s representation in public life has increased by only around 11%. At the current pace, reaching parity in political and institutional leadership could take more than 80 years.
At the same time, the global gender pay gap remains at roughly 20%, and in many industries the gap is significantly larger. Women represent about one third of the global technology workforce, yet leadership positions remain overwhelmingly male.
These numbers are not simply statistics. They reflect structural systems – legal, economic, technological and cultural – that still shape opportunity and access around the world.
The growing complexity of equality
One of the most powerful aspects of CSW70 was the diversity of voices present.
Young university students representing emerging feminist movements.
Indigenous women advocating for the protection of their communities.
Leaders from countries affected by conflict explaining how women are often the first to suffer the consequences of war.
A young speaker from Ukraine reminded the audience that during armed conflicts women and girls are frequently among the most vulnerable, facing displacement, violence and the loss of economic and educational opportunities.
These testimonies reinforced a critical understanding:
Advancing equality is not a single challenge, but a complex global transformation that intersects with politics, economics, technology and culture.
The digital frontier: opportunity and risk
Another recurring theme across many sessions was the rapidly growing importance of the digital environment.
Technology has the potential to unlock unprecedented access to knowledge, economic opportunity and global collaboration. But it also presents new risks.
Experts and policymakers discussed the rise of technology-facilitated violence against women and girls, including online harassment, image-based abuse, sextortion and algorithmic bias.
A striking observation shared during one discussion captured the paradox of our digital era: in many ways, copyright protections online are stronger than protections for women’s bodies.
This reality highlights the urgency of ensuring that technology is developed with safety, equity and inclusion by design. If digital environments are not safe, women and girls cannot fully participate in the economies and societies that are increasingly shaped online.
Why leadership and decision-making matter
Many of the conversations at CSW70 returned to one central point: change happens where decisions are made.
Whether in governments, corporations, institutions or civil society organisations, leadership positions determine priorities, allocate resources and shape the systems that affect everyday life.
For this reason, it is essential that women continue to advance into positions of influence.
Personally, I believe it is vital that women actively pursue roles in decision-making spaces – within companies, public institutions and civil society – so that we can help influence and shape a way of living and working that is fair, inclusive and safe for everyone, both women and men.
Equality cannot be achieved only through dialogue. It requires presence, representation and leadership where decisions are taken.
What this means for the experiential industry
For those working in experiential marketing, live communication and events, these global conversations carry particular relevance.
Our industry does more than organise gatherings. It creates the spaces where ideas are exchanged, alliances are built and new narratives emerge.
Events shape visibility.
They influence who speaks, whose perspectives are heard and which ideas gain momentum.
In this sense, the experiential sector plays a powerful role in shaping cultural and professional ecosystems.
By designing inclusive stages, diverse speaker line-ups and meaningful platforms for dialogue, our industry can help accelerate progress toward more equitable and representative leadership.
The role of EVA Alliance
These reflections connect directly with the mission of EVA Alliance.
EVA was created to support, connect and elevate women working in the global experiential marketing and event industry, an industry that itself has enormous potential to influence conversations, industries and communities.
Through mentoring initiatives, leadership programmes and global collaboration, EVA Alliance seeks to empower women not only to grow within the industry, but also to help shape its future.
Because when women lead in spaces where ideas are exchanged and industries evolve, the impact extends far beyond individual careers.
It influences the narratives, priorities and opportunities that shape the next generation of leaders.
A moment to reflect – and to act
CSW70 was a powerful reminder that advancing equality requires persistence, collaboration and leadership across sectors.
Progress is happening.
But it requires continued commitment from institutions, companies, industries and individuals.
For those of us working in experiences, events and live communication, the opportunity is clear.
Every event, every stage and every platform has the potential to shape the conversations that define our industries.
The question is not whether we can contribute to change.
The question is how intentionally we choose to do so.
Angeles Moreno
Co-founder of EVA Alliance
No responses yet