About the Forum
Governed by Principle. Driven by Purpose.
The Women's Congress UN Forum Hub is an independent multilateral platform operating in formal consultative status with the United Nations, dedicated to the full enforcement of Universal Human Rights and the advancement of gender equity across all 193 member states.
Our Mission
A Mandate Rooted in the UN Charter
Founded on the principles enshrined in the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Women's Congress UN Forum Hub exists to close the gap between international commitment and on-the-ground reality. We convene heads of state, civil society leaders, legal scholars, and grassroots advocates in a single deliberative space — because durable change requires every voice at the table.
Our work extends the mandates of UN Women, the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), and the UN Security Council's Women, Peace and Security agenda into the domains of climate policy, digital rights, economic governance, and post-conflict reconstruction. We do not duplicate existing mechanisms — we fortify them.
Universality
Human rights are indivisible, interdependent, and universal. No state, culture, or circumstance justifies their suspension.
Accountability
Commitments made in multilateral forums must be monitored, reported, and enforced. We build the mechanisms that make that possible.
Inclusion
Marginalised voices — indigenous women, refugees, girls in conflict zones — are not footnotes. They are the centre of our work.
Evidence
Every policy recommendation we advance is grounded in rigorous research, disaggregated data, and lived experience.
Governance Structure
How We Are Organised
The Forum operates under a three-tier governance model: a Plenary Assembly of all accredited member delegates, an Executive Council of 21 elected representatives, and a Secretariat responsible for day-to-day operations. All decisions of consequence are made by consensus or supermajority vote of the Plenary Assembly.
Plenary Assembly
All accredited delegates from 193 member states. Meets annually to set strategic direction, ratify resolutions, and elect the Executive Council.
Executive Council
21 elected representatives serving two-year terms. Oversees implementation of Plenary resolutions and provides strategic oversight of the Secretariat.
Secretariat
Permanent professional staff responsible for programme delivery, communications, financial management, and coordination with UN agencies.
Leadership
Executive Council
The Executive Council is composed of 21 elected delegates representing all six UN regional groups. Members serve two-year renewable terms.
Dr. Amara Diallo
President, Executive Council
Former Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Gender Equality. Thirty years of experience in multilateral diplomacy and international human rights law.
H.E. Yuki Tanaka
Vice-President, Asia-Pacific
Ambassador-at-Large for Women's Rights. Led Japan's delegation to CSW for twelve consecutive sessions and co-authored the Tokyo Declaration on Digital Rights.
Prof. Elena Vasquez
Vice-President, Latin America
Professor of International Law at Universidad de los Andes. Expert in transitional justice and the rights of women in post-conflict settings.
Ms. Fatima Al-Rashid
Vice-President, Middle East
Director of the Arab Women's Leadership Institute. Pioneered regional frameworks for women's economic participation across twelve Arab League member states.
Dr. Ingrid Svensson
Vice-President, Europe
Former Minister for International Development Cooperation. Architect of Sweden's feminist foreign policy framework, adopted as a model by eight other governments.
Ambassador Clara Osei
Secretary-General
Career diplomat with postings across four continents. Leads the Secretariat with a mandate to strengthen institutional capacity and expand the Forum's regional chapter network.
UN Affiliations
Formal Partnerships & Consultative Status
The Forum holds ECOSOC Special Consultative Status and maintains formal working relationships with the following UN entities and international bodies.
UN Women
Primary implementing partner for gender equality programming and the Beijing Platform for Action follow-up.
Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)
Accredited observer and active participant in annual CSW sessions. Submits parallel reports and co-sponsors side events.
UN Security Council — WPS Agenda
Contributes to the implementation of Security Council Resolutions 1325, 1820, and subsequent WPS resolutions.
OHCHR
Collaborates with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on treaty body reporting and Universal Periodic Review submissions.
UNICEF
Joint programming partner on children's rights, girls' education, and the elimination of child marriage.
UNEP
Partner on gender-responsive climate policy and the integration of women's leadership into environmental governance frameworks.
Regional Chapters
A Global Network, Locally Rooted
The Forum's six regional chapters translate global mandates into local action. Each chapter is led by an elected Regional Director and operates with a degree of programmatic autonomy within the Forum's overarching governance framework.
Africa
54 countriesAsia-Pacific
47 countriesEurope
44 countriesLatin America & Caribbean
33 countriesMiddle East & North Africa
21 countriesNorth America
3 countriesBecome an Accredited Delegate
Membership in the Women's Congress UN Forum Hub is open to government representatives, civil society organisations, academic institutions, and individual advocates committed to the Forum's mission.