New York, USA
2026 Commission on the Status of Women 70
The seventieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women will take place in person in New York, USA. The priority theme is Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective.
The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and the principal governing body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women.
Naomy Dussault, Delegation Liaison
Naomy Dussault is a lawyer specializing in international law, gender equality, and humanitarian protection. She holds a bachelor of Law (LL.B.) and a master's degree in international and transnational law (LL.M. with honors). She strengthened her practical expertise at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Geneva, first as an intern and then as a legal consultant for the General Secretariat and the Africa region. Between drafting opinions, conducting disciplinary investigations, providing training, and offering legal advice, she discovered the importance of combining legal rigor, human compassion, and international collaboration. She has also contributed to Lawyers Without Borders Canada projects focusing on human rights and gender equality as a legal intern.
In parallel, she strengthened her academic and research skills as a research professional in international criminal law and as a research assistant in international humanitarian law. She also took part in the International Criminal and Humanitarian Law Clinic and the Summer School of International Conflicts and Interventions. In addition, she co-published a comparative law study on legal frameworks for advertising directed at children and contributed an article to the legal blog QuidJustiae, which aims to make international law accessible to broader audiences.
A strong advocate of experiential education and youth engagement, she won the 46th edition of the Jean-Pictet competition, an experience that strengthened her determination to work for justice in crisis situations and promote humanitarian diplomacy. She also participated in multiple Model United Nations programs, where she held leadership roles as president of the United Nations simulations committee, faculty advisor, and chair member.
Curious, committed, and always enthusiastic, Naomy enjoys popularizing law, crossing disciplines, and collaborating to devise creative solutions to complex challenges. Naomy wishes to contribute to innovative solutions that advance gender equality, protection, and the empowerment of women and girls in crisis contexts.
Johise Namwira, Communications Coordinator
Johise Namwira is a bilingual communications strategist, TEDx speaker, and human rights advocate passionate about using her voice to drive systemic change. With over seven years of experience advancing gender equality, advocacy, and public engagement across government, non-profit, and private sectors, she is dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voices and shaping inclusive policy.
Johise previously served as Press Secretary and Issues Manager to the Minister for Women and Gender Equality, leading national media relations and strategic messaging on gender-based violence, equity, and social justice. Today, she consults for mission-driven organizations and facilitates equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) workshops for national student networks, equipping emerging leaders with the tools to build inclusive systems and communities.
A graduate of the University of Oxford (MSc) and the University of Manitoba (BA Hons), Johise intends to further her studies in law to deepen her advocacy through policy and legal reform. Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and raised in Canada, Johise’s lived experience fuels her commitment to advancing women’s rights globally and building pathways for Black and marginalized communities to thrive.
Sydnel Thomas Kozar, Diversity & Inclusion Coordinator
Syndel Thomas Kozar is a Two-Spirit, neurodivergent nehiyaw (Cree) and settler woman, born and raised in Melfort, Saskatchewan. She is a band member of One Arrow First Nation, with familial ties to Chakastaypasin Band of the James Smith Cree Nation. She is completing a Bachelor of Arts Double Honours in Indigenous Studies and Women’s & Gender Studies at the University of Saskatchewan, with a Minor in English and a Certificate in Indigenous Storytelling.
An artist, published poet and scholar, Syndel’s work bridges creative practice, research, and policy to uplift Indigenous voices and gender-diverse perspectives in spaces of decision-making. She is the creator of Just a Child in Canada, a storytelling and reflection-based education tool grounded in the lived experiences of youth, and the co-founder of Crafting Kinship, a national arts-and-wellness initiative that connects Indigenous youth through cultural creation and community care. She has facilitated over thirty workshops on cultural reclamation, gender justice, and collective wellness.
Her governance and policy experience includes serving as a Policy Analyst Intern with Deloitte’s Future of Canada Centre and Indigenous Youth Roots (IYR) , advising Health Canada as a People with Lived and Living Experience (PWLLE) Survey 2.0 Youth Engagement Committee Member, and sitting on the Indigenous Identities Verification Process Advisory Committee with IYR, the SCIC Youth Advisory Council, and the Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils. Grounded in lived experience, Syndel’s work advances gender equity, wellness, and cultural resurgence across generations and communities.
Emily Katsman, Engagement Coordinator
Emily Katsman is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Manitoba, specializing in Political Science, International Relations, and Cultural Anthropology. During her studies, she received the Undergraduate Research Award, conducting research on the political history and gendered impacts of governance in the Levant region. Her original work has been presented at two international conferences, reflecting her commitment to advancing inclusive and equitable systems.
Emily serves as a Trade Commissioner Assistant at Global Affairs Canada, where she co-leads the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion file. In this role, she promotes women and youth entrepreneurship in international trade by organizing targeted events, developing resources, and fostering partnerships with Canadian women, youth entrepreneurs to create fair and accessible global markets.
As a founding member of the Dove Foundation Global Youth Advisory Board, Emily has championed women’s rights initiatives, emphasizing health equity and the elimination of gender-based violence.
She also represented Canada as a United Nations Global Peace Ambassador, advising on policy initiatives regarding women’s rights, with a focus on dismantling structural barriers and advancing gender equality through sustainable peacebuilding. Previously, Emily worked as a Junior Negotiations Analyst with Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, collaborating with eleven First Nation communities across Canada on self-determination claims, economic development programs, and justice for treaty violations, particularly addressing issues impacting Indigenous women and youth.
Renite Gosal , Research Coordinator
Renite Gosal is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Laws at Queen Mary University of London, building on a Master of Science in Global Mental Health and Society from the University of Edinburgh and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia. She brings interdisciplinary academic and professional experience bridging law, public health, and governance, with work undertaken in Canada, the United Kingdom, and within international institutions.
She recently completed an internship with the Commonwealth Secretariat, where she contributed research on the use of artificial intelligence in justice systems, and the application of international law and UNCLOS in the Pacific. Alongside her studies, she serves as a student adviser with the University of London Refugee Law Clinic and the Queen Mary Legal Advice Centre, supporting individuals seeking asylum and facing discrimination. She recently took part in an academic exchange in Trinidad and Tobago, where she attended graduate law classes and numerous hearings in family, land and estate matters.
Beyond her legal training, Renite has advanced anti-racism initiatives as a member of Amnesty International UK’s Anti-Racism Network and previously delivered mental health support and community-based interventions in Canada and Scotland. A published poet and vocalist, her creative practice informs her interest in intellectual property law.
Renite has also fundraised for girls’ education and campaigned globally against femicide and violence against women and girls. She regards the empowerment of women and girls as fundamental to economic stability and remains committed to strengthening marginalized communities’ access to justice through interdisciplinary approaches
Parul Kanwar, Research Coordinator
Parul Kanwar is a Juris Doctor candidate at the University of British Columbia's Peter A. Allard School of Law. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Political Science with a minor in Women and Gender Studies from the University of Alberta. She brings interdisciplinary academic and professional experience bridging policy analysis, community advocacy, and social justice, with work undertaken in Canada and at international institutions.
Before commencing her legal studies, Parul served as a Policy Officer at the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, where she conducted legislative, parliamentary, and policy research across multiple portfolios. She developed evidence-based policy recommendations through comprehensive stakeholder consultations and contributed analysis on public policy issues affecting vulnerable and marginalized communities.
Alongside her studies at UBC, Parul serves as a Fellow with PIVOT Queer & Trans Health Collective, where she leads policy development and advocacy strategies addressing health equity and 2S/LGBTQIA+ issues. She is Vice President of Young Canadians Change Makers and Board Director with Elevate Equity, contributing to strategic planning and advocacy focused on systemic change and community-centred approaches to social justice.
As a clinician with Greater Vancouver’s Law Students' Legal Advice Program, Parul provides direct legal support to people facing systemic barriers. She volunteers with the Centre for Feminist Legal Studies and the Women's Caucus, and is involved with the International Law Society. A published policy researcher with contributions to Policy Options and the Broadbent Institute's Perspectives Journal, she presents on issues spanning gender equity, environmental justice, and economic inclusion.
She regards access to justice for marginalized communities as fundamental to legal practice, and remains committed to strengthening community-centred approaches to law through interdisciplinary advocacy and systemic change.