I’m Dr Michalina Drejza, Chair of the RCOG Global Health Trainees’ Committee, NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow and ST4 in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. In March 2025, I had the honour of participating in the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists’ first official delegation to the 69th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) in New York, led by Professor Hassan Shehata, Senior and Global Health Vice President, and Sarah Hall, Director of the Centre for Women’s Global Health at the RCOG. As both a clinician and a trainee representative, it was a unique opportunity to bring the voice of UK obstetrics and gynaecology to a critical international forum.
CSW: A platform for global dialogue
The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is the principal global intergovernmental body dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. Every year, governments, UN agencies, and civil society organisations gather at the UN Headquarters to shape global standards and review progress. This year’s session marked the 30th anniversary of the landmark Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, making it a particularly significant moment in the ongoing struggle for gender equality.
For the RCOG, attending CSW69 as an official delegation under its NGO consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) was a milestone. It was not only a chance to amplify our clinical voice but to engage meaningfully with the global women’s health and rights community, forging new partnerships and contributing to high-level conversations on issues we confront daily in our clinics.
Global setbacks demand collective action
The importance of this work cannot be overstated. The world is experiencing a troubling rollback in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Despite the decades of evidence linking SRHR to improved health, education, and economic outcomes for women and girls, we are witnessing increasing politicisation and restriction of these rights globally.
This context framed many of the discussions at CSW69. A major disappointment was the omission of explicit SRHR language from the Political Declaration adopted by Member States. While the declaration included welcome commitments on adolescent girls, universal health coverage, and care work, the failure to affirm SRHR marked a serious gap. As obstetricians and gynaecologists, we know that access to contraception, safe abortion, maternal health services, and respectful maternity care are not optional – they are essential. The absence of SRHR from the declaration serves as a stark reminder that these rights can never be taken for granted.
The role of trainees in global health advocacy
For me, the experience of attending CSW69 reaffirmed the idea that we must think globally and act locally. It is imperative that we, as trainees, understand the global forces shaping national health systems and clinical practice. Decisions made in international forums have real-world consequences for the patients we see every day. From access to abortion to the medicalisation of female genital mutilation (FGM), global policies and funding priorities influence everything from service delivery to clinical training.
Our role as trainees is not limited to the clinical setting. We must also be advocates – for evidence-based care, for human rights, and for the health and dignity of our patients. This includes speaking out on under-prioritised issues such as gynaecological health, which remains neglected in global health discussions. RCOG’s new global position statement on gynaecological health, launched during CSW69, highlights this gap. Conditions such as menstrual disorders, endometriosis, pelvic pain, and fibroids cause immense suffering and disability, yet are often sidelined in policy agendas. Addressing this requires sustained advocacy, rigorous research, and the elevation of gynaecological health to the same level of priority as maternal and reproductive health.
Building networks, strengthening voices
During our time in New York, the RCOG delegation engaged with key partners including UN agencies, civil society organisations, and global SRHR leaders. We attended over 20 side and parallel events, deepening relationships with institutions like the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the World Health Organization (WHO), and civil society groups such as Equality Now and ARROW. These engagements have already led to new commitments to collaborate on efforts to end FGM in Asia and to develop joint advocacy initiatives.
Being present in these spaces allowed us to share the clinical perspective on issues such as safe abortion, adolescent health, and the impact of discriminatory laws on women's health. It also created a space for learning – about advocacy strategies, global health diplomacy, and how to effectively frame clinical issues for a policy audience. As trainees, we were not simply observers; we were contributors. This experience helped build the skills and confidence needed to advocate in both domestic and international forums.
Looking ahead
I am deeply grateful to the RCOG for investing in trainee engagement in global health. Supporting trainee participation in international events like CSW69 signals a commitment to developing the next generation of leaders in women’s health – leaders who understand the interconnectedness of clinical practice, policy, and human rights.
To my fellow trainees, I urge you to see yourselves not just as clinicians, but as global health advocates. Every patient you treat, every barrier you help dismantle, and every voice you amplify contributes to the broader movement for equity and justice in health. Whether through joining a global health committee, contributing to advocacy campaigns, or simply becoming more informed about global debates, your engagement matters.
I warmly encourage you to get involved in the work of the RCOG Global Health Trainees’ Committee — a growing community of like-minded trainees committed to championing women’s health at local and global levels. The future of our specialty depends on our ability to lead – not only in surgery and obstetrics, but in standing up for the rights and needs of women and girls around the world. CSW69 was a powerful reminder that our voices, when raised together, can shape policy and change lives. Let us keep that momentum going. The world needs doctors who can push for better laws, funding, and understanding of women’s health everywhere.