Antonia Varela Participates in the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70)

Antonia Varela, Director of the Starlight Foundation, is participating in the 70th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), taking place from March 9 to 20 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Varela attends as part of the Spanish delegation at this international gathering, widely regarded as the world’s most important forum dedicated to advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment.

The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is the United Nations’ principal intergovernmental body responsible for promoting women’s rights and establishing international standards aimed at achieving gender equality worldwide. Each year, it brings together representatives of governments, international organizations, civil society groups, and experts to assess progress, examine ongoing challenges, and promote actions that support a more equitable society.

The 70th session places particular emphasis on strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, as well as removing structural barriers that continue to limit equal opportunities in many parts of the world. Throughout the session, the United Nations Headquarters hosts plenary meetings, panel discussions, and side events where public policies, experiences, and best practices related to gender equality are analyzed and shared.

Antonia Varela’s participation in this global forum brings the experience of the Starlight Foundation to the international discussion, particularly in areas such as science education, sky culture, and sustainable development linked to astrotourism. Through its initiatives and programs, the Foundation promotes access to the night sky as an educational, cultural, and tourism resource capable of generating opportunities in rural territories around the world.

In this context, astrotourism has also emerged as a tool for local development with a growing female leadership. In many regions—especially rural areas or communities with limited economic opportunities—women are leading initiatives in astronomical outreach, night-sky guiding, educational programs, and tourism experiences centered on the interpretation of the sky.

For years, the Starlight Foundation has worked to strengthen this social dimension of stargazing tourism by encouraging the training, participation, and leadership of women in activities related to astronomical observation, science communication, and the management of astrotourism experiences. These initiatives not only contribute to the protection of the night sky as a natural and cultural heritage, but also create new economic and educational opportunities for local communities.

The presence of the Starlight Foundation at CSW70 reinforces its commitment to promoting scientific culture as a tool for inclusive development, aligned with the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development—particularly those related to gender equality, quality education, and sustainable community development.

Participation in this international forum also provides an opportunity to exchange experiences with representatives of institutions, multilateral organizations, and groups from around the world, while continuing to promote the night sky as an educational, cultural, and tourism resource capable of inspiring new generations of women and girls interested in science, astronomy, and the exploration of the universe.

https://www.unwomen.org/en/how-we-work/commission-on-the-status-of-women/csw70-2026