CSW70 Youth Event Recap: Language, Power, and Telling Your Own Story

On March 10, 2026, young leaders from around the world gathered at UN Women Headquarters for the CSW70 UN Language Lab, a focused session designed to equip emerging feminists with the tools to better navigate the language of global policy and advocacy.

Held as part of the broader Commission on the Status of Women 70th Session, the event brought together 60 participants between the ages of 18 and 30 for an immersive experience centered on understanding how language shapes power within international systems.

Understanding the Language of Change

The Language Lab provided practical guidance on how UN resolutions, declarations, and policy frameworks are written, interpreted, and negotiated. Participants explored the nuances of advocacy messaging, learning how specific wording can influence outcomes, build consensus, or shift the direction of policy conversations.

Beyond technical knowledge, the session emphasized confidence: empowering young feminists to actively participate in negotiations and to claim space within traditionally complex and institutional environments.

Technology as a Tool for Self Representation

Among the voices contributing to the conversation was Andrea Deković, who introduced a complementary perspective on storytelling in the digital age.

Her intervention focused on the importance of understanding emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, not just as tools of efficiency but as instruments of narrative control. She highlighted how learning to work with AI enables individuals to shape and distribute their own stories, rather than relying on external systems to define them.

Andrea emphasized that in a world increasingly mediated by algorithms and digital platforms, technological literacy becomes a form of empowerment. For young feminists, this means not only engaging in policy spaces like the United Nations, but also building parallel channels where their voices can exist freely and authentically.

Bridging Policy and Personal Narrative

What made this session particularly impactful was the intersection between institutional knowledge and personal agency. While the Language Lab focused on decoding formal systems, conversations like Andrea’s expanded that framework, connecting policy language with the evolving tools of digital expression.

Participants left with a deeper understanding of both how to navigate existing power structures and how to create new ones.

A New Generation of Advocates

The CSW70 Youth Language Lab reflected a broader shift in global advocacy: one where young people are not only included, but actively shaping the conversation.

By combining policy literacy, negotiation skills, and technological awareness, the session reinforced a simple but powerful idea:to influence the future, you must understand the language that defines it and have the tools to tell your own story.