By Bill Donohue
Monday, 22 September 2025 03:36 PM EDT
On Sept. 22, 2025, the United Nations is slated to hold a high-level meeting celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women. The event has drawn criticism for its perceived lack of alignment with global women’s challenges.
In 1995, the Catholic League was denied recognition as an NGO by the UN Representative on Accreditation, despite being listed in the “Official Catholic Directory.” Meanwhile, Catholics for Choice, a pro-abortion-rights group, secured NGO status. At the Fourth World Conference on Women, the Holy See delegation, led by Harvard law professor Mary Ann Glendon, opposed efforts to redefine family structures, including promoting cohabitation and LGBTQ+ relationships as equivalent to traditional families.
The latest controversy centers on Sima Bahous, executive director of UN Women and under-secretary-general of the United Nations, who will preside over the 30th-anniversary event. Critics highlight her leadership role despite Jordan’s poor record on women’s rights, where women face systemic discrimination in marriage and other areas.
The UN’s focus on abortion, contraception, and LGBTQ+ issues has been criticized as disconnected from the daily struggles of women worldwide. This approach is seen as reflecting Western secular priorities rather than addressing fundamental needs. Bahous faced scrutiny for delaying condemnation of the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, which resulted in the kidnapping, rape, and murder of Israeli women.
Critics argue that the UN’s agenda prioritizes ideological goals over genuine advocacy for women’s well-being, undermining the conference’s stated mission of gender equality.
