Aurora Pinelli, a Graduate at the Commission on the Status on Women in New York

I am a law student driven by a passion for social impact and the use of law as a tool for positive change, with a strong interest in international law, transnational crime, transitional justice, and conflict mediation.

I worked for an NGO assisting victims of the Srebrenica genocide in Bosnia-Herzegovina (Post-Conflict Research Center), before integrating the criminal business law team of the international law firm Allen & Overy (now A&O Shearman). In 2024, I joined the Columbia Law School’s Human Rights Institute, where I worked for the Trial Watch Project of the Clooney Foundation for Justice. I am currently working part-time in the field of cross-border litigation, international criminal law, and sanctions for the law firm WJ Avocats.

I completed a bachelor's dual degree in European Social and Political Studies at both Sciences Po and University College London (UCL). At Sciences Po, I attended the Dijon campus, geographical minor European Union, Central and Eastern Europe Minor. The dual-degree program also required the study of another European language, so I continued learning both German and Spanish throughout my degree.

I then joined the Economic Law master's programme (French track) and pursued my second year in the Global Business Law and Governance programme, taught jointly by Columbia Law School, Sciences Po, and Université Paris-Sorbonne.

Legal Change was founded in 2022 in partnership with the international law firm Allen & Overy (now A&O Shearman), as part of the “excellence scholarship for equal opportunities” I was awarded to pursue my law studies at Sciences Po. The association is dedicated to addressing the structural barriers that women and individuals from diverse backgrounds face in accessing decision-making roles within the French legal field.

At the core of its mission is female empowerment and fostering leadership among those historically excluded from positions of influence. Additionally, the initiative fosters dialogue and awareness among those not directly affected by structural inequalities through practical workshops and conferences featuring renowned legal professionals with non-traditional backgrounds. In this way, we raise awareness about the intersection of diversity, professional success, and the challenges that come with breaking systemic barriers.

At the heart of Legal Change is the Legal Leadership Training Program, a series of practical workshops tailored to the real needs of law students, based on direct feedback and interviews. The program complements university coursework by cultivating soft skills and leadership abilities essential for career advancement in a highly competitive legal environment. Networking events, such as cocktails hosted by A&O Shearman, offer participants invaluable exposure to legal professionals and potential mentors, further enriching their development.

In August 2023, I was joined by my co-president, Doa Biddine, a Bachelor of Law graduate from Panthéon-Assas University, currently pursuing a Master’s in Economic Law at Sciences Po, and a former visiting student at Stanford Law School. Under her leadership, we have developed a new partnership with the NGOs Viens Voir Mon Taff and Ambition Campus, opening doors for 14-year-old students from priority education zones (REP+).

I am deeply grateful to the entire team—without them, none of this would have been possible: Ines Amarnath, Aluwua Amihere Agyabu, Doa Biddine, Chiara Busi, Anh-Dao Dang, Eleanor Holtzapple, Gaspard Nouind, Charlotte Pichon, Pauline Piketty, Matthieu Roubi, and Isabelle Tattevin.

My interest in gender equality is deeply rooted in my origins and personal experiences.

Sicily, my home, is an island in southern Italy often stigmatised due to the Questione Meridionale or Southern Problem. Since Italy’s unification in 1861, the region has faced persistent economic and social disparities, leading to widespread discrimination against Southern Italians. Growing up in this precarious context, I witnessed firsthand how women in the South face greater challenges than those in the North. For instance, while 7 out of 10 women are employed in Northern Italy, only 3 out of 10 are employed in the South. Gender inequality is also evident in reproductive rights: although Italian law allows medical professionals to refuse to perform abortions as conscientious objectors, the national average is 63.4%—but in Sicily, this figure rises to 85% among gynecologists, the highest in the country.

This environment profoundly shaped my identity as a woman and heightened my awareness of the intersectional challenges I faced as a Sicilian, as well as the patriarchal norms that shaped my upbringing.

During my studies at UCL, I deepened my understanding of gender issues through courses in philosophy and feminism, engaging with the works of leading feminist scholars such as Kimberlé Crenshaw, the founder of intersectionality, and Catharine MacKinnon, whose work was instrumental in shaping U.S. laws on sexual harassment and rape—particularly her analysis of consent in the context of social, economic, and gender-based inequalities.

My interest in conflict and gender studies also led me to investigate sexual violence as a weapon of war. At the Post-Conflict Research Center in Sarajevo, I conducted legal research on slave camps targeting Muslim women during the Bosnian War and connected with local communities, including survivors and children born of wartime rape. This experience provided me with firsthand insight into the long-term consequences of conflict-related sexual violence and the struggles faced by victims in their pursuit of justice and recognition. Notably, the Bosnian conflict was the first in which rape was recognised as a weapon of war under international law, and it was Catharine MacKinnon who represented Bosnian and Croatian women, pioneering the legal claim that rape could constitute an act of genocide.

Later, during my studies at Columbia Law School, I further explored sexual violence and forced marriage committed against the Rohingya community—victims of war crimes in Myanmar—thanks in part to the insights and testimony shared by my Rohingya friend and activist Maung Sawyeddollah.

This year, I was a delegate for the Centre of Excellence for Young Women’s Leadership Development, Fora Network for Change, at the CSW.

In 2022, Fora selected me as a delegate for the Fora Global Summit in Toronto, where I represented Italy alongside 29 delegates from 25 countries. Together, we drafted recommendations for CSW67 country representatives and other stakeholders to influence the discussions held each year at the UN headquarters. For example, in 2023, through Fora’s recommendations, I advocated for measures against gender-based cyber violence.

Since its inception, the CSW has brought together multilateral experts, representatives, and civil society members to set the pace and direction for the global movement toward gender equality. By building a Fora delegation for this year’s CSW, Fora aims to bring invaluable representation of young women so that we can contribute our insights and perspectives to the discussions. 

I was selected as a young leader to participate in roundtables and negotiations, aiming to review the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, and the 23rd special session of the General Assembly. This review process occurs every four to five years, and delegates from NGOs with ECOSOC accreditation contribute to what is known as the fourth level of review, referred to as the Global Review.

This year’s negotiations informed and resulted in two outcome documents: (1) the Political Declaration, reaffirming global commitment to the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action; and (2) the Multi-Year Programme of Work, which sets the themes for upcoming sessions. The Political Declaration was adopted on 10 March despite attempts by the United States to delay both the negotiations and its adoption.

The experience at CSW69 at the UN headquarters in New York has been incredibly rewarding and inspiring. As a young advocate, I found myself in the same room as diplomats, activists, legal experts, mediators, parliamentarians, ministers, and more—all united by a shared commitment to advancing gender equality. 

This experience allowed me to deepen my understanding of multilateral negotiations. Being in those spaces, able to participate, ask questions, and bring my own perspective to the table, offered a unique sense of empowerment. I felt that my voice was not only heard but genuinely valued, which made the experience all the more meaningful.

A standout moment was meeting Aurore Bergé, the French Minister for Gender Equality and the Fight Against Discriminations, and Vanessa Bousardo, Vice-Bâtonnière of the Paris Bar, during a high-level side event on Sexual and Gender-Based Cyberviolence. After the event, I had the opportunity to exchange perspectives with them and share the work we do at Legal Change, as well as my own experience of cyberviolence while organising a conference on conflict-related sexual violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Beyond the institutional engagements, one of the most meaningful aspects of CSW69 was connecting with young advocates and grassroots civil society members who are creating tangible change in their communities. Two individuals who particularly inspired me were Anthony Keedi, a psychologist and gender specialist from Lebanon working on the demilitarisation of masculine identities and the engagement of men in feminist peacebuilding at ABAAD: Resource Center for Gender Equality, and Sana Askari, my Afghan friend and fellow delegate. Sana founded Esheel Stitching Circle, a nonprofit that empowers Hazara Afghan women in Afghanistan and refugee settlements in Pakistan by providing them with gainful employment through traditional embroidery work. I feel deeply thankful for these encounters.

I was also honoured to speak as a panelist during a side event on Youth Leading Change in Sexual Consent Culture, organised by the Japanese division of BPW International and led by activists Momoko Yokoi and Misha Cade. During the event, I addressed the legal frameworks surrounding sexual consent and rape in Italy and France, and shared strategies to foster a culture of positive consent alongside Greek activist Ismini Drosoforidi.

Perhaps the most powerful takeaway has been the humanisation of positions of power. Meeting the individuals behind international policies and advocacy—their stories, motivations, and perspectives—makes institutions feel more accessible and reminds us that real change is people-driven. Collaboration across borders, sectors, and communities is not only possible but essential for progress.

Since the signing of the Beijing Declaration the world has seen unprecedented progress in addressing gender-based barriers and violence against young women in the many forms it exists around the world – from tackling female genital mutilation, child marriage and improving access to education to securing gender-responsive employment and social norms.

While all women are affected by gender inequalities, the challenges faced by young women today and in the future vary significantly depending on their geographic location and intersectional identity.

However, certain global trends can be identified:

• There’s a backlash against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), with funding cuts to grassroots organisations that support young women’s rights and leadership and shrinking civic space. Even countries traditionally seen as leaders in gender equality are not immune—for example, the Canadian government recently eliminated the position of Minister for Women and Gender Equality. A key solution lies in prioritising strategic investments to bridge the gaps for women who are furthest left behind. For instance, my fellow Peruvian delegate, Valerie Aguilar Dellisanti, is working at an investment firm that applies a sustainable investment framework to certain investments;
• Another major challenge is technology. While it offers opportunities for connection and empowerment, it also gives rise to new forms of harassment, including online abuse, cyberattacks, and the spread of non-consensual intimate content. The digital space often lacks adequate protections for young women. Therefore, international and national policies should classify digital abuse (doxxing, revenge porn, deepfake exploitation) as a form of gender-based violence and must incorporate legal recourse for victims. A co-delegate, Krushi Patel, is currently studying how AI governance frameworks influence global power structures and state responsibilities in the cyberspace;
• Limited access to quality education remains a persistent barrier, particularly in areas affected by conflict and poverty;
• Additionally, in the era of misinformation and fake news, it has become increasingly difficult for adolescent girls to access reliable, evidence-based information about sexual and reproductive health and rights and comprehensive sexuality education. Nongovernmental organisations like Care, Oxfam, and Plan International do essential work in meeting adolescent girls and young women where they are at to deliver culturally sensitive and life-saving sexual health and reproductive rights education, which at present does not have an adequate alternative;
• Young women are more vulnerable to climate-induced disasters, displacement, conflict and conflict related gender-based violence. Yet, young women are underrepresented in decision-making spaces and often lack opportunities to shape the policies that directly affect their lives, including climate resilience planning and peace negotiations. Given the escalating global conflicts, advancing the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agendas is critical. Research has shown that including women in peace processes leads to more durable agreements, and that youth participation enhances the effectiveness and sustainability of peace efforts—particularly when young women are empowered as leaders and negotiators. A powerful example of this in action is the initiative led by Women in International Security Italy (WIIS Italy), which supports Afghan women’s involvement in the stabilisation process through a task force and dialogue platform;
• I cannot overstate how essential it is to advance male allyship and ensure that men and boys are actively engaged in dismantling patriarchal structures and promoting gender equality. For example, Côte d'Ivoire has made significant progress in involving men in gender equality initiatives and was ranked as the top African country for gender equality in the OECD’s 2023 Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI)—even outperforming several European countries in this specific index.

Equality benefits everyone, and it’s something we can only build together.  

Yes, I definitely learned something about myself. I realised how my background in political science, combined with my legal education and experience in business law and NGO management, enhances my ability to approach the multifaceted issue of gender inequality in a concrete and pragmatic way. At the same time, I’ve found that I can remain empathetic and foster meaningful dialogue.

I am definitely still up for the challenge. Despite the global backlash against gender equality, I saw firsthand at CSW69 how many committed individuals are actively working to drive progress. Their energy and dedication motivate me to keep going and to contribute however I can.

In the future, I aspire to combine my legal career with meaningful social impact. My goal is to become an international human rights lawyer or peace negotiator, contributing to justice and conflict resolution on a global scale. I also hope Legal Change will continue to thrive at Sciences Po Law School, fostering legal innovation and social engagement.

Despite the uncertainty of our times, I remain hopeful that individuals at all levels of society will choose understanding and multilateralism over adversarial and conflict-driven approaches. I want to help foster this shift by bringing a cooperative and inclusive perspective to the table, reminding others of the shared value of empathy and dialogue in building a just and equitable society.