Topic 1 - Women and girl refugees undergoing humanitarian aid cuts

Shortly after the 2023 conflicts in the Middle East, an estimated 11,600 pregnant refugee women fled to Lebanon, around 4,000 of whom were expected to deliver. They needed urgent and individualized nutritional and health services, as well as intensified needs for safety, protection, and psychosocial support; however, as time went by, these services were no longer available. In March 2025, UN Women conducted a global survey to understand how these funding reductions are affecting local women-led groups in crisis settings. The survey reached 411 organizations across 44 countries. 90% of respondents said their operations were financially impacted, nearly half expect to shut down within six months, and most have already reduced staff or suspended key services. UN Women is calling on the international community to act and help allocate resources for these organizations to continue their service.

Topic 2 - Hashtags and Policies: Feminist Waves on Social Media

A few of the movements supported by UN Women in 2019 include #MeToo, #TimesUp, #NiUnaMenos, #HeforShe, #BringBackOurGirls, #EverydaySexism, #YesAllWomen, and #IWillGoOut, each of which worked toward the advancement of gender equality and brought greater awareness of the issues that women face, but have these movements created real change? Backlash and cancel culture have only grown wider since then. Misinformative outlets have taken advantage of this strategy to gain popular attention. More concerning is that countries with limited internet access, often where women suffer the most, have seen little to no benefit from these online efforts. How can UN Women help ensure that women in low-tech or no-tech nations are heard? Should their voices be shared through social media or through more professional organizations? Should these movements translate into legal reforms and societal shifts?