CSW69 Reflection: Lyn Oakley
Reflection 1: Why Gender Justice Matters
The last two years, I had the honor of serving as a UN delegate for the Commission on the Status of Women, a role that challenged, stretched, and ultimately deepened my understanding of what it means to be both a pastor and an advocate for justice. I arrived in New York prepared to engage in policy discussions, to listen, to learn—but I did not fully anticipate how profoundly I would be changed by the stories of the women I met.
At the heart of my experience was the realization that my pastoral calling was not just about speaking—it was about holding space. So many of the women I encountered carried with them experiences of injustice, of being overlooked, of having their voices dismissed. In hearing their stories, I was struck by a deep truth: justice begins in the sacred act of listening.
Micah 6:8 reminds us that we are called to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God. This verse became my framework as I engaged in this work. Doing justice—mishpat—meant stepping into spaces where power dynamics silence the most vulnerable and lifting up those voices. It meant recognizing that gender justice is not a separate issue from faith but is woven into the very fabric of our call to love our neighbor as ourselves.
One of the most powerful moments for me was during the many sessions where women from different parts of the world shared their stories of gender-based violence and economic oppression. As I listened, I realized that my role was not to offer quick fixes or theological platitudes but to create a space where these women could be heard, honored, and affirmed. In that moment, I understood hesed—steadfast love—not as a passive feeling but as an active commitment to remain present in the pain and the struggle.
There were several women I met, fellow delegates from different backgrounds, who spoke about how their very personhood had been questioned—that they had been treated as less than fully human, as chattel, as objects rather than individuals with dignity and worth. And yet, they stood before us, speaking with authority and grace. As they spoke, I felt the weight of anavah—walking humbly with God—because humility, in this case, meant stepping back so that others could step forward.
This experience has transformed how I see my own ministry. It has reminded me that justice is not just about systems and policies—it is about people. It is about bearing witness to pain and standing in solidarity with those who have been marginalized. It is about recognizing that God’s justice is not abstract but deeply personal.
As the church, we must recognize that gender justice is not an optional cause—it is at the heart of the Gospel. We are called to be people who do justice, who love fiercely, and who walk humbly. We are called to be a church that listens, that holds space, and that acts.
This is also the work of **shalom**—God’s deep and abiding peace. True shalom is not simply the absence of conflict but the presence of justice, wholeness, and flourishing for all people. If some are silenced, oppressed, or treated as less than fully human, then shalom remains incomplete. As God’s people, we cannot claim to seek peace while ignoring inequality. Gender justice is not separate from peace—it is essential to it. Only when all people are recognized as bearing the image of God, with full dignity and worth, can we truly live into God’s vision of peace.
So, I invite you into this work of transformation. I invite you to reflect deeply, to ask the hard questions, and to step forward with courage. How will we respond? How will we, as people of faith, create spaces where all voices are heard and valued? The work of justice—the work of the Gospel—continues in us, through us, and beyond us. Let us step into it together.
Reflection 2 The Beijing Platform for Action—30 Years of Progress
This year marked the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action, one of the most comprehensive blueprints for advancing gender justice worldwide. Adopted in 1995 at the Fourth World Conference on Women, this landmark document laid out twelve critical areas of concern, addressing issues such as poverty, education, health, violence against women, economic participation, and political representation. It was a bold, transformative vision for a world in which women and girls have equal rights, opportunities, and protections.
As I participated in discussions at the 69th Commission on the Status of Women, the legacy of the Beijing Platform was evident in every conversation. Women from around the world reflected on the progress made—more girls in school, greater legal protections against violence, and increased representation in leadership—but also on the persistent challenges that remain. Economic disparity, gender-based violence, and barriers to healthcare continue to disproportionately affect women and girls, particularly in marginalized communities.
The Beijing Platform for Action reminds us that gender justice is not a finished project—it is an ongoing commitment. As people of faith, we are called to persist in this work, advocating for policies that uphold human dignity and ensuring that our churches and communities are places of equity and inclusion.
This commitment is deeply biblical. In Galatians 3:28, Paul reminds us, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” This passage affirms that our faith calls us to dismantle systems of inequality and affirm the full humanity of every person. Justice is not an abstract ideal—it is the embodiment of God’s kingdom on earth.
Yet, even within faith communities, we must ask hard questions: Are we truly lifting up the voices of women and girls? Are we advocating for those who have been silenced? Are we ensuring that our ministries reflect the justice and equity Christ proclaimed?
The 30th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action is not just a milestone; it is a call to renewed action. We must continue to push for policies that promote gender equality, support women in leadership, and challenge the structures that perpetuate injustice.
What does it mean for us to carry this work forward? How can we embody the commitments of Beijing in our daily lives, in our congregations, and in our advocacy? In the coming weeks, I will share more stories and reflections from this ongoing journey toward justice.
May we be a people who seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8).
Reflection 3: The Voices of Afghan Women—Stories That Must Be Heard
One of the most powerful and heartbreaking experiences I had during the 69th Commission on the Status of Women was attending four different delegations with Afghan women. I was drawn to them, having listened to their testimonies the previous year, and I knew that their stories needed to be heard.
Each session brought new layers of urgency, grief, and resilience. The first session I attended was with a group of exiled Afghan women journalists. Their voices trembled with passion and exhaustion as they pleaded for the world to pay attention. They spoke of how the Taliban has seized control of all media in Afghanistan, turning news outlets into instruments of propaganda. Truth itself is under siege. Real news—stories that reflect the brutal reality of life for women and girls—can no longer be told from within the country. These journalists, forced into exile, now fight from the outside, struggling to ensure that the world does not forget those left behind.
Through their words, I heard echoes of the psalmist’s lament: “How long, O Lord? How long will injustice prevail? How long will the world turn a blind eye?” The women spoke of how gender apartheid has been systematically enacted—women have been erased from society. They are no longer allowed in schools, in workplaces, in public life. They are prisoners in their own homes. And yet, the world moves on.
God calls us to hear the cries of the marginalized, to listen and to respond. The prophets remind us that justice is not passive; it requires action. As I sat in these sessions, I realized that listening itself is an act of resistance. When systems of oppression seek to silence voices, amplifying those voices becomes a sacred duty.
One journalist shared how she continues to tell stories, despite the risk. “If the world forgets us, then we will truly disappear,” she said. Her words cut deep. Storytelling shapes the narrative of history, and right now, the stories being told about Afghanistan do not fully reflect the human rights abuses happening to women and girls. The Taliban wants the world to believe that things are stable, that governance has been restored. But stability built on the erasure of half the population is not peace—it is oppression.
As people of faith, we must ask: What does it mean to bear witness? To whom are we listening? How do we ensure that the stories of the oppressed are not just heard, but acted upon?
I left these sessions with a heavy heart, but also with a renewed sense of responsibility. The women I met are not giving up. Neither can we. Justice demands our attention, our advocacy, and our prayers. In the coming weeks, I will share more about what we can do to stand in solidarity with Afghan women, but for now, I ask this: Will we listen? Will we amplify? Will we refuse to let their stories be erased?
This is the call of the Gospel—to hear, to stand, and to act. May we be faithful to that call.
