CATHII – University at the UN: Solid Preparation Before the New York Experience

24 university students are participating in the 6th edition of the CATHII—University at the UN program and the highlight will be attending the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) being held in New York from March 9 to 13, 2026.

Established in 2020 by the Committee for Action Against Internal and International Human Trafficking (CATHII), the program is built around a series of six preparatory sessions. Its goal is to provide students with a deeper understanding of the many forms of human trafficking while introducing them to the workings of the United Nations system.

Rigorous and Interdisciplinary Preparation

Participation in the CSW requires careful preparation. Prior to traveling to New York, students take part in a structured training program that reflects the diversity of their academic fields—social work, law, political science, criminology, geography, and others.

Alongside Professor Jill Hanley, who has been involved since the program’s inception, several specialized partners enrich the discussions, including the Concertation des luttes contre l’exploitation sexuelle (CLES) and the Quebec Coalition Against Human Trafficking. Their contributions help participants analyze contemporary dynamics of human trafficking, including forced labour and migrant labour, thus to recognize warning signs, and better understand the systemic dimensions of these issues.

Renaude Grégoire also provides essential insights by explaining the decision-making processes within the United Nations and the role of its commissions, offering participants key reference points for navigating the UN environment.

An Experience Enriched On Site … and Online

This year, Sofia-Elena Ranke-Farro, a former participant, serves as the program coordinator—an example of the next generation nurtured by CATHII. She will accompany fifteen of the twenty-four students to New York.

She has also enhanced the program by organizing two special meetings alongside the CSW parallel events.

One meeting will address migration and human trafficking along the North—South border. The second will introduce participants to the work of CAP International (Coalition Abolition Prostitution) with its Executive Director, Hema Sibi. This organization brings together 37 grassroots and survivor-led organizations from 29 countries, united in their goal of abolishing the prostitution system.

The students who will not be travelling to New York will be able to participate through a virtual meeting, allowing them to follow the work of the Commission and share with the program’s coordinators. This approach helps maintain group cohesion while maximizing the program’s educational benefits.

As in previous years, a spring debriefing session will allow all participants to share their insights, reflections, and discoveries, further strengthening their learning experience.

CSW70: A Theme at the Heart of Today’s Challenges

The 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, held at the United Nations headquarters from March 9 to 19, 2026, focuses on a major theme:

Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, particularly through inclusive legal systems, the elimination of discriminatory laws, and the reduction of structural barriers.

By carefully preparing students for this international immersion, the CATHII—University at the UN program helps form a new generation that is informed, engaged, and equipped to act against the many forms of human trafficking while promoting human dignity and justice.