Joyce Brummelman (Plan International) is our new NGO representative to the CSW

05-01-2026
The Netherlands has aleady for many years now included at least one representative from civil society in its official delegation to the UN Women's Summit: the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). WO=MEN facilitates the selection process and supports the representative before, during, and after the CSW. We are delighted to welcome and congratulate Joyce Brummelman from Plan International into this wonderful role in 2026!

Joyce Brummelman is a passionate Advocacy Advisor and legal professional with extensive experience in the field of girls' rights and access to justice for children. With a master's degree in law (private law practice) and research into access to justice for minors, she combines legal expertise with gender justice.
 
She has been working at Plan International since 2019, where she contributes to achieving equal rights and opportunities for girls and young women, with a strong focus on international advocacy. As coordinator of the She Leads Global Advocacy Network, Joyce has worked to promote the meaningful participation of youth-led organizations and young advocates from countries including Jordan, Lebanon, Sierra Leone, Mali, Liberia, Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda in international processes, such as at the United Nations Human Rights Council, CSW, and High Level Political Forum (on the SDGs), and the African Union. She has also been actively involved in the CSW process for many years, including in the Netherlands.
 
"As an NGO representative at the UN Commission on the Status of Women, I will contribute by linking legal expertise to the lived experiences of girls and young women, in the Netherlands and internationally.” 
 
Joyce enjoys developing effective advocacy strategies based on legal analysis, research, and practical experience. She has broad knowledge of human rights and development cooperation and proven expertise in lobbying, advocacy, and accountability. Her strengths include her positive energy, creative thinking and building lasting relationships with colleagues, policymakers, stakeholders, and young women and girls worldwide.
 
Joyce emphasizes the importance of access to decision-making platforms, information about rights, and protection against rights violations. At the same time, she draws attention to the courageous and often invisible ways in which girls and women worldwide challenge gender norms, despite the risks of doing so.
 
"I will draw attention to structural barriers to access to justice, including harmful practices, gender norms, and power imbalances within relationships and institutions. In doing so, I am committed to meaningful participation in UN processes and to strengthening access to information, protection, and decision-making platforms as essential conditions for gender equality and justice.”