A Tauranga law student is looking to raise funds for the chance to give young women in Aotearoa a voice at a global women's conference in New York next month.

The Commission on the Status of Women 59th session is being held in the United Nations headquarters from March 6-20.

Kimberley Kilgour and son Dodj. Photo: Supplied.

And hoping to be among the attendees, one of two New Zealand Young Women's Christian Association representatives, is 22-year-old Kimberley Kilgour – but she needs to cover the $6500 travel costs first.

Studying towards a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Social Sciences, majoring in Political Science at the University of Waikato, Kimberley juggles her academic commitments with being a solo mother of seven-year-old son Dodj.

Speaking to SunLive, Kimberley says it would be of 'great mana” for both herself and her whanau if she was to reach the funding target and travel to the US, validating more than seven years of ambition, determination and hard work.

'The excitement I experienced when I learnt that I was selected to go is immeasurable,” she explains.

'This is not just because it is taking place in New York or because of my future career aspirations, but because I truly understand the significance of CSW15 and the potential impact it can have on women in Aotearoa.

'It is vital that a young women's perspective is heard. Young women of Aotearoa face difficulties on all fronts - we need to contend for a better future for those that follow, a future where violence against women diminishes and women are treated equally.

'That's what I intend to fight for.”

The conference will see various global representatives gather to discuss how far the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action has come since being set 20 years ago.

Back then, two global objectives were set: eliminating all forms of violence against women, and closure of the pay differentials gap between men and women and addressing ongoing workplace issues that women face.

Kimberley says she will be lobbying for the dignity and rights of women and girls given the increasing rate of violence against women in New Zealand, which shows these global objectives are yet to be fully achieved.

She hopes that as a result of the Commission on the Status of Women that a robust programme will be adopted for gender equality and empowerment as part of a wider national action plan for women and girls in New Zealand.

'I fought hard throughout my secondary and tertiary education despite challenging life circumstances that would have made it easier to walk away,” adds Kimberley. 'I don't want to walk away from this opportunity.”

'I intend to use this experience to inspire and engage other young women, particularly single mothers, to strive for their rights and to focus on developing their personal leadership potential.”

To help reach her goal, Kimberly has set up a Givealittle page. So far $647 has been raised.