The 57th session of the UN’s Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), which opens next week, provides a unique opportunity for Governments to send a strong message that violence against women must end. Soroptimist International is urging that CSW must deliver a strong outcome document, which addresses the needs of gender-violence victims and works to prevent ongoing violence.
"Last year, CSW was a dismal failure because all countries walked away without reaching consensus and no agreed document was signed. We need to make sure that each and every Government official at CSW57 understands what is at stake here explains SI’s International Assistant Programme Director Anusha Santhirasthipam.
CSW is the main global policy-making body to promote gender equality and the advancement of women, an opportunity for Governments to identify challenges, set global standards and formulate concrete policies. This year’s primary focus is the elimination of violence against women and girls.
Soroptimist International has been keeping the pressure on Governments to deliver strong outcomes at CSW57, and will continue to lobby representatives in New York.A lobby letter sent to all Permanent Missions to the UN urges them to include specific recommendations at the session:
- prioritising education and empowement programmes, not just for victims/perpetrators but for all men, women and children as accountable members of society;
- ensuring that violence against women and girls is not labelled as ‘private’ and out of the hands of the State/and or community
- advocating both a top down appproach and a bottom up approach to tackling gender violence.
In New York, SI’s lead UN Representative Lois Beilin has attended CSW briefings held by Ambassador Kamara of Liberia, a large meeting held by UN Women on preventing and eliminating violence against women. Lois plays an active role in the NGO CSW committee, which has devoted several meetings to the preparation of CSW57.
40 delegates from SI clubs, federations and HQ are due to attend CSW in New York. Delegates will split up to cover many different sessions, sharing the experience gathered from SI projects on violence against women and girls worldwide, and learning about good practice from other organisations. Delegates will lobby SI’s key messages, network and build strategic alliances, distribute SI materials and keep a close eye on all the happenings over the two weeks.
SI has also organised 2 workshops in conjunction with our partners, World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts and World YWCA:
From Girl Child to Mature Woman: A Life-Course Approach to Gender Empowerment and a Violence-free Life (March 7, 10.30am-12pm, Salvation Army Auditorium, 221 E 52nd Street, NY)
An opportunity to examine and discuss evidence-based strategies to prevent violence at various stages of life, share good practice and hear real-life examples from around the world. Featuring a panel of women from around the world, including Pakistan, Moldova and New Zealand, with Soroptimist International, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts and the World YWCA.
STOP the Tide: Tackling Adolescent Dating Violence (March 5, 10.30am-12pm Church Centre, 10th Floor)
Up to one-third of teenagers experience abuse in dating relationships. This event will look at current trends and signals to look out for, as well as the effects of peer pressure. The use of technology and social media will be considered, both as a means to violate girls and as a tool to combat abuse. The session will include a panel of speakers, films, discussion and interactive activities. With speakers from Soroptimist International, the World Association of Girl Guides & Girl Scouts, Take Back the Tech and US Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons.