b'advocacyNew YorkCommission on the Status of WomenOur bags were packed, and we were ready toagainst women, human rights of women, go, but just days before the UN Commission oneducation and training of women, institution-al the Status of Women (CSW) was to begin, it wasmechanisms for the advancement of women, cancelled due to COVID-19. Our lives were putwomen and health, women and the media, and on hold, and we have still not recovered. Thewomen and armed conflict. UN worked to transition to a virtual format and many meetings were postponed until 2021.Is the beijing platform for action The UN CSW convened the 64th session for a procedural meeting. Beyond the openingrelevant today?statements, the meeting allowed for the adoption of the Political Declaration. Member States also had the opportunity to deliver25 years after its adoption, global leaders position statements on the Political Declaration.recognised that progress made falls far short of Negotiations on the Multi-Year Program ofwhat States committed themselves to in 1995. Work were completed, and the document wasDuring 2020 our UN Representatives and the adopted on Friday, March 13, 2020. In the PoliticalSI Advisors to Advocacy wrote a series of blogs Declaration, Member States reaffirmed their willabout the 12 areas of the Beijing Platform that for action.can be found on the Soroptimist website. Our team of UN representatives in New York during Our UN representatives followed the2020 were Bette Levy (Center Contact), Frances development of the Political Declaration andZainoeddin, Barbara Rochman, Vanesa Treers, worked with other NGOs to suggest inputs toMaria Fornella, Jacqueline Shapiro, and Marie this document. Additionally, we participated inDAmato Rizzi, who completed her service as a virtual meetings, submitted a written statementUN Representative in the April of 2020.for CSW64 and participated in the Feminist Movement Action Plan. Beijing Platform for Action2020 was the 25th Anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action, the most progressive blueprint ever for advancing womens rights and is a comprehensive guide to under-standing and combatting the key barriers to gender equality. The document identifies 12 critical areas of concern: women and the environment, women in power and decision-making, the girl child, women and the economy, women and poverty, violence against women, human soroptimistinternational.org 14'