Press release: 22 June 2011
Leadership poised to ensure an open, democratic forum
for women’s voices at the UN
June
17, 2011 – New York, NY – The NGO Committee on the
Status of Women, NY (NGO/CSW/NY), one of three women’s committees of CoNGO that advocates for women’s
rights and gender equality, today announced the appointment of new Executive
Committee members.
At the helm of the NGO/CSW/NY is new Chair,
Soon-Young Yoon (former Vice-Chair). Ms. Yoon is the UN representative for the
International Alliance of Women and works as a consultant for the World Health
Organization. She was one of the organizers of the NGO Forum during the UN
Fourth World Conference on Women. Ms. Yoon currently serves as a board member
of the Global Advisory Council at the Harvard AIDS Initiative and of
the International Foundation for Ewha Womans University. She holds a Ph.D. in
anthropology from the University of Michigan.
“All issues are women’s issues,” said Ms. Yoon.
“We are the committee that makes it possible for the international women’s
movement to meet at the UN every year, renewing its inspiration and energy. I
look forward to helping this organization weave the world’s women together.”
Joining Ms. Yoon are Susan O’Malley (Vice
Chair), International
Federation of Business and Professional Women; Mary Ann Tarantula, Zonta
International (Recording Secretary); Madeleine Brecher, International Council
of Jewish Women (Communications Secretary); and Lois Beilin, Soroptimist
International (Treasurer).
About
the Committee on the Status of Women, NY
The NGO Committee on the Status of Women,
NY (NGO/CSW/NY) is one of three women’s committees of the Conference of NGOs in
Consultative Relationship with the UN (CoNGO). Under CoNGO’s umbrella, the
NGO/CSW committees helped plan the NGO Forums at the UN World conferences in
Mexico, Copenhagen, Nairobi and Beijing. By playing an active role at the UN,
the NGO/CSW/NY advocates for implementation of the Nairobi Forward Looking
Strategies, Beijing Platform for Action, UN Security Resolution 1325 (among
others), the Millennium Development Goals and the Convention on the Elimination
of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). The NGO/CSW/NY organizes
the NGO Consultation Day in preparation for the UN Commission on the Status of
Women (CSW) meetings. It also works in partnership with other CoNGO committees
to inform the UN and UN Women on a wide range of issues including violence
against women, women’s health, migrant and refugee women, indigenous people’s
rights, and the environment. The NGO/CSW/NY represents approximately 80
organizations and is a volunteer-based, non-profit NGO funded largely by
individual contributions.
Soroptimist International is delighted to learn of Lois Beilin’s appointment. We have every confidence in her ability and wish her success in her new role.