Thursday 10 March 2016

 

"Thousands of women are starting to gather already in New
York for the meetings which will be taking place ahead of this year’s
Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations which will start on Monday
14 March.  The gathering of
so many women every year, each with a personal and organisational story to
tell, ready to place their united strength behind the movement to protect and
enhance the rights of women and girls, is truly inspirational.

Preparations for these activities starts many months in
advance for everyone.  For Soroptimist
International Advocacy Manager, Francesca Williams this has meant producing and
submitting a Written Statement on the main theme of empowering women and girls. View document HERE  

This written statement becomes a part of the official UN
documentation for this important CSW60, so the voice of every Soroptimist is
heard by all member States (Governments).

The Commission also considers a review theme each year: this
year it is one which is especially close to the hearts of many Soroptimist
members – the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls in all its
forms.  Francesca has again been busy and
submitted an excellent Oral Statement which has been supported by 20
organisations.  View document HERE

Organisations which submit Oral Statements may be called on
to present these in the debating chamber of the Commission.  We have to wait to see if we are invited, but
very few organisations gain this honour each year, so we will be extremely
proud if International President Yvonne is called upon to deliver the
statement.

In New York, our SI UN representatives have been extremely
busy with preparations.  A huge schedule
of events presented by Non Governmental Organisations run alongside the main
sessions of the Commission and the High Level events in the United Nations
buildings. The organisation for this is
done by the NGO CSW New York Committee: Bette Levy, one of the SI representatives at the UN in New York is Vice
Chair of this Committee so has played a huge part in putting the programme for
NGOs together, including a daily advocacy training session sponsored by the
Swiss and Australian Governments.

 

Image: IDA Pat Black (far right) with Soroptimists at CSW59

In each country NGOs have been trying to influence their
Government delegates over a document known as Agreed Conclusions.  This is the outcome document which will be
agreed by the members of the Commission as the way forward for the future on
the specific theme for the year.  A zero
draft was issued by the Bureau (secretariat) early in February 2016.  As many NGOs as can submit to their
Governments suggestions for amending this document – only Governments can
submit possible amendments to the Commission facilitators.  The facilitator for the Commission has put
together a compilation document with all amendments proposed.  From today (11 March) onwards, countries will be talking
to each other about the wording of this document, to see where agreement can be
reached.

The SI Advocacy Manager, will be busy
following these discussions, letting the SI delegates know if there are
countries to be lobbied for changes Soroptimists would like to see.

SI delegates start to arrive in New York on Friday and will
be sending back information. Come back and visit this page, (remember to
refresh the page each time you visit) to keep up with all the
happenings in New York".