The sixty-third session of the Commission on the Status of Women will take place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 11 to 22 March 2019.
The Priority theme is Social protection systems, access to public services and sustainable infrastructure for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. The Review theme is Women’s empowerment and the link to sustainable development (agreed conclusions of the sixtieth session).
Soroptimist International and Associated Country Women of the World have released a joint statement for CSW63, Social Protection for Women and Girls; Sustainability Through Education, which can be viewed in full here.
It is vital that we redouble efforts to support the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through programmes to educate, enable and empower women and girls at grassroots level, by advocating on behalf of women and girls with multiple disadvantage, to ensure that legislation, policies and actions are in place ensuring that none of them are left behind. One of the most powerful elements of the Sustainable Development Goals is that they interconnect. Simply put, we cannot achieve one Goal without invoking assistance from the others. SDGs 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality) form a fundamental social protection platform from which all SDG goals can assist women and girls around the world to move forward sustainably, progressing their status from the most vulnerable and poorest sectors of societies, to playing their rightful part in their communities.
Social protection is seen as an investment in people and thus in long-term social and economic development. Nationally appropriate social protection systems and floors make a critical contribution to meeting the Sustainable Development Goals aimed at poverty eradication and exerting a positive impact on economic growth, social cohesion and social development. They have an essential role to play in building resilient and environmentally friendly societies, supporting removal of inequalities emphasised by gender.
For decades, Member States have been entering into agreements and adopting resolutions which provide for many forms of social protection for women and girls. However, for many women and girls personal and family safety, access to education, economic security, food security, safe shelter and a healthy life are a long way from being achieved. It is no longer acceptable that action has not been taken or is implemented slowly. In order to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda, Governments must immediately act on the promises given so that no one is left behind.
Soroptimist International strongly urges Member States to implement all previously agreed resolutions which provide the social protection floors to enable women and girls to move out of poverty and vulnerability to leading well educated and dignified lives as contributing members of their communities.
Soroptimist International and Associated Country Women of the World have released this joint statement with the support of:
Widows for Peace through Democracy
World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
Please click here to view the positions of other NGOs.