The SI delegation at the Commission for the Status of Women (CSW) in New York will be posting regularly to the SoroptiVoice blog from 4-15 March. Here is the first report, from Hilary Ratcliffe, SI Programme Director. See the latest photos and updates from CSW at www.soroptimistinternational.org/CSW57.

New York New York and CSW is underway. A few flakes of
snow when we arrived but Sunday was sunny and bright. The NGO consultation
day was held at the Armenian church centre within walking distance so an
excited queue formed up early morning to get in – we had been warned
that seating was limited.

The opening was by a group or young women who gave a compelling drama about trafficking and
exploitation of young women. A thoughtful start to our day.

Michelle Bachelet, the head of UN Women welcomed us all and declared the time for action is now.She said that over 6000 women had registered
for CSW and that our support was essential to drive forward the
agenda.She ended her address with the call that Together, we can make this
the century of inclusion.

So that is the challenge as CSW starts today. Our delegation is primed, our
"asks" prepared and the networking, lobbying and information gathering
begins.A determined group of Soroptimist women set to try and make a difference.

One of the speakers, Bineta Diop, at the consultation day
told us a story: "There was a tiny bird in the forest. A forest fire broke
out and all the animals were fleeing.The little humming bird filled her
beak with water and flew around using the water to try and putout the
fire. She was asked ‘What are you doing? You can’t possibly put out the
fire’. She replied ‘Iam doing the best that I can’".

Image: Hilary preparing information packs.