CSW65 Reports
Commission on the Status of Women 65th Session
GWI Reports
Reporting is critical to the legacy of CSW65 and future advocacy work! All GWI representatives to CSW65 are encouraged to submit reports of sessions attended. A thematic summary of reports can be found HERE. This comprehensive summary is available worldwide with Calls to Action for governments, public and private sectors, educational institutions, and other NGOs stemming from CSW65.
Your reports are important! This year we will offer an easy-to-complete report template.
HallySiddons
Mrs.Siddons Canada Listening to Women and Girls on the Frontlines Women Founders Collective The girl child, Women and the economy, Human rights of women, Education and training of women, Violence against women, Women and poverty SDG 1 – No Poverty, SDG 2 – Zero Hunger, SDG3 – Good Health and Well-Being, SDG4 – Quality Education, SDG5 – Gender Equality, SDG 10 – Reduced Inequality Harassment (2016), Human Rights for Refugee and Refugee Women and Children (2019), Sexual Harassment in Workplace (2019) It does not really but raised awareness. This event shared stories of NGO leaders and their work with adolescent girls and young women concerning the impact of COVID on their work and how the pandemic had effected their lives. Sadly the speaker from Nigeria was not able to connect electronically but the stories from India were fascinating and no doubt were repeated in many other areas of the world. Issues included education, health, early marriage, gender-based violence and their future. In India 112 million jobs were lost and millions of migrant workers came home as a result of COVID. It lead to increased poverty, violence, lack of education, pressure for marriage and fear of self-infliction. Yet despite all there were stories where young women coped and came up with some creative activities to fill a gap or solve a problem – like the making of maskings or creating pumps for water and soap so that taps would not have to be handled. The pandemic led to the loss of safe jobs for many girls. Many lost their fathers and were not ready for the market or migration so were in dire straights. Parents married many off. Young girls are the most vulnerable. They are the natural care givers and so education was not a priority in the family for them when schools were closed. Fortunate to have only one device in a home, it went to the brothers and older family for on-line learning or work. Without much formal education or training, young adolescents had trouble getting work. Education is needed to get good work. It is the most important method by which to become empowered yet it has been threatened and in many cases stopped because of COVID. Yet resilience is seen among some. If only one device is available young girls will find a way to share. With very few jobs available there is much competition. Basic training is essential to give a young girl confidence and negotiating skills in a tight market. Legal literacy is important too and comes with basic training. Funding is needed for such and flexible funding as conditions vary so. There need to be initiatives to create new jobs. Meanwhile 95% of young girls are in the informal sector and jobs if available are not secure. The market has its own rules and one has to negotiate. Without capital they have only their bodies. COVID has pushed some adolescent girls back a century. Some are hopeful and say they will migrate. They need tools to survive. The session raised awareness on the local level of how dire the current situation is for some adolescent girls. More watching and reading to see opportunities...
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Mrs.Siddons Canada Women and Corruption, March 19 11:30 – 1:00 GWI, WUNRN, NGO CSW Geneva Women and the environment, Women in power and decision-making, The girl child, Women and the economy, Human rights of women, Violence against women, Institutional mechanisms, Women and armed conflict, Women and the media SDG 1 – No Poverty, SDG 2 – Zero Hunger, SDG3 – Good Health and Well-Being, SDG4 – Quality Education, SDG8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 10 – Reduced Inequality, SDG16 – Peace and Justice Strong Institutions, SDG17 – Partnerships to achieve the Goal Bullying (2016), Harassment (2016), Tolerance of Minority Groups (2016) This session introduced me to an area I know little about. I am not aware of advocacy on such. This was a very organised session with highly respected and informed presenters. My notes do not do justice to them but I was particularly impressed with the comments by Monica Kirya. As a retired teacher and always interested in education I found her presentation fascinating. I had never really thought about corruption in the education sector before but see now how widespread it can be and how it effects the quality of education, especially for women and girls. SDG4 in light of COVID is tragic and that was before we took corruption into account! In many countries schools are underfunded. The share size of the sector makes it susceptible to corruption from the location of the buildings to the procurement of textbooks, equipment and meals and licensing and accreditation. I can understand how all can lead to devastating outcomes. Corruption related to admissions and examinations is universal. I had not considered it in teacher management but understand now how this can be so in staffing, especially in rural schools in some countries. I was aware of the issues of ghost teachers and absenteeism in Afghanistan but am sure they are more widespread that we would like to think in other parts of the world. It is only natural then to think of the same issue with tutoring. Tragically both female teachers and students are effected by further corruption in the way of sex for grades and the statistics in Uganda and Botswana were alarming. In concluding corruption permeated many aspects of education and girls were certainly more effected than boys. The next area discussed was also fascinating corruption and organised crime. I could not help but think of the courage involved as this topic was discussed – a women of a survivor to call for justice, a women because of her cultural role placed to advocate, a woman working outside her traditional power structure. It was difficult to think too of how she might approach resilience. Equally upsetting was the further thought of how corruption can effect investment in infrastructure in marginalised areas of the world and its repercussion then on girl's education. Depressing too was the largely unreported mention of sextortion. This session raised awareness about a little known topic for me. It will be interesting to know if any NFAs are advocating in the area. Corruption effects some more than others but in end it effects us all. It appears that a high level commitment is needed on a global...
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Mrs.Siddons Canada International Support for Afghan Women's Rights: Protecting & Promoting the Rights of Afghan Women . Friday, March 19, 9:00 – 10:30 Georgetown Institute for Women Peace and Security, Permanent Missions of Afghanistan, UK, US on behalf of the Group of friends of Women in Afghanistan Women in power and decision-making, Human rights of women, Violence against women, Women and armed conflict SDG 10 – Reduced Inequality, SDG16 – Peace and Justice Strong Institutions Bullying (2016), Harassment (2016), Building Peace through Women’s Education (2019) This session related closely to the current advocacy work of our local CFUW-Ottawa group, University Women Helping Afghan Women, to recent national CFUW actions, and to the current GWI NFA2NFA partnership project of CFUW with GWI-NL. It was a powerful session calling on the international community to support the protection and promotion of women's rights in Afghanistan and encourage their safe, equal, and meaningful participation throughout the peace process and beyond. This unique opportunity brought together UN Member states and Afghan civil society leaders to discuss how the international community can work jointly with women in Afghanistan to effectively support their safe and meaningful participation in the peace process, to protect their rights as guaranteed in their constitution, and to decrease the targeted killings. Prominent speakers included the Permanent Representative of the UK to the UN, the Acting ECOSOC Ambassador of the US to the UN, H.E. Rula Ghani, the Countess of Wessex, and several senior UN officials as well as many members of the Group of Friends of Women in Afghanistan. It was unanimously agreed the we must work to ensure more is done to protect women’s rights in Afghanistan and they gains they have made. We can work with women peacebuilders and partner with such groups as Cordaid. We must call for a ceasefire and condemn targeted killings. We must require women’s leadership at all levels. Peace means the absence of war and freedom from all forms of violence. The status of women is the status of democracy. Afghan women are capable of speaking for themselves and indeed for the whole nation. Estonia and Norway share the Security Council focal point for Afghanistan. We must create more space for Afghan women negotiators. Afghan women have made huge strides. For so many years they were in the shadows. The peace process falls to the community level. We need to ensure protection for the women who put themselves on the front line. We have a duty to listen to them and help them. We must continue to ask them what they need and continue to support the process. We need to be open-minded and agile. The Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs at the UN called on the UN for greater engagement in Afghanistan. The UN has been on the ground in Afghanistan since 1949. Today the Head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, Deborah Lyons is very much involved, and recently the UN condemned the targeted attacks in Afghanistan and also appointed a Special Envoy to the country. He will confer with regional countries to provide a suitable environment for the negotiations and also facilitate discussion with female religious scholars. H.E. DiCarlo too is calling for more women to participate in Doha. (I could not do this session justice in the limited...
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Mrs.Siddons Canada Digital Regional Side Event: Women, Peace and Security, March 18, 8:30 – 10:00 UN Women and Governments of Jordan, Canada, Norway, Spain, Finland, and UK Women and the environment SDG5 – Gender Equality, SDG16 – Peace and Justice Strong Institutions Tolerance of Minority Groups (2016) The principals of 1325 relate locally to our work for Afghan women and girls. National Action Plans to implement UN 1325 are considered powerful tools to realise commitments on gender equality and women, peace and security. Jordan introduced an NAP in 2017. It is a detailed plan to promote the equal participation and full involvement of women in all efforts to maintain and promote peace and security. Jordan is now drafting a Phase II building on the accomplishments of Phase I. Bold steps have been taken to ensure women will be in strong leadership positions. Various countries shared stories of their implementation of WPS NAPs. Funded and based on national priorities they contributed to increase women's full and meaningful participation in decision making, peace building and community security and they prevented violent extremism. Sadly COVID-19 has profoundly effected regional peace, security and stability. Women have also been further marginalised although already suffering from rising incidents of gender-based violence and online harassment, increased domestic care and work, and poverty and economic insecurity. Canada, a monitor, acknowledged there was real political will in the process. There has been a broad media campaign to show the role women are playing on many fronts and their families support them. Canada notes too Jordan's generous response to refugees. Colombia does not have an NAP but it works under 1325. COVID has been devastating for its women but they are working locally to address and need additional funding. Lebanon has increased the number of women involved in peacemaking and peace building and shared fascinating stories of its work near the Syrian border. The women were instrumental in bringing the. men together and in developing a marketplace project that brought economic viability back too the area. Young women used a NAP to build peace and accountability on Bangladesh. In the Ukraine women participated in an NAP in a small town where 70% of the population was of displaced persons who could not return home. The last example took us to Indonesia and an NAP that took 7 years to negotiate with a second draft on the way. The message was strong and with examples from around the globe. UNSCR 1325 brings results from eh grassroots up. I keep thinking of NFA2NFA opportunities with so many of these...
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Ms.Oudraad Nederland How to use impact storytelling events to fast track a gender-equitable pandemic recovery 18/3 Parallel Event NFBPWC (affiliated with IFBPW) Women in power and decision-making, The girl child, Women and the economy, Education and training of women SDG4 – Quality Education, SDG5 – Gender Equality, SDG9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG17 – Partnerships to achieve the Goal Young Members (2016), Diversity in Teacher Education (2019), Women and STEM (2019) Shows in the film documentary how preconsived conceptions of the upbringing/raising of girls can change. Creates awareness Presenters believe stories have the power to change minds and move hearts. And, good storytelling, like in the social impact documentary – PIONEERS IN SKIRTS – can engage the brain in ways other forms of communication simply cannot. See above , away of making members aware that girls/women are sterio tipped from an early age. Boys play with cars & lego and girls with dolls. I do think a bit to much Americain way of thinking, I do not know if it applies everywere in Europe, although women in the Neherlands are champions parttime working etc Could be usfull to collaborate with...
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Ms.Oudraad Nederland Women's Rights and Education Parallel Event: Young Generation Working Group to the NGO CSW Vienna The girl child, Education and training of women, Violence against women, Women and poverty, Women and health SDG4 – Quality Education, SDG5 – Gender Equality Harassment (2016), Human Trafficking (2016), Child Marriage (2016), Young Members (2016), Sexual Health and Reproduction Education (2019) nb Setback of education in Asia and Africa as school & unies are closed, the pupils, especially girls have to go back to their villages where they do not have always electricity let alone labtops etc. Education is on hold. And education for girls are not continued with result of once again pussed into early mariages etc. Awareness, what can our own NFAs do. Teachers for Rural Futures,...
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Ms.Oudraad Nederland Women on Boards – Impactful Leadership for Systemic Change and Inclusive Entities Sponsoring Organization: STEM-Institute Women in power and decision-making, Women and the economy, Human rights of women, Education and training of women, Institutional mechanisms SDG4 – Quality Education, SDG5 – Gender Equality, SDG8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth Women and STEM (2019) NB Diversity and Women on Boards shifts decision-making dynamics to create balanced equitable innovative leadership for a sustainable future. Spreakers spoke about their own journey and and how they achieved theire goals to become successful "high-level Women CEOs and decision makers" at Univeristies and NGO's . Some had male mentors. Do not sell yourself short, you cab achieve what ever you want to do. Also the equal pay cape was mentioned as Anne Negre was succesfull in lodgeing a collective complaint concerning the violation of the European Social Charter to the European Committee of Social Rights by the University Women of Europe (UWE). The complaint was on equal pay for equal work between man and women in 5 states in Europe: such as Bulgaria, Croatia, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia. Awareness, best practices NB Exchange ideas NFa to...
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Ms.Oudraad Nederland Policy, Practice & Promise: Advancing Women's Global Economic Power Parallel Event Sponsoring Organization: American Association of University Women (AAUW)AAUW Women in power and decision-making, Women and the economy, Human rights of women SDG5 – Gender Equality, SDG8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth Diversity in Teacher Education (2019) None Women can’t wait. Increased access to work, fair pay, promotions, education and training is essential to give women and girls pathways to economic security. This panel of experts adressed the challenges, offered strategies to address the ongoing “promise” of gender equity, as well as the changing dynamics of women’s societal roles at work, home and in our economies, including a COVID-19 gender lens. Very much from an Americain perspective, no interaction with the attendees. Almost felt like a fire site chat. Date: March 17, 2021 Not very much no real solutions were put forward for GWI Members...
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Ms.Oudraad Nederland Beijing -Covid-What Next? Parallel event sponsor NCO CSW Vienna A panel of women who played crucial roles at the 4th World Conference on Women in Beijing will speak about their struggles and accomplishments, and assess the relevance of the Beijing Platform for Action today. An expert on women's health will briefly outline the impacts of COVID-19 on women. Looking to the future and recovering post-COVID, the Younger Generation Working Group of NGO CSW Vienna will talk about the priorities of young feminists. Women in power and decision-making, The girl child, Human rights of women, Women and health SDG4 – Quality Education, SDG5 – Gender Equality Young Members (2016), Building Peace through Women’s Education (2019) BPfA is the basis of all GWI's actions today, the world was very different in 1995, and there was consensus to move foreward and sign the declaration. In 2020 you already saw the fallback starting at the Beiing+5 in New York at the UN when you could wander around the building and even looking into the Security Council Chameber, not in session when going to the ladies at that had a wonderfull view of NY. Recollection of Beijing and Huairou as well of the Prepcom. before such as the 1994 in Vienna of the UNECE Region, which I also attended and where the Dutch Civil Society sat down with the civil servants from the Ministry of education to voice our opions and concerns. Which we still do today before every CSW. Outcome of meeting on 17/3/2021 gender inequality still rampend, income inequality as we know all to well. Stiil a lot of work to do and Covid-19 does not help, a bigger setback then normally expected, although I think that that will vary very much per country/continent....
read moreBarbaraMacLellan
Ms.MacLellan CFUW Gender Justice at the Local Level The Coalition to Empower Gender Equality and Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) Women in power and decision-making, Women and the economy, Education and training of women, Women and poverty, Institutional mechanisms SDG4 – Quality Education, SDG5 – Gender Equality, SDG 10 – Reduced Inequality, SDG17 – Partnerships to achieve the Goal Bullying (2016), Young Members (2016), Sexual Harassment in Workplace (2019) This session dealt with the many systemic barriers and obstacles to gender equality. At the local level CFUW clubs are always looking for ways to help women overcome barriers to their success and leadership. Nationally some of our resolutions relate to this issue. Access of women to higher education, academic leadership positions, equitable pay and public positions of leadership – appointed or elected have been central to CFUW for over 100 years. It was pointed out that education is the key and this has always been and remains our priority at every level. History and background of gender inequality Need for structured changes that can remove systems that were originally built to favour the builders. The system is not build for the success of women. The more female leaders we have and see the more it will encourage our girls to become leaders. We need to work to normalize equality. Collaboration with other organizations with compatible goals is important. Poverty and lack of resources is a big barrier and we need to continue to work on this. We need to know how to approach decision makers and work with allies. All of the strategies and areas to work on are valid to GWI members on every level. The emphasis on collaboration is important and impact can be heightened by putting this into practise at every level. Collaboration obviously. We need to look for these possibilities at every level and pursue them. in the case of CFUW we have nearly 100 clubs all across the country and more club to club cooperation is certainly possible. CFUW could also look for more opportunities to collaborate with other NFAs within GWI. There are also many organizations at all levels that we could work with. We need to seek them out and make the...
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