CSW 2011

On Thursday 3 March 2011, the YWCAs of Palestine, Sudan and Sri Lanka presented a parallel event at the fifty-fifth session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), to provide their perspectives on living in a conflict country. The presentation focused around women, education and peace building, and the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325. World YWCA Global Programme Manager SRHR and HIV and AIDS, Hendrica Okondo, was also one of the members of this panel.

On February 28, 2011, Bonnie Fatio, Goodwill Ambassador of the World YWCA and Raechel Mathews from the YWCA of Australia, facilitated an NGO parallel event at CSW on ‘Intergenerational Dialogue with Age Esteem’.  Bonnie is the founder and motivational speaker of AgeEsteem. The goal of Age Esteem is to help you feel good about yourself at the age you are today, every day.

On February 24, 2011, the YWCA participated in the launch of UN Women. Hundreds of women and men participated in this historic moment by joining together to honour the past and to celebrate and envision the future for women and girls.The launch event came during the 55th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, the global policy-making body dedicated exclusively to gender equality and the advancement of women.

Remembering vividly the first time sex was mentioned to me (not by my peers) and how I had giggled out of embarrassment, I sit in this room full of young women from around the world, and women who are possibly mothers and mentors in their own right, and mull over whether I would have still childishly guffawed if the word “gender” was used instead of “sex”.

The Commission on the Status of Women provides an excellent opportunity for delegates to progress on their national advocacy agenda. The YWCA delegates from Australia, accompanied by Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, World YWCA General Secretary, met with other Australian participants on February 23, 2011, to discuss various issues relevant to women’s rights in Australia.

On February 24, 2011, the Young Women’s Caucus presented a statement to the UN General Assembly. The Caucus is composed of young, inspiring and articulate women aged 16-30 years old from all over the world, including Raechel Mathews from the YWCA of Australia.

The power of women sharing stories was evident on February 21, 2011. About 40 women from 12 countries gathered on the eve of the opening day of the Commission on the Status of Women, meeting at a reception organised by the World Service Council.

Tuesday February 22, 2011, marked the beginning of the 55^th  Commission for the Status of Women. Michelle Bachelet, the Undersecretary General and Executive Director of UN Women, opened the ceremony. In her opening remarks she talked about the establishment of the new Organisation as the mechanism that will further push towards the UN’s goals of achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women. Ms. Bachelet talked about the importance of having more “women decision makers”.

YWCA sisters from all over the world are gathering in New York at this very moment for CSW 55. The YWCA delegation is composed of representatives from Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and North America, and it has many exciting and important activities planned throughout the duration of CSW.

Don’t miss the World YWCA at the fifty-fifth session of the United Nation's Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) from February 22 – March 4, 2011.