CSW 2012

Friday March 9, 2012, marked the official closing of the 56^th  session on the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).

As the 56^th  session on the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) draws to a close, the World YWCA continues to advocate for the empowerment of rural women, young women and girls. 

The World YWCA, in partnership with the World Association of Girl Guides and Scouts, held the Young Women’s Caucus (YWC) during the 56th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), New York. This year has seen the largest attendance of young women and girls to the YWC, with 40 delegates from 21 countries participating. A total of four YWCA sessions are being held over two weeks.

On March 1, 2012, an interactive panel discussion entitled "Civil society participation in the sustainable development debate: Making Rio +20 count for rural women” took place at 56^th  UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).

On March 1, 2012 at the UN Commission on the Status of Women meeting in New York, the World YWCA hosted a panel event on UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and also contributed to a panel hosted by Women’s Alliance for a Democratic Iraq entitled “Rural women are vital to post conflict reconstruction”.

In an overcrowded room of over 80 persons at the Church Center for the United Nations, this side-event organised by the Global Network of Women Peace-builders stood out, in particular, through the example shared by Burundi. Catherine Mabobori, Chairwoman of the Solidarité Femmes Parlementaires (SOFEPA), gave an elaborate overview of how Burundi went through a transformation process from being a post-conflict country towards becoming a developed country, through the strategic framework that came about with the help of the peace-building commission. 

On Tuesday February 28, 2012, the World YWCA hosted a panel event on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) of rural women and girls at the 56^th  session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).  The room was filled with delegates from many different organisations from around the world. There was literally nowhere to sit as all the seats were taken and many people resorted to sit on the floor.  Even, the moderator of the panel Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, World YWCA General Secretary, found a spot on the floor. Nyaradzayi Gumbondzvanda shared that the experience was like being back in the village of her native Zimbabwe.

On Monday, February 29^th , 2012, the World YWCA convened an Intergenerational Dialogue at the 56^th  UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), one of over 300 side events being organised by governments and NGOs at the high-level conference.

February 27, 2012 marked the official opening of the 56^th  Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) 2012 in New York, USA. During two weeks,  the Commission will focus on rural women and also review the issue of financing for gender equality and the empowerment of women. The World YWCA has participated in every CSW and this year marks a record regarding the number of YWCA delegates attending - a 70 strong delegation encompassing 20 countries worldwide from Colombia to Korea, with all continents being represented.

Don’t miss the World YWCA at the Fifty-sixth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) from February 27– March 9, 2012.