YWCA News current

On 7 June, 2013, close to 400 YWCA USA leaders convened in Washington, D.C. for the 2013 Annual Conference and Women of Distinction Awards Gala. This annual event is organised by the YWCA USA as a way of honouring extraordinary women from across the United States who have demonstrated excellence, leadership and integrity in their fields and in the community, serving as role models for other women and the world.

During the 23^rd session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) on 3rd June 2013, the World YWCA co-sponsored a side event with the Women’s International League for Peace and Femmes Africa Solidarité. This panel discussion titled- What’s HRC responsibility towards human rights violations during low priority conflicts?, was moderated by Veronica Birga, Human Rights Officer, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The special guest speakers included:

• Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, Secretary General of World YWCA
• Eliane Naika, Senator, Madagascar
• Aminatou Haidar, President of the Collective of Sahrawi Human Rights Defenders (CODESA)
• Brigitte Balipou, Board Member of Femmes Africa Solidarité (FAS) and Founding Member of the Women Lawyer Association of the Central African Republic.

On 6 June 2013 the Sexual Rights Initiative and the World YWCA co-hosted a side event at the 23rd Session of the Human Rights Council that focused on sexual reproductive health and rights and the post 2015 agenda. Panellists included: Dianela Pi, Ministro Conserjero, Mission of Uruguay, Alanna Armitage, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Sandeep Prasad, Sexual Rights Initiative and High Level Task Force for ICPD and Kgothatso Elisa Mokoena, World YWCA.

The 23^rd session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva, Switzerland is taking place from 27 May to 14 June 2013. The 5th of June, 2013 marked the Annual Day of Discussion on Women’s Human Rights at the HRC, this provides an open forum for countries and NGOs to voice their concerns and support for women’s human rights and proposed resolutions.  

On Friday, June 31, 2013, during the 23^rd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland a side event titled- Violence against Women and the Human Right to Peace was held. Christina Papazoglou of the World Council of Churches moderated the panel.  The panellists included: Lois Herman, Women's UN Report Network, Professor Carlos Villan Duran, Spanish Society of International Human Rights Law, Marie-Claude Julsaint, World YWCA, Janine Moussa, Due Diligence Project and Jussi Ojala, Finland Church Aid. Panellists discussed the draft Universal Declaration on the Right to Peace. 

On Monday 3 June 2013, a side event was held at the 23rd Session of the Human Rights Council that focussed on the issue of violence against women and legal frameworks for global action and accountability. The event was co-sponsored by the Women's UN Report Network (WUNRN), World YWCA, FOKUS, Due Diligence Project and Oxfam.

Women Deliver Conference 2013, recently took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from the 28^th-30^th of May. Launched in 2007, Women Deliver works globally to generate political commitment and financial investment for fulfilling Millennium Development Goal #5—to reduce maternal mortality and achieve universal access to reproductive health.

The twenty-third session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) officially opened on the 27^th of May, 2013 at the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The World YWCA is playing an active role during the HRC, continually reporting, advocating, holding and co-sponsoring various side events, participating in formal and informal discussions and negotiations on the draft resolution on sexual violence, as well as leading in the women’s rights caucus meetings organised by the NGO CSW Geneva.

The International Leadership Institute for Young Women Concludes