International Women's Day-Celebration at CSW53

5 March 2009-Celebration of International Women's Day

Today marked the official celebration at the United Nations of International Women's Day. Soroptimist delegates came early to ensure that they had one of the 230 available places in the session highlighted by a wonderful speech given by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. In addition to the Secretary General there were impressive presentations from leaders from several different regions of the world- similar to the presentations at many of the other events this week.

It was disheartening to learn that VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN knows no borders, knows no economic condition and is a condition endured by millions of women in the world everywhere. Secretary General Ban ki-moon launched his campaign one year ago at CSW52 to UNite to End Violence Against Women.

SG Ban Ki-moon told the government and NGO attendees at the UN and also gathered world wide video conference that he was impressed and moved by the distinguished participants attending the meeting. He strongly reinforced that we must continue to UNITE to End the scourge of violence against women. " Women are like rivers, connecting us to the heartbeat of the earth, Men, on the otherhand, are Warriors. While women weave the fabric of society- men dismantle all that keeps society whole.
-Violence Accentuates Poverty
-1 of 5 women and girls of the world suffer rapes or attempted rape, beatings and even murder"

He then went on to tell of a Health Hospital that he recently visited in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo. He met a 18 year old woman who told her story.

" While she was fleeing the soldiers she was raped by four soldiers. While physicians can heal her body and repair her wounds, who can repair her soul. Who will help her repair the stigma on her and the shame she will endure on her family. He said I was shocked and saddened beyond expression. I was very angry. Women need to live free of fear. I spoke to the President and the commander of the army. I spoke to everyone I met about such unspeakable tradgedies. I told the President that there is no excuse for this situation whatever and where ever it happens in his country-he is responsible. Violence against Women is a crime against humanity."

Mr. Ban talked about the cost of VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN to society- of death, injury,inability to work and in ability to be productive. The cost to lives is incalcuable and too often the perpetrators go free.

Mr. Ban talked about some positive programs like the WHITE RIBBON CAMPAIGN where men are taking responsibility to advocate and educate other men and boys about the unacceptability of VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN. "REAL MEN DON'T HIT WOMEN LET ALONE RAPE THEM."

He told a story about an older man who participated in a workshop for men. The facilitator of the group was nervous about the message he would bring because the old man's words had so much power and he was afraid he might say the wrong thing.

The man told the group. " I came home and told my children that things have to change now. No longer can your mother come home from a full day of work and have to cook the dinner and clean the house.d He said- children- you will now have to clean the house while your mother is cooking dinner and I will do the dishes!"

"Society has to change.
Society can change society. Violence against Women cannot be tolerated in any form in any context!"

Mr. Ban's passion for the cause and compassion for women and girls is real and infectious! Not a person could feel anything but sincerity and commitment to FIGHT for this cause.

The rest of the session included regional leaders-
-HE Mrs Saidy, VP and Secretary of State for Women's Affairs of the Republic of the Gambia
-He Mrs. Gaytan, President of the National Women's Institute of Mexico
-Ms. Plibersek, Minister for the Status of Women in Australia.

After their report was a riveting panel of experts representing a variety of issues related to the topic of Violence against Women:
- one of my long time heroines- Radhika Coomaraswamy, United Nations Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict- Violence against women and girls in the context of armed conflict
-Yakin Erturk- United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women- Violence against women: the scope and dimensions of a global challenge
-William Lucy-International Secretary Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees -Violence against women in the work place
-Imrana Jalal- Human Rights Lawyer and advisor at the Pcific Regional Right Resource Team - Ending Violence against women and girls: using the law to create change

Their messages in full will be available on the website mentioned earlier- http://www.ngocsw.org/

We carry the burden and the opportunity for being part of collective change with the challenge of these amazing people who spoke today!

Dawn Marie Lemonds, SI Programme Director