Soroptimists on U Tube at CSW 54

Dear All,
This is YouTube video I made from
Ulrike Neubert's speech at UN March 11th. Ulrike is the Federation Programme Director from Soroptimist Interntional Europe

Click here to Watch! I hope you like it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNNskDnqJd8
search title is SI CSW 54 2010

Fondly,
Yoko Komori Olson, SI Trainee to the United Nations- New York
Tel :845-920-8118 Cell:917-601-7670 Website: www.ykostudio.com/

Beijing 15 Years ago- The dreams remain the same

( Editor's notes- I asked Patsy Daniels to write a little note about her memories from Beijing Patsy was the International President of SI in 1995. She lead the delegation to Beijing and participated in both the NGO Forum and the Beijing Conference that was the birthplace of the Beijing Platform for Action. Here are a few of her inspiring words....dml)

And the women came….Patsy Daniels International President 1995-1997

…and the women came. From the north, south, east and west; by plane, boat, train or on foot. For the thousands and thousands of women whose commitment to global human rights for women and girls and equal status among all nations was more powerful than health, wealth or comfort…they came. Women of power, status and money…they came. Women of unbelievable poverty and no status or money…they came…and their presence was a miracle. For years the anticipation had grown and finally the time arrived. Their presence became a sign to the entire world ~ a sign of solidarity that is still present today. We, the women of the world, will never stop our work until all of the visions born in Beijing are the realities of today.

CSW 54 Posting from the UN- Rachel Myanja

MESSAGE FROM MS. RACHEL MAYANJA, SPECIAL ADVISER ON GENDER ISSUES AND ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN

Greetings from United Nations Headquarters! Spring has begun to leave its mark with lots of rain and higher temperatures. Just over two weeks ago you began your journey to New York City to attend the fifty-fourth session of the Commission on the Status of Women - filled with anticipation about contributing to the process of assessing what has been achieved since the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing 15 years ago.

You came in great numbers – over 3,400 individuals from some 460 organizations in 138 countries, showing that you attributed great importance to the occasion. Despite experiencing a difficult registration process and strained facilities with limited seating, you attended over 90 parallel events hosted by Permanent Missions and UN Entities as well as hundreds more organized by NGOs in the Church Center. You added an important dimension to the high level round tables, inter-active panels and general discussion of the session, bringing diversity and wisdom and turning many lifetimes of rich experience into recommendations to improve women’s lives. You seized the opportunity to meet others who share your passion for gender equality and exchanged expertise and swapped success stories on how to tackle injustice and discrimination against women and accelerate progress in all areas of the Beijing Platform for Action.

I recognize the important role of the vibrant women’s movement that you represent and credit you with concrete achievements and measurable progress. Once again you have done us proud. – I hope that you took away with you a sense of renewed purpose and strength for your future work as a result of being a part of the session.

I wish to encourage you to let the message of Beijing + 15 resonate in your home countries – that equal rights and equal opportunities mean progress for all - and I look forward to continuing our partnership.

Best regards,
Rachel Mayanja
Assistant Secretary-General
Special Adviser on Gender Issues
Advancement of Women

CSW 54 Women Can't Wait

Showtime in the UN!

Today the lunch panel started with actress Meryl Streep introducing her good friend, several times award winning actor, director, dancer cum everything, Sarah Jones. With just small measures; accent, mimic, gestures and a single scarf as prop, Sarah performed during one hour, letting us know about seven women from all parts of the world, just how the legislation influenced THEIR life!

This whole ”show” turned out to be a fantastic journey, seen through the eyes of Indian, Japanese, French, Jordan, American, Orthodox-Jewish and Kenyan women. The “voices” also made us see the absurd features in the national legislations, making women being beaten, raped and murdered within the frame of marriage, without the laws being changed. In the midst of all these absurdities and idiotic governmental decisions being made, there were also laughter and lot of applauses from the big auditorium, which included Mrs Ban Ki Moon.

Did you know, for instance, that there is a law in France, forbidding women to wear trousers? In the same time there is a law ordering all French police women to wear trousers? Which makes all French police women criminals, actually! Of course you laugh at such stupidities!

Just a few quotes:

Of course I speak Queen’s English - I am from the Queens!

You know that there are states in the US that allow child marriages?

Even a man who regularly goes to jail from beating his wife, still has the power over her life!

Now the Jordan law is equal – a women can kill her husband!

Ann-Christine (Stina) Söderlund, Sweden

CSW54- My Impressions

'Beyond Beijing'
What impressions does CSW 54 leave with me? Well here's a few:-

• Many more women as the government representatives giving the country reports to the Commission
• Lots of young vibrant women speaking confidently at meetings
• Useful and informative briefings with the UK Mission and NGO's
• Queues when trying to get registered- as ever- do the UN never learn?! I queued for about 2 hours but some had to queue for 8 hours. Still it's a good opportunity to meet people and to learn! I met a young Mexican woman-fluent in 4 languages and a global outlook- she made me feel hopeful for the future!
• Jimmie Briggs- a former war journalist from the USA and a big man-who talked about becoming a new kind of man. He had seen so much violence against women that he has started MANUP to stop violence in all its forms. Most men are bystanders and he wants to change that and get young men and women, through music, sport and technology to work together.
• The emphais on setting up the new gender entity at the UN! It was mentioned in every delegates report and within the Parallel Events!! A general feeling is that the Secretary General will announce timing and the appointment of the person to lead it by September. Then review of the MDG's will take place then!! Let us hope that this does happen.
• The smiling faces of our SI UN Representatives in helping us around the UN was helpful especially as the UN is being pulled inside out and room was at a premium!
• Alyia Ardu, a Moldovian director of a newspaper (the only woman director), shared her story of investigations about traffiking and the support she is tryting to give to the trafficked girls. This courageous woman spoke at our Parallel Event-'Stop Trafficking-Global Solutions.' and had us amazed at the facts she gave us and her bravery. Trafficking must be stopped!!
• 'Portrayal and Betrayal' was a look at how women are portrayed in the media-this is something that we must act against! The sexualisation of very young girls and the view of a woman and her role given by the media gives much food for thought- surely we should not stand by and be silent about this?
• I came back with hope for the future! Things are much better for many women in some countries BUT there is so much to be done. Violence against women, in all its forms, does not go away- we've got to keep going to eliminate it!

Margaret Cook, Assistant International Programme Director

CSW 54- SI News from the "Big Tent"

SI under the Big SI CSW "Tent"

Dawn Marie Lemonds, International Programme Director

Happy International Women's Day- I have said this to every woman I have talked to at my workplace in California and sadly- few of them have ever heard of such a day! This gave me a great opportunity to share some of the solidarity and issues that we have learned in this CSW experience this year.

This year I have purposefully shared other women's voices from our delegation at CSW in the SI Blog. I wanted you to get a flavor of what each of them are finding important.

Today I am sharing some quick notes directly from New York. I hope you hear their enthusiasm!

Lois Beilin, Lead SI Representative from UN- New York 3/6/10
Today we discovered that the woman at the United States Mission who is the chief negotiator on women's issues received a scholarship from Soroptimists as a young woman.(Probably a Soroptimist Youth Citizenship Award now called Violet Richardson Award -from a club in SI/Americas). Here- we find what wonderful "interest" we all get back from our investments in young women with our Soroptimist awards, scholarships and support. Her statements and support for a strong composite entity at the United Nations makes all Soroptimists proud.

One of our Soroptimists, Ulrike Neubert the SI/Europe Federation Programme Director who is attending attending CSW 54 has been chosen to make a statement on SI's behalf at the Interactive Panel on Violence Agains Women. It is expected that Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and many other United Nations officials, ambassadors and delegates will be there to celebrate International Women's Day. It is a particular honor to have Soroptimist International chosen to present a statement on Violence Against Women- one of 2 or 3 NGOs - at that time on this all important topic to the Secretary General, UNIFEM and CSW and to Soroptimists.

From President Leigh Ellwood-Brown- Soroptimist International South West Pacific

We have just completed a very successful session on Trafficking where Soroptimists came out of the wood-works from Ireland, Gambia etc. We had a lot of Government delegations from various nations. Our guest speaker on the panel was Norma Ramos Director of CATW, Lori Blair, Soroptimist International of the Americas Federation Program Director was the moderator & representative for SIGBI & SIA, Ulrike did SI Europe, I covered SISouth West Pacific and both Ulrike & I covered Project SIerra & SIAM. We had several men in the audience, one African TV camera from Gambia he rolled the camera on the female Government Gambian speaking on her Governments stance then she also revealed she was a Soroptimist. Norma was very succinct in her presentation. I saw some men in the audience drop their face & eyes when she spoke of elimination of demand! We have all had very good feedback, Norma also did not realise how much work on this subject SI had done. What a team!

CSW 54- Have Women Forgotten Girls?

UNICEF
Have Women Forgotten Girls? Bringing Girls to the Heart of Beijing
Dawn Walsh- SIA

UNICEF hosted a round-table discussion titled: Have Women Forgotten Girls? Bringing Girls to the Heart of Beijing. Panelists included Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland who has served as United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights and is currently Honorary President of Oxfam; Auden Lysbakken, Minister of Norway’s Ministry of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion; Charlotte Bunch, Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Women’s Global Leadership; and 16 year old Donnetta of Plan International of the Philippines.

Panelists began by addressing the question, “What has the world done for girls in the last fifteen years?” The group consensus was “not enough.” Culturally, gender stereotypes continue to dampen progress toward girls’ equality; while politically, the international war on terrorism and the cultural wars that followed 9/11 have diverted progress during the past ten years.

With regards to progress that has been made, panelists agreed it has been with mixed results. The most amount of progress has been made in education, but there are still major gaps (class, race, ethnicity, geographical) between those who have benefited and those who have not.

Panelists were asked about the role of men and boys in the fight for gender equality. All agreed that everyone – men, women, girls and boys – need to work together for gender equality. It was noted, however, that with regards to violence against women, men need to be much more vocal in their opposition.

In closing, panelists were asked, “What is your main message to the Commission.” All agreed that more space needs to be made, not only for girls to voice their personal experiences; but to voice their opinion during times of decision-making. In addition, the panelists would like for the Commission to not only consider the rights of girls, but also their dignity.

With regards to the world-at-large, all agreed that more public education is needed. Large-scale public education campaigns need to be conducted in which girls are given voice and their diverse lives and needs are visually represented. However, panelists were adamant that we must not sit around waiting for a cultural of equality to form. In the meantime, political policies must take the lead in creating equality for girls.

CSW 54- GEAR UP

GEAR CAMPAIGN- Rosie Coutts- Executive Director Soroptimist International

The Gender Equality Architecture Reform (GEAR) campaign is a network of over 300 women’s, human rights and social justice groups from more than 80 countries that came together in 2007 to urge the UN to create a new gender equality entity. (A UN High Level Panel had already recommended in 2006 that the existing four UN bodies dealing with women’s rights should be consolidated into a single, strong body.) Soroptimist International is a campaign supporter. GEAR representatives are actively lobbying governments in every region of the world.Soroptimist International is one of the groups.

GEAR campaign success!
The campaign achieved the first part of its aims in September 2009 when the UN passed a Resolution strongly supporting the creation of a new composite gender equality entity headed by an Under Secretary-General. The entity would be an operational and global policy secretariat giving gender issues a much needed higher profile and creating a stronger voice for women at the UN.

The Deputy Secretary General has produced a 27 page report on the establishment of the new entity, which is now under discussion by member states of the UN. No state has voiced opposition. Some countries have raised concerns, not least on funding issues.

GEAR’s current campaign aims

Swift establishment of the new UN gender equality entity (by September 2010)

Key elements identified by GEAR for its success:
• The agency should be the driver in the UN system for women’s empowerment and gender equality with strong, country level operational capacity
• Ambitious funding with stable and predictable resources (Funding target of $1 billion - representing 5 times the UNIFEM budget or less than 0.5% of all UN agency expenses in 2008)
• A transparent process for recruiting the best qualified Under Secretary-General for the entity
• Civil society advisory body at global, regional and national level

Issues raised by NGOs at CSW

• Sufficient funding at country level is vital.
• A clear election process for the Under Secretary-General, including a process for replacement.
• No voluntary funding.
• Clear lines of communication between world regions.
• Universal global policy.
• New agency must monitor the implementation of women’s rights.

CSW -54- "Sound Bites"

( Editor's note-Members of the Soroptimst International Delegation of over 40 were given the assignment to collect great quotes. Dutifully, the team of Carwen, Hilary and Judy presented this this morning. The timing is perfect in anticipation of the International Women's Day on March 8! Dawn Marie Lemonds)

-'An idea whose time has come'
( Her Excellency Mary Robinson on the establishment of the IWFDA and the role of partnerships in delivering the MDGs)

-'We do so much with so little'
( Tina on the work of Charlotte's House a group home serving girl and boy survivors of trafficking)

-'We have come a long way, we are not there yet but we know where we are going and we know how to get there'
(Liz Law on the progress with the peace process in Northern Ireland and the mainstreaming of gender equality)

-'Two and a half days of military spent to save the lives of women and girls'
( Speaker referring to the cost of delivering MDG 5)

-'You can change the people on the factory floor but not the design of the vehicle'
( Speaker referring to the role of the media in the portrayal of women and the fact that it was not the just a case of increasing the number of women in media but one of structural/system change)

Some one liners:

'Equality is not just for Christmas'

'Poverty has a woman's face'

'Every 10 minutes a woman dies of violence'

'Pandemic of violence is a social shame'

Plus some lighter ones

'All the things I am doing are either elderly or eminent !'
( HE Mary Robinson on her current roles)

'Colour blindness is not an excuse'
( Advice given by the secretariat to delegates tempted to ignore the warning lights and exceed their allocated time)

And

'I hear no objection,it is so decided'
(Chair of session. A lesson in how to run meetings !)

Plus some first impressions:

'Soroptimist International was more visible this year'

' It felt as though we( SI) had successfully raised our profile amongst the other NGOs'

'What a lot of Soroptimists wearing different 'hats' '

'CSW has been a bit like the curate's egg - good in parts'

'The UN's business processes have to change if it is to deliver its goals- it needs to step up a GEAR'

CSW54- Mentoring the Millenial Generation

As a UN Representative for SI in NYC, I share a particular insight about this special CSW session regarding the young people. Meeting and mentoring the millennial generation, 1985-2005, has been an exciting and elevating experience for me, as a professor who teaches the UN, world culture, communication and human relationships. Today's young people come to us with an understanding and maturity who want to make a difference in the world as already as emerging and evolving young adults. They welcome us as global leaders, mentors and partners and want to learn from the wisdom we have to offer. They are highly professional and personable, caring, passionate and compassion.. to participate fully to move the women's world forward, collaboratively, together. As Soroptimists, let us continue to guide them to assume their rightful role beside us through awareness, advocacy and action towards a more peaceful, productive and positive world for all humanity, ultimately.

Wonderful Resource for International Women's Day

PHOTO SLIDE SHOW LINK - http://online.thomsonreuters.com/womensday/

WOMEN LIVING IN EXTRAORDINARY TIMES

Reuters invites you to join us in celebrating International Women's Day and the role of women in bringing about positive change in the world. To mark this occasion Reuters has created a slideshow of women from across the globe, living in extraordinary times.
________________________________________________________________

Website Links to for comprehensive information on International Women's Day:
http://www.internationalwomensday.com/default.asp

http://www.internationalwomensday.com/about.asp
International Women's Day 2010 -Theme
Each year around the world, International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8.
Hundreds of events occur not just on this day but throughout March to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women.
Organisations, governments and women's groups around the world choose different themes each year that reflect global and local gender issues.
Some years have seen global IWD themes honoured around the world, while in other years groups have preferred to 'localise' their own themes to make them more specific and relevant.
THEME: So while many people may think there is one global theme each year, this is not always correct. It is completely up to each country and group as to what appropriate theme they select.
Below are some of the global United Nation themes used for International Women's Day to date:
- 2010: Equal rights, equal opportunities: Progress for all
- 2009: Women and men united to end violence against women and girls
- 2008: Investing in Women and Girls
- 2007: Ending Impunity for Violence against Women and Girls
- 2006: Women in decision-making
- 2005: Gender Equality Beyond 2005: Building a More Secure Future
- 2004: Women and HIV/AIDS
- 2003: Gender Equality and the Millennium Development Goals
- 2002: Afghan Women Today: Realities and Opportunities
- 2001: Women and Peace: Women Managing Conflicts
- 2000: Women Uniting for Peace
- 1999: World Free of Violence against Women
- 1998: Women and Human Rights
- 1997: Women at the Peace Table
- 1996: Celebrating the Past, Planning for the Future
- 1975: First IWD celebrated by the United Nations

CSW-54- Celebration of International Womens Day-part 1

Maria Hinojosa was the lead moderator at this mornings opening session celebrating International Women`s Day. This was so exciting since our club SI New York just honored her as a Woman of Distinction.

The Secretary General greeted everyone. He stated that equality and opportunity are inalienable rights for all women and girls. He stated that women have made great strides since Beijing, fifteen years ago. He said we have reason to be proud but not complacent.

He stated that violence is a criminal act against women. He said that the UN is acting fiercely against violence, but he said there is much to be done.

He stated that he has made women`s empowerment a priority and requested that the General Assembly speedily adopt the current resolution.

He knows that women are under represented on the ground and in many aspects of the UN. He knows that women in war torn countries have had many successes when women are involved in peacekeeping negotiations.

When he finished the crowd stood up with signs saying GEAR UP NOW!

Go Secretary Moon!

Andrea T. Mills,SI Representative to UN -New York

Finding my voice at CSW 54

Finding my voice on my journey at CSW 54 (thoughts and fragments part I)
By Wendy Kaiser
SI Newport Harbor Area ( California USA )

The Beetles’’ “We can work it out” refrain sung by the busqcers at Time Square/42nd Street Subway station echoed from the tiled walls there to the hallowed halls of the United Nations, and our first day Soroptimist Briefing with Dawn Marie Lemonds, SI Programme Director, in the United Nations Cafeteria. She and our SI UN Reps shared tips and strategies for making the most of our journey at CSW 54. Dawn Marie encouraged us to “own it” and make our experience at CSW our own. She challenged us to leave our comfort zone and seek out new areas of information and connections with others as we select our parallel and other event sessions. After studying the various schedules and concurrent events available for our journey, Ann Soderlund, Asst. Programme Director SI EU said, “I am still confused although on a much higher level.” We all assured her she can “work it out”… “with a little help from her (SI) friends.”

My “best practices” lessons learned so far are:
Don’t worry, you’ll get there
share your cabs, it takes it from about $12 a ride down to about $3.50
Buy a bus pass when you arrive (7 days for $27) and use it, you are either going up town/down town or across town or underground so it is easy to understand, but if your subway train does not come by after awhile don’t be afraid to ask directions… you may learn you have been on the wrong platform for 10 minutes. And, bring warm comfortable cloths and shoes (boots) with two pairs of socks so you can walk, walk, walk. Each block is its own world.
Save seats but then give them up if your friends don’t show
if someone is saving a seat (and there are none remaining) let them know you’d like to sit there until their friend arrives and when they do you will get up (‘cause sometimes their friend does not arrive and you have a seat after all).
Resources
Find out where the restrooms and coffee are first thing and then you will be comfortable and have your bearings (and a little caffeine). The NGO office downstairs is close to both and they have a computer you can use. Check out the UN Bookstore early for books and reports of interest to you. They have something for everyone there. I found a book specifically targeting the 20-40 age range women and their voices… Ok so I am on the outside of that by a few years, but I am looking forward to reading it as I think it will help me find my voice on my journey and connect with our next generation of women.
Talk to people
even if you are new (I am a first timer), if you already waited in line for 2 plus hours encourage the women waiting in line the next day – they appreciate it and you make a connection with a total stranger as you share your journey with others and they theirs with you. I met many interesting and inspiring people in line and in between sessions. Talk to others and collect their cards and give them yours (bring a lot of cards, I made about 200 from the SIA web site template I hope I have enough) – this includes Soroptimists and non Soroptimist.
Don’t take a photograph (to show your club what it is like going thru security into the UN)
they will ask you to delete it from your camera – no photos at security check points…it makes sense (the security guard asked me very nicely). And leave the water and heavy jewelry and metal belts behind, they will make you throw it out (water) and take it off (jewelry) to get through security.
Be flexible
You may make out a list of all the sessions you want to attend and find you cannot do it all, or you get tickets to get into a totally different one than you’d planned. About 2-3 concurrent sessions a day is realistic plus a briefing and either an evening dinner or reception, and you will have a full exhilarating day. Pace yourself.
Be patient but don’t be shy about moving on
If the session or event you are at is not connecting for you or you have what you need then move on so another person can take your seat. Be respectful of others, clear out of the room to make way for the next session as they time them back to back. If someone has already said they can’t hear…don’t say it over and over and over… because then those who could hear now can’t, plus it can be disruptive to the entire proceedings. Have confidence you “will work it out.”
Save Trees
If you go to the CSW pre-event they will give you a copy of the report to the UN and a wonderfully written resource guide and schedule to use during your journey. I thought they were not so I printed a lot of stuff to have with me. I should have waited until I got there to see what they were providing. Gather the session information as soon as you can but sometimes if you are too early you miss out so get your seat and check the entrance tables for information a second time if nothing was there when you came in (just in case).
Have fun, not guilt
If you want to go to certain events don’t worry if you can’t go to the other one that someone told you about. You cannot do it all, really, you cannot do it all. But, you can come back next year and try to again and bring a young lady to share your journey with our next generation of leaders of the women’s movement for equity and empowerment.

I brought my husband and two of my granddaughters (ages 11 and 15) and had them attend a reception (we plan a few events later in the week for them to learn more about the Beijing Platform (twelve critical areas of concern and action plan) , CEDAW (Commission on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women), and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights). I have been encouraged as each day progressed we have dynamic women who are engaged, energized and enthusiastic about women’s equity and empowerment to provide a safe thriving journey for all people.” Life is very short and there’s no time for pushing and fighting… we can work it out….with a little help from our friends.”

CSW 54- Maternal Mortality- a grave issue for women and society

Maternal Health MDG 5 - No Woman Should Die Giving Life- Workshop at CSW 54

A very interesting panel of speakers from Unicef and UNFPA headed by Ambassador Chowdhurry focused on Millenium Development Goal (MDG)MDG 5 on the topic of Maternal Mortality and a new target for MDG #5: By 2015 we will have achieved Universal Access to Reproductive Health.

Some current facts are

1 in 7 women develop complications during delivery where medical attention is needed.

1 woman dies every minute in pregnancy or childbirth.

There is a need for 1 health center per every 100,000 people and 1 district hospital per every 1/2 million.

They have been working to strengthen national capacities so that governments can deal with their own maternal health issues. The panel commented that they know where the bulk of the problems exists in Asia and Africa, so they know where the deaths are occurring.

The biggest challenge is lack of funding. They basically know what they need to do and where to do it. It all boils down to lack of funds.

There are some quick low cost wins -

-Ensuring family planning in every community - distribution of condoms

-Ensuring that magnesium sulfate is available in every facility - regular table salt

-Changing midwives ability to perform more life saving strategies on women.



Andrea T. Mills- SI Representative to the UN New York

CSW 54- Another Point of View

CSW 54- Second Time Attendee-Carol Anne Parrish- Her Views
10,000 Steps
I am in a workplace fitness program where participants commit to walking 10,000 steps a day. It is harder than one would think it is. Getting started on any new thing is rough. Here I am at the UN in New York (where major renovations are underway) and things are “messy”. The sound systems don’t work well, women are loud and passionate, the weather has been fierce……and it is all worth it! The beautiful cacophony of thousands of women in rainbow colors with Tower of Babel voices makes me so glad to be in the Sisterhood of women.
The key to this Commission on the Status of Women is this statement: We are not invitees to this planet. We are participants.” Our job is to participate. What issues involving gender equity are you passionate about? Can you change it, fix it, or advocate for it?

I have heard “grassroots” here enough to understand that it is up to me to do something. The cost of gender equality is far less than the cost of gender inequality.

Day 2 of Global Forum- A little view of what happened

Day 2 of the Global Forum – for Women – Beijing + 15 February 28

Dawn Marie Lemonds, International Programme Director SI
More articles will feature the work that went on at the Forum- this article will mainly bring you a bit about the schedule and the types of activities we engaged in at this forum. These Blog stories will hopefully bring you little snapshots of the “elephant” we are all seeing from different lens and bringing our own experiences.

The morning opened with another remarkable performance- the intersection of culture and art as integral to our society- Today’s voices were children…..children as young as 4 and as old as 18- each quoting famous quotes from Rumi, to Mohammed, the Bible, Oprah Winfrey, Will Smith, Buddhism teachings, Martin Luther King, Susan B Anthony, Shakespeare and so many many, more. Each performed- a provocative thought about women, change agents, peace, love and humanity from so many sides. Contemporary American music was then featured starting with songs from past decades until today- steadily showing the advancement or changing “face” of women from being insipid “airheads” in the song “I enjoy being a girl”- from South Pacific- to a rousing rendition of Aretha Franklin’s R-E-S-P-E-C-T sung by a 15 year old girl! The theatre group was called The Children’s Theatre Workshop and the rousing 45 minute performance ending with the most beautiful song- ONE WORLD which captivated all of our hearts!

Following this inspiration we listened to a riveting presentation by all 6 Regions of the World- representing the critical issues for women in each of the six regions- Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Arab Region, North America, Africa, and Latin America/Caribbean. Each of the presentations showed that we are “alike and different”- inspite of all being women- our journeys do not all have the same issues of urgency. For example- the issues of urgency in the Middle East are so fundamental- Women want to be recognized as HUMAN. In Africa- Women are viewed as Human- and advances have been made in primary education and empowerment of women- but the extreme issues of poverty, violence against women, extreme lack of health resources are issues of monumental import. Now it was time for us to do the work. Everyone met with their Regional Teams and identified the critical issues of their region, and strategies to meet these challenges. These issues will be brought by NGOs to the Caucuses and meetings with their missions and countries delegations. Governments start working on March 1, 2010 at the Commission.

The Afternoon Panel was titled “Fulfilling the Promise of Gender Equality, Peace, and Development: Women, Peace and Security, Strengthening Institutional Mechanisms, World Economic Crisis, Building Women’s Leadership and Millenium Development Goals”- the title was daunting and the information was extremely interesting and thought provoking.

A highlight of the afternoon included an amazing reading by Lynn Nottage from her Pulitzer Prize winning play “Ruined”. The story about a woman from the Congo whose baby was stomped by soldiers followed by 5 months of continuous rape. She went back to her village when she escaped from these villains and was a pariah for “allowing herself to be raped.” This will haunt me forever.

Finally– a Call to Action were presented by the CSW NGO Committee to H.E. Mr. Garen Nazarian, Chair of the Bureau of CSW 54, Thoraya Obaid- Executive Director of UNFPA, and Rachel Mayanja, UN Assistant Secretary General, Special Advisor on Gender Issues and the advancement of Women. The audience ended the afternoon with a rousing new version of We Shall Overcome. For up to date reporting go to www.ngocsw.org

CSW- Views from an attendee- She Loves Queues (lines)

funny thing happened on my way to Forum….
Was it Mel Brooks who said that? Those ones of you who are old enough to remember this musical, set up in a Roman environment, might also remember the expression. According to my line of thinking it is also a way of saying that everything comes to the ones who are waiting patiently enough!
And waiting patiently is what it is all about. I might never have been to a UN Meeting before, BUT I have been to several international meetings, in Soroptimist International as well as in Rotary International, and I know for sure that it is the queues that everything happens. You find a long lost friend, you get new friends even if you are 60 plus and you get to exchange ideas just because you are there - for several hours!
Take me, for an example! In 2001 I and my husband were standing in a queue in Buenos Aires, Argentina, waiting to register for the Rotary Convention there. Nothing happened in the queue; we started talking to the people behind us, this led to that, and the next year we met privately…and the next year too…and now we are friends forever. All four of us sixty plusses! Whoever said that you do not make new friends when you are “reaching a more advanced age?”
Take today, for an example. There we were, my room-mate and I, queuing for access passes to the UN building. There was a Japanese student in front of us, saying that she was studying the situation of elderly people, and they had been making a study tour to Linköping, which happens to be my home town in Sweden. Then there was this funny lady from a German speaking country making jokes about this and that. Then there was this well dressed gentleman who came into the passport office, evidently waiting to sail through the process like a leaf in the wind. Well, he took a look at the throng (of ladies) and sighed, loudly enough to be heard all through the room: Oh, my, I think that I’ll come back later!
I Just love queues!
Ann-Christine (Stina) Söderlund, Sweden