CSW60 2016: OFF TO A HOPEFUL START PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS AND REFLECTIONS

President Selle on the First Day of the CSW events at the UN in New York

This is my fourth year in a row representing WFWP USA at the annual Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) events in New York City. Each year it is quite an experience when thousands of women of all ages and ethnic backgrounds from around the world, representing their countries, organizations, and causes, descend on New York City and the UN to participate in discussions at CSW events.

As you might know, this year's annual topic is “Women Empowered to Implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).” This title in and of itself gave me a lot of hope for actual progress in solving issues rather than just talking about them. And indeed there is a lot of evidence and hope that this will happen this year.

What I noted immediately at the Opening Session of Consultation Day, as well as at the General Assembly on the following day, was that there was a significantly higher number of young women present—and men (mostly young)! This became more noticeable to me during my lunch break at the UN cafeteria, where there was a gentleman sitting at nearly every other table with a group of women, involved in conversation. The increased number of young men and women was partially attributed to the newly launched Youth UN component, which held its first forum on the 11th and 12th of March.

General Assembly opening session of CSW events at the UN, March 14, 2016

Overall this year, there seems to be a more upbeat, more hopeful spirit present, which was confirmed and expressed by Susan O’Malley, Chair of the NGO Committee on the Status of Women in New York and of the International Federation of Businesses and Professional Women (IFBPW), in her welcoming remarks on Consultation Day. “During these next two weeks,” she said, “we will be focusing on implementing the SDG goals, as well as addressing pressing problems.”

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Under Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, highlighted that the focus for this year would be the implementation of the resolutions concerning violence against women and children through a universal approach. “Institutions that are well resourced,” she emphasized, “have the most influence in helping those who need help.”

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka

Later in the morning during the panel discussion focusing on the theme “No One Left Behind: Opportunities and Constraints in Implementing the 2030 Agenda,” Mrs. Ngcuka suggested that to implement these very hopeful goals we “need to start at the back.” She encouraged us to also begin with data collection, to document the work being done. She noted also that the new Youth CSW and the “multi-generational cooperation will be an integral part of the decisions we make.”

H.E. Ambassador Antonio de Agular Patriota, Permanent Representative of the Mission of Brazil and Bureau Chair of the CSW, also spoke. “Unless we place gender equality at the center of the focus of our program,” he said, “we will not be able to erase poverty.” The commission, he also pointed out, “needs to expose shortcomings and build new alliances.” He encouraged everyone to include the private sector and to engage the philanthropic community and all stakeholders.

Mrs. Ngcuka, who was also part of the panel, again emphasized the importance of securing resources. She suggested making a case to donors for funding by highlighting that “investing in women will give us all higher benefits.”

The motherly essence of women shines out

Another panelist, Mrs. Saida Ali, International Policy Consultant, shared some of the very painful stories of sexual slavery she witnessed in her country of Kenya. She pointed out that most people don’t know the meaning of the necklaces some young girls are wearing. She said, “When young women wear the beautiful African pearls, it actually means that they are available for sexual abuse.” Therefore, “let’s not philosophize about why these things happen, but let’s talk about what we can do so it will not happen in the first place.” She called for insisting on and promoting accountability of actions. She ended by saying that she herself attempts to visualize and meditate on what a society of non-discrimination would look like, and encouraged all present to do the same.

Mrs. Lakshmi Puri, Assistant Secretary-General of the UN and Deputy Executive Director of UN Women, declared CSW60 2016 to be “the biggest year of hope, endeavor, and achievement.” She said the CSW efforts have come to a very “promising point,” poised to leave the wrong behind and to capitalize on the positive in all discussions. Based on the UN’s very hopeful 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, Mrs. Puri felt that women will be able to accelerate their momentum and create a new model within a generation.

On a personal note, as I was sitting in the audience in the YMCA auditorium (where some of the CSW60 events were held), surrounded by a great variety of women, I could feel the deep-down inner feminine and motherly essence that all women carry, which is the essence of birthing humanity, the force of giving and nurturing life. I felt hopeful because women during these past years have been talking here at the UN about “real situations” and have not been shy to express the pain and suffering that women have been enduring throughout history—suffering that is still not acknowledged to the necessary degree. However, it was also amazing for me to realize that it will have to be the women who take the lead to end that suffering and to provide real and practical solutions for a sustainably peaceful world without violence and hate, using their own creative resources and inner wisdom gained over centuries and millennia. Quite remarkable!

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki​-moon at the Opening Session

This year’s second Women of Distinction Awardee, Bandana Rana from Nepal, who was introduced and welcomed warmly, echoed many of the points mentioned earlier and added that the importance of “movement building” and the collective energy of all women “will make a difference.” She also said that UN Women needs power and resources and that we need to work on changing the minds of the men “in the house,” because “we need men to join us!”

On the following day, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s address began with words of encouragement and hope: “I feel truly inspired. You empower me and I am energized by your energy and strength. I thank you very much. You are here to change the world. When I see all of you—from so many different countries, with so much experience and such strong commitment—I know we can achieve full equality for all women, everywhere around the world.”

Concerning men's involvement with and support of women in their plight, he mentioned his own example:

“I was proud to be the first man to sign up for the HeForShe campaign to mobilize men and boys. This built on my network of men leaders fighting for full equality around the world. ... I pay tribute to the thousands of heroines I have met along the way. And I commend the men who join us, because they know women’s rights are human rights that we secure for the benefit of everyone.”

He went on to highlight the many attempts he has made and steps he himself has taken to promote the cause of women, ending with introducing the latest step he has taken to address the prevention of violence against women and girls.

He said: “The new United Nations Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism sets out specific proposals to give women more influence in the global response. And the Plan calls for ensuring that efforts to counter terrorism and violent extremism never violate any human rights. When we stay true to our principles, we stay on the right side of history and the winning side on this issue. As long as one woman’s human rights are violated, our struggle is not over.”

As I attended other sessions that day, words and phrases like “accountability,” “implementation,” “the how to,” and “collaboration and movement building” were surfacing in nearly all sessions.

It is comforting and hopeful to see the head of the UN supporting the cause of women, and when men do stand up and speak up for women and girls, and for all other issues on the table, together we can make a difference!

In reflecting on and observing these hopeful beginnings of the CSW60, I believe that the real hope is in the increasing number of men who are concerned and are getting involved to alleviate the plight of women!

I would like to end with a quote from Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, our WFWP Co-Founder, who addressed over 1,000 women in 2012 on the occasion of the 20th Anniversary of WFWP International in a speech entitled “Women as the Turning Point for Peace.”

She said: “Now women and men should play a major role in world history by serving alongside each other like the wheels of a great engine pulling the construction of a peaceful world forward. Today I invited women to accept an important role and become the turning point in building a new century characterized by a loving peaceful culture.”