Accepting Applications for UN's 63rd Commission on the Status of Women

Members of the 2018 Local2Global delegation, Linda Lemons, Marguerite Adelman and Barbara Nielsen, with members of the 2018 Practicum in Advocacy program, Zein Haikal and Hsiu-Fen Lin.

By UN Programs Co-Faculty: Dr. Melissa Torres, WILPF International Board Vice President, and Dixie Hairston, WILPF US At-Large Board Member

Applications for the WILPF US United Nations Programs at the 63rd Commission on the Status of Women are now open! Due date is November 2.

The WILPF US UN Programs consist of the Local2Global (L2G) Program for established WILPF members, the UN Practicum in Advocacy for students becoming new WILPF members, and the Alumni Program for past participants who seek to expand their international work and role in WILPF. Selected participants will serve as members of the official WILPF US delegation to the UN Commission on the Status of Women.

The UN Commission on the Status of Women is an annual convening of Member States and Civil Society at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. Local2Global delegates will attend proceedings from Saturday, March 9 to Friday March 15, 2019. All delegates must be able to attend the entire week.

Applications for the three programs are available on the WILPF US website.
 
This year’s priority theme is “Social protection systems, access to public services and sustainable infrastructure for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls” and there is a review theme of “women’s empowerment and the link to sustainable development” that will address the agreed conclusions from the 60th session.
 
The Local2Global program brings local WILPF voices into our national and international work and facilitates intergenerational cooperation between seasoned WILPF activists and activists just becoming familiar with WILPF via the Practicum in Advocacy. Typically, but not always, L2G participants have long resumes as activists. In order to apply, L2G participants are required to be WILPF members in good standing, be active in their local chapters, and submit a reference letter from a fellow WILPF US member on their behalf. If selected, L2G participants are expected to mentor participants in the Practicum in Advocacy in their first year as members.

The UN Practicum in Advocacy is an opportunity for students working on international issues of women’s equity to attend the multilateral meetings, learn more about WILPF’s work, and be mentored in their first year of membership in WILPF US. Students typically are involved in activism, research, or service delivery on issues relating to women’s equity, human rights, and peace. If selected, they are expected to participate in daily meetings, attend UN events, and complete a take-home project in the year after their delegation.

Throughout the week, all participants will attend panel sessions, group discussions, and regional caucuses on behalf of WILPF US. Delegates will attend a WILPF US-only training session as well as a civil society training session on the Saturday and Sunday prior to the opening of the CSW on Monday, March 11, 2019.
 
The Local2Global program was designed to open WILPF’s work at the UN to active WILPF members that otherwise might not be able to afford the trip and related conference fees. As such, tuition is covered, though participants will be expected to pay for their own travel to and from New York City. The UN Practicum in Advocacy has a tuition rate of $1,400, though limited funds are available for scholarship assistance.
 
If you have questions, please contact Dixie Hairston, UN Programs Coordinator at practicum-mail@wilpfus.org.