Highlights of the Commission on the Status of Women

by Kristin Alder, Faculty Advisor, Local2Global Practicum

WILPF's Practicum in Advocacy took place at the 57th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. The Practicum ran from Saturday, March 2 through Saturday, March 9.  Fifteen women from universities across the United States were given temporary UN delegate status and were able to attend official UN sessions as well as side and parallel events put on by nation states and NGOs.  The opportunity allows the women to monitor UN and NGO operations first-hand and more importantly, to observe and participate in WILPF's ongoing advocacy at the United Nations as it related to this year's CSW theme, the elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls.

There were many highlights for the fifteen women including a meeting with WILPF's Cuba and the Bolivarian Alliance issue committee, a discussion with an Israeli refusenik, ongoing discussions with WILPFers in the concurrent Local2Global program, as well as meeting and spending time with WILPF Secretary General, Madeleine Rees at the Launch of the 100 Year Campaign.  This year, the cohort members blogged for WILPF throughout their experience.  Here are some of their observations:

• This week has also been a rollercoaster of emotions for me as I attended some of the most intense sessions on violence against women. I found myself unable to breathe at certain points….feeling the pain in my chest as I attempted to breathe in unison with the women who shared their stories of pain….perhaps this was my attempt to empathize and stand in solidarity with them. From these women, I also learned to exhale when they triumphantly shared ways in which they and their communities refused to be known only as “victims” but also as women who dared to say, “Not one more” would be violated!
• The challenge has been placed before me to seek ways to be courageous enough to walk on the road less travelled through activism and advocacy. The toughest part will be for me to challenge myself and open my eyes wider so that I can see the explicit and implicit injustice around me, to stop and listen even in the silence for voices of victims and activists around me, and to open my heart and mind to understand what needs to be done to end violence against women and girls. (Catherine Odera)
• I left the consultation day with lingering questions. I wondered why organizations addressing violence against women and girls sometimes act in silos even though there has been a great push for collaboration among these organizations. (Ibitola Asaolu)
• Is there a possibility for the UN to facilitate more radical change? (Jun Chen)
• We each have a story to tell. And I believe that to be entirely true. By truly taking the time to listen to each others’ stories, and consider the individual perspective of those we encounter, we can be so much more responsive to the world around us. If we can do this on an individual level, imagine how responsive we could be to the needs of the world on a political level. If we truly take the time to listen, imagine how much of a voice can be given, and be heard, if we really stop and make the effort. If we each just committed to make a conscious effort to listen, imagine how different the world could be. Imagine what the world would look like. Take a moment. Imagine the possibilities. Stop. Think. Listen. (Laura Briese)
• "Stay ready-so you do not have to get ready, but rather you are ready to make a difference at all times, in all contexts, in all ways.” (Katelyn Brewer)

To read more of the women's Practicum blogging, visit WILPF's discussion boards.

Image credit: Practicum cohort with the Local2Global women on their UN tour