58th Commission on the Status of Women Blog

As a first time attendee of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), I came in with numerous ideas and dreams of what the United Nations and the CSW would entail. Bright-eyed and eager to learn, I envisioned being a part of critical life-changing conversations about international warfare, education and poverty. I expected to be empowered by efficacious women guiding critical conversations about human rights, gender-based violence, anti-trafficking and spirituality as a tool for empowerment.

As I sat through the discussions of the “No Development without Disarmament session and hearing the various speakers, questions and comments, I can’t help but think about the task ahead and in the process doubting if we will ever reach that critical will. Why doubts were somewhat reinforced, when I asked a questioned today the CSW briefing of the U.S Mission to United Nation, on their perspective on militarism, global arms trade and its global effects especially on women and children. By the way I wasn’t surprised by the given response.

Being that this is my first CSW, I feel like I have an internal burning desire to see and attend as many events as I possibly can. Some may call it over achieving and others may say that I have fallen victim to FOMO, a recently new phenomenon in which one experiences anxiety caused by the fear of missing out. Though there may be some truth to both sides, I feel that there is a direct correlation with my recent potential diagnosis of FOMO and the common running theme at the CSW of the involvement and participation of the younger generation in advancing women and girl’s issues.

After two full days at CSW 58, I’ve had the opportunity to participate in sessions from a variety of NGO’s, members of civil society, groups, and nations that have each put forth their own expectations and values. However, as a social work student I have been particularly aware of the focus many of these groups have placed on the value and importance of meeting communities where they are, providing informed consent, and having cultural competency.

Love it or hate it, even 10 years after Sex and the City’s finale, it’s still a worldwide cultural phenomenon. Most of this show centered on four women talking and laughing in their neighborhood coffee shop. I would like to share with you another portrayal of four women talking in a coffee shop in New York City.

Our 2014 Local 2 Global cohort spans all generations from millenial to the silent and great among 7 WILPF women. Lauretta is our wisest. She joined in 1948 and comes from New Jersey. Our poet is Rain. She joined in Missoula 2 years ago. Our team from Iowa, Jan and Deb, have "educated, agitated and illuminated" throughout this past year in their home branch, WILPF Des Moines. Eileen is from our WILPF Branch in Ashland, Oregon, and co-coordinators: Nicole is from WILPF's Detroit Branch, and Marie-Louise is from Quincy/Boston.

this is a tester for the blogs.

Yesterday I attended a forum sponsored by Human Rights Now in Japan, the YWCA of Japan and Taiwan, Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR)and International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW)
From the horrendous effects Uranium mining has left behind as tailings and dust to the 240,000 years it takes spent radioactive waste to detoxify... Why anyone supports nuclear energy has always been beyond me...

First, I would like to say I am extremely grateful to be among great women and people in this experience. I am sure like most of us in the practicum that we are experiencing some great feelings about where we want to go with this advocacy. For myself, this experience has cemented a lasting impression where we, as women, need to go and are going.

Today was the first day of the CSW, and I am definitely taking advantage of every moment. I feel so lucky to be a part of this event, having studied the CSW and Beijing Platform in my international development studies, and even more, I am so grateful to WILPF for choosing me to be a part of this powerful week.