Be part of the next cohort at the United Nations during 2024 Commission on the Status of Women Session March 10-15, 2024.
You may already know that since 1948 WILPF has held Special Consultative Status with the United Nations. Because of that, we are able to participate actively in the annual meetings of the UN’s Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), held at and around the UN General Assembly building in New York City.
UN Women’s strategic plan, 2022–2025 outlines their strategic direction, objectives and approaches to support efforts to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. It supports the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and contributes to the gender-responsive implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The work of the Commission began in 1946, days after the UN General Assembly’s inaugural meetings heard former US First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and part of the country’s delegation read an open letter addressed to “the women of the world.” The annual meetings, encompassing dozens of presentations, panels, caucuses, and roundtables address the annual themes providing first-hand experiences and training in international relations from the feminist peace perspectives espoused by WILPF. The agenda WILPF’s Coordinators prepare, collaboration amongst our participants and interaction with so many activists from around the world are a great addition to learning in presentations from women (and men) who have made great gains in issues affecting women around the world.
But there’s more to do. António Guterres, the UN’s General Secretary, notes that there has been backsliding on women’s rights. The previous prediction was that it would take 254 more years for women to achieve equality. Guterres said, “Women’s rights are being abused, threatened and violated around the world as progress won over decades is vanishing before our eyes. In Afghanistan, women and girls have been erased from public life. In many places, women’s sexual and reproductive rights are being rolled back. In
some countries, girls going to school risk kidnapping and assault. In others, police prey on vulnerable women they have sworn to protect.” He went on to say, “The patriarchy is fighting back. But so are we. And I am here to say loud and clear, the United Nations stands with women and girls everywhere.”
Be part of creating the solutions by being part of our delegation of four Local to Global program participants at CSW 68. The Local to Global program was created to help open opportunities for active and seasoned members to bring local voices into the national and international work of WILPF. Additionally, Local to Global was created to foster intergenerational mentorship and relationship-building between members of WILPF US and those just becoming involved with WILPF US via the Practicum in Advocacy Program.
The 2024 events will address the priority theme: Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective.
WILPF US covers lodging and most of the expenses while you’re in New York and part of your travel expenses. But … there’s a catch!! Delegates are asked to share what they learn with other WILPFers and members of their community when they get back home.
Here’s what Eileen Kurkoski, a member of the Boston Branch and a participant in CSW 67 (2023), said about her participation in WILPF’s program and how she has shared her experience with her community:
“My 2023 Local to Global experience was remarkable because of the honor of touring the United Nations and participating in high level sessions in a place that is working on a noble vision of global peace, justice, respect, human rights, tolerance and solidarity. At the first session I attended, my and many other’s tears flowed as an Afghan woman described life in her country under the Taliban. In another I was impressed to hear clever female writers and journalists describe how they were dealing with slander and altered images of them in their technical world. There was so much so much more on the 2023 Session theme of women in technology. My CSW experience provided me with information and renewed energy to continue my WILPF work toward the U.N.’s vision, which is our WILPF vision.
“Back in Boston, I touched base with a colleague who has been working on Public Banking bills in our State Legislature. The two of us worked up a presentation for the Greater Brockton Minority Business Association, made up of immigrant women and men who want to build businesses in their community. We offered Public Banking as a tool that could help provide them with start-up or business growth funding for their businesses. We also asked them to work in coalition with us to support the Public Banking bill that their MA House of Representatives member Antonio Cabral is working on with us. Because many of the Association participants are from Cape Verde, I translated some of the Public Banking handouts into Portuguese, their first language. We were able to provide useful information to these developing entrepreneurs. When the bill passes they will have more access to funding when they may need it. And … I also let them know more about WILPF, particularly our Women, Money & Democracy issue committee.”
Not only does Eileen’s project fit in perfectly with the “Women’s Bill of Rights,” a cornerstone of all UN Women programs, which include work on women’s leadership and economic empowerment, but she was able to lift up the work of one of WILPF’s issue Committees, Women, Money & Democracy.
Applications are due January 5, 2024. Recommendation forms and statements are due January 8, 2024. Find the materials on the WILPF US website.