bodily autonomy

The Front Line of Change: Women Leaders and the United Nations

Wouldn’t you like to meet the women leaders of today – the ones creating new trends? Women are changing both the United Nations’ and the world’s approach to diplomacy, hunger and food production, the response to the refugee crisis, and much more. They are creating critical policies and partnerships to confront complex and challenging issues.
CTAUN (The Committee on Teaching About the United Nations) invites you to a special presentation featuring women from the United Nations and select NGOs who prove that leadership is a timeless skill that includes both the vision for change and the ability to carry it out. You will hear these dynamic leaders discuss their vision, goals and action steps for confronting current global challenges.
Many influential women will appear. They include:
  • Michelle Bachelet,  The High Commissioner for Human Rights
  • Melissa Fleming, Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications
  • Gillian Sorensen, former Assistant-Secretary-General
  • Ismahane Elouafi, Chief Scientist-The Food and Agriculture Organization

Register here: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2bW4hg5VQt2ZKL6c84zn1w

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women-Vienna, please visit ngocswvienna.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women-NY, please visit ngocsw.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women-Geneva, please visit ngocsw-geneva.ch. For more information on the NGO Committee on Education, Learning, and Literacy, please visit facebook.com/NGOCELLatUN.

International Day to End Obstetric Fistula

Due to COVID-19, it is expected that 13 million more child marriages could take place by 2030 than would have otherwise. Families are more likely to marry off daughters to alleviate the perceived burden of caring for them, especially in the anticipated economic fallout of the pandemic.

In turn, the fight to end obstetric fistula, one of the most serious and tragic injuries that can occur during childbirth, could be threatened by COVID-19.

Obstetric fistula is preventable; it can largely be avoided by delaying the age of first pregnancy; the cessation of harmful traditional practices; and timely access to obstetric care. Unfortunately, the current pandemic affects all these preventive measures in developing countries where obstetric fistula still exists – countries in which health care systems, even before the coronavirus outbreak, failed to provide accessible, quality maternal health care.

The pandemic is also expected to cause significant delays in programmes to end female genital mutilation (FGM) – something that could lead to a spike in FGM cases, according to UNFPA, which is a contributing factor for obstetric fistula.

As the virus advances in these countries, health services become overloaded, or provide a limited set of the services that women need. At the same time, many women and girls also skip important medical check-ups for fear of contracting the virus.

With this possible future scenario of preventive measures in danger, now more than ever, it is important to call on the international community to use the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula to significantly raise awareness and intensify actions towards ending obstetric fistula, as well as urging post-surgery follow-up and tracking of fistula patients.

To read personal testimonials and learn more about how the UN commemorates this day, visit un.org/en/observances/end-fistula-day.

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee for Rare Diseases, please visit ngocommitteerarediseases.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Human Rights, please email the co-chairs at bobbinassar@gmail.com or bknotts@uua.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women-NY, please visit ngocsw.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women-Vienna, please visit ngocswvienna.org. ngocsw-geneva.ch.

How can younger people and older people work together so no one is left behind?

How can younger people and older people work together so no one (regardless of age) is left behind?

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0ldO-pqzgsHdefQPfVE8DRfmZFIrYsYJGe

Agenda:

Welcome and Announcements: Cynthia Stuen, Chair, NGO Committee on Ageing

Preparations for HLPF and way forward post-OWEGA 11: Ms. Frances Zainoeddin, Vice-Chair of NGO Committee on Ageing

Discussion: “Youth at the UN and intergenerational collaboration,” moderated by Sandra Timmermann, Co-Chair, NGO CoA Program Subcommittee

Speakers:

  • Mr. Steve Lee, Organizing Partner of the Children and Youth Major Group
  • Ms. Nadine Clopton, Intergenerational Subcommittee, Global NGO Executive Committee

Discussion: “Interdependence of young and old – older persons’ perspective,” featuring

  • Dr. Jan Hively, Co-Founder and U.S. Liaison, The Pass It On Network

Interactive Dialogue

Q & A

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Intergenerational Solidarity, please email the vice chair at susanneseperson@gmail.com. For more information on the NGO Committee on Ageing-NY, please visit ngocoa-ny.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Ageing-Geneva, please visit ageingcommitteegeneva.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Ageing-Vienna, please visit ngoageingvie.org.

NGO Committee on Status of Women-NY [monthly meeting]

Join NGO CSW-NY for our May Monthly Meeting about racial justice and gender. More information coming soon. At the beginning of the meeting, we will discuss the NGO CSW/NY Executive Committee elections taking place in June.

Register here!

If you missed April’s monthly meeting on the intersection of climate change, gender, and migration, you can watch the recording on Youtube here.

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women-NY, please visit ngocsw.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women-Geneva, please visit ngocsw-geneva.ch. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women-Vienna, please visit ngocswvienna.org.

Bridging the Gap: Fiscal Justice for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Africa

Christian Aid invites you to join our webinar on Wednesday 5th May, 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm BST.  We’ll have a panel of experts from UNFPA, FEMNET, ACT Alliance and World YWCA join us to discuss how fiscal justice can help overcome barriers to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).  In 2019, we brought together advocates of fiscal justice and of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in researching how progressive fiscal policies can help close the gaps in financing and delivery of SRHR.  We’ve published the findings in this briefing: Bridging the Gap.

Now, at a time when access to SRHR is needed more than ever, there are concerns that limited resources are being redirected to other priorities, exacerbating the gendered impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. Please join us to discuss what can be done.

Please circulate this to your networks and register for our event here to receive the zoom link:

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Social Development, please visit ngosocdev.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Education, Learning, and Literacy, please visit facebook.com/NGOCELLatUN. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women-NY, please visit ngocsw.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women-Vienna, please visit ngocswvienna.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women-Geneva, please visit ngocsw-geneva.ch.

Not Religion, Not the State – Women and Girls Must Decide their Fate 

You are warmly invited to a Side Event at the UN Commission on Population and Development 54:

Not Religion, Not the State – Women and Girls Must Decide their Fate 

Co-Organized by: ACT Alliance, The African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET), Faith to Action Network and IPPFWHR

Virtual Event:Register via Eventbrite

A dialogue between faith and secular actors tackling taboos and promoting Comprehensive Sexuality Education to meet zero maternal deaths, zero unmet need for family planning and zero gender-based violence.

Faith-based actors, as trusted voices within communities, have a responsibility to promote each person’s inherent dignity and right, while also promoting rigorous analysis of the impact of religious and customary systems on issues, including population, food security, nutrition, and sustainable development.

In this Side Event, expert speakers will share strategies for overcoming existing taboos and resistance in addressing comprehensive sexuality education. Bringing together gender advocates from Africa and Latin America, who are striving to change social norms, tackle intersecting inequalities, and promote Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.

Each speaker will focus on how the Commission can contribute to achieving zero maternal deaths, zero unmet need for family planning and zero gender-based violence by 2030.

Speakers:

  • Maria del Pilar Cancelo, Executive Director, SEDI Asociacion Civil
  • Dr. Paul Z. Mmbando, Medical Doctor, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania
  • Jill Anami, SRHR Program Officer, The African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET)
  • Jantiku Ijasini Jamare, Pastor and Co-Chair Youth Community of Practice, ACT Alliance
  • Susana Medina Salas, Senior Research and Evaluation Officer, IPPFWHR
  • Maria Tororey, SRHR Lead, Faith to Action Network

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women-NY, please visit ngocsw.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women-Geneva, please visit ngocsw-geneva.ch. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women Vienna, please visit ngocswvienna.org. For more information on the Committee of Religious NGOs at the United Nations, please visit rngos.wordpress.com

The Critical Roles of Geriatric Nursing and a Focus on Health Education in Improving Future Care of Older People

IFA Global Cafe: In Conversation with Dr. Tara A. Cortes “The critical roles of geriatric nursing, and how professionals need to focus on education of health to improve the future care of older people”

The current COVID-19 pandemic calls out the need for significant changes in both the systems and delivery of health and social care. In both traditional and nontraditional settings, models that bring together advanced practice nurses and physicians creates real opportunity for change in the policy and practice in geriatric care.

Better healthcare, better outcomes and lower cost can best be achieved by allowing all professionals to function to their full scope of practice. It is critical to bring the voice of nursing to a different forum to allow leaders to disseminate messages, increase collaboration, and further enhance discipline.

This Global Cafe takes place at 07:00 am (Eastern Standard Time) on Friday 2 April 2021 (additional time zones below):

Geneva, Switzerland: 12:00
Lagos, Nigeria: 12:00
New Delhi, India: 16:30
Perth, Australia: 19:00

Register here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMvceigpzstH9HAnOu8Y-1X4ipHXWRjgXI3

This Global Cafe will be recorded and streamed live on Facebook. Should you be unable to participate, a recording will be available on the IFA Facebook page at facebook.com/intfedageing and resources will be available at: ifa.ngo/ifa-virtual-town-hall-resources.

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Ageing-NY, please visit ngocoa-ny.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Ageing-Vienna, please visit ngoageingvie.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Ageing-Geneva, please visit ageingcommitteegeneva.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Intergenerational Solidarity, please email the vice chair at susanneseperson@gmail.com. 

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Human Rights of Older Persons: An International Dialogue

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Human Rights of Older Persons: An International Dialogue

As part of the 11th Session of the United Nations Open-ended Working Group on Ageing, this official side-event entitled “The Impact of COVID-19 on the Human Rights of Older Persons: An International Dialogue” is hosted by the International Longevity Centre Canada with the support of our funders, the Canadian Medical Association, Home Instead and our partner, the International Federation of Ageing, with the support of UN DESA, UN OHCHR and the Government of Canada.

This important event unites UN officials and global leaders in the fields of ageing and beyond to address the need for a UN Convention on the Rights of Older People. Register here!

This webinar will feature interventions from global leaders of the highest calibre, including:

  • The. Hon. Patricia Bovey, Senator, Senate of Canada
  • Dr. Ann Collins, President of the Canadian Medical Association
  • H.E. Mr. Omar Hilale, Ambassador of Morocco to the United Nations
  • Dr. Alexandre Kalache, President of the International Longevity Centre Brazil
  • Dr. Claudia Mahler, Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons
  • H. E. Mr. Bob Rae, Ambassador of Canada to the United Nations
  • H.E. Ms. Maria del Carmen Squeff, Ambassador of Argentina to the United Nations

This event is free of charge and will be recorded and broadcast live on UN WebTV (webtv.un.org) and IFA’s Facebook channel (facebook.com/intfedageing).

Live interpretation will be available in French, Spanish, and American Sign Language.

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Ageing-NY, please visit ngocoa-ny.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Ageing-Vienna, please visit ngoageingvie.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Ageing-Geneva, please visit ageingcommitteegeneva.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Intergenerational Solidarity, please email the vice chair at susanneseperson@gmail.com. 

The Power of Freedom of Religion or Belief to Elevate Women and Girls

On the occasion of the 65th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, the NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief is bringing together a panel of prominent female leaders to discuss how their diverse religious and belief backgrounds have shaped their views and prepared them for leadership positions around the world as well as how the freedom of religion or belief is critical to empowering women and girls.

March 16 from 12:30 – 2:00pm EST.

Register here:https://tinyurl.com/3csr4678

Panelists:

  • Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of the Bahá’í International Community’s United Nations Office 
  • Blu Greenberg, Founding President of the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance 
  • Carole McConkie, Latter-day Saint Charities Representative at the United Nations in Geneva 
  • Margaret Downey, Founder of the Freethought Society 

Format: Each speaker will present for 10-12 minutes followed by a time of Q+A from the attendees.

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief, please visit unforb.org. For more information on the Committee of Religious NGOs at the United Nations, please visit rngos.wordpress.com. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women-NY, please visit ngocsw.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women-Geneva, please visit ngocsw-geneva.ch.

Virtual Townhall Meeting of Civil Society & UN Secretary-General António Guterres

Virtual Townhall Meeting of Civil Society and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres

Dear ECOSOC accredited organizations with representatives approved for CSW65,

We welcome you to join the United Nations Secretary-General’s annual Virtual Townhall Meeting with civil society on the occasion of the sixty-fifth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. Moderated by UN Women Executive Director, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, the meeting will provide an opportunity for women’s and youth civil society organizations to engage with the Secretary-General on the session’s priority theme: women’s full and effective participation and decision-making in public life, as well as the elimination of violence, for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.

The virtual townhall will also build upon discussions from the Secretary-General’s virtual meeting with women’s civil society in light of the COVID-19 crisis, addressing ways to build back better and continue protecting and promoting women’s rights and agency within this new context.

The event will take place on Webex and will be webcast on UN Web TV, as well as on social media – Twitter, YouTube, Facebook. The session will take place in English only, however translation into other UN languages will be available on the broadcast.

The townhall is open to CSW65 approved representatives of ECOSOC-accredited NGOs. Due to platform limitations, attendance will be limited to two (2) CSW65 approved representatives per organization to allow for equal participation opportunities for registered organizations.

Please register up to a maximum of two CSW65 approved representatives of your organization for the Webex meeting using the following link: https://forms.gle/XZ7taXz3YndBqgGX9

Please note that registration does not guarantee access to the Webex meeting. Registered participants who receive the meeting-specific link will be admitted to the Webex platform until maximum capacity is reached.

All other representatives of your organization are welcome to view the live webcast at http://webtv.un.org/ and via social media – Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube (links to be shared).

Kind regards,
UN Women

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women-NY, please visit ngocsw.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women Vienna, please visit ngocswvienna.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women-Geneva, please visit ngocsw-geneva.ch

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