Youth Activist Space: Youth Voices in the MENA Region Under Crisis

In this installation of NGO CSW/NY’s Youth Preparation Series leading up to CSW65, young activists from the Middle East and North Africa region take the mic to share their views on the effects of a multitude of crises on the feminist movements in the region.

Register here!

About the series:

To prepare young people and youth gender equality activists for CSW65, the NGO CSW/NY Youth Leaders & Young Professionals are hosting an event series that will feature virtual spaces for youth to share their voices, experiences, and visions, as well as different trainings and skills workshops.

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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.

International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women, who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.

The world has made unprecedented advances, but no country has achieved gender equality.

Fifty years ago, we landed on the moon; in the last decade, we discovered new human ancestors and photographed a black hole for the first time.

In the meantime, legal restrictions have kept 2.7 billion women from accessing the same choice of jobs as men. Less than 25 per cent of parliamentarians were women, as of 2019. One in three women experience gender-based violence, still.

Let’s make 2021 count for women and girls everywhere.

The sixty-fifth session of the Commission on the Status of Women will take place from 15 to 26 March 2021. In light of the evolving COVID-19 situation, and taking into account the latest guidance from the United Nations Secretary-General and the World Health Organization (WHO), CSW65 will take place in a hybrid format with mostly virtual meetings.

Representatives of Member States, UN entities, and ECOSOC-accredited non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from all regions of the world are invited to attend the session.

Themes:

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;
Review theme: Women’s empowerment and the link to sustainable development (agreed conclusions of the sixtieth session)

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women-New York, 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.

2021 Shine the Light Human Trafficking Conference: Root Causes & Intersections on Human Trafficking

Dear Colleagues,

We invite you to our VIRTUAL 2021 Shine the Light Human Trafficking Conference: Root Causes and Intersections on Human Trafficking. The conference, which is free of charge, will be held over two afternoons, March 8 (12noon to 3:00 pm EST), and March 9 (12noon to 1:30 pm EST). We also are organizing a Call to Action Day on Trafficking for March 9.

Register at http://bit.ly/2021traffickingconference

Building on the success of our previous in-person Human Trafficking Conferences in 2018 and 2019, this year’s participants will hear from survivors, service providers and other experts. An additional advocacy panel will share easy and ongoing actions that can be taken to combat trafficking.

Our co-sponsors this year are the Columbian Center for Advocacy and Outreach, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas – Justice Team, the U.S. Coalition of Sisters Against Human Trafficking, and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Office of Migration and Refugee Services.

Monday, March 8, 12:00 – 3:00 pm EST & Tuesday, March 9, 12:00 – 1:30 pm EST

Advance registration required. Register online here or call 301-622-6838

On Day 1, we will begin with an overview of human trafficking that speaks to the various root causes. Panel presentations on both sex and labor trafficking with domestic and international components will follow. On Day 2, we will focus on advocacy campaigns and how all of us can make a difference. Additional details are available on our Conference webpage.

Conference attendees will have the opportunity to engage in Q&A with panelists both days.

Speakers confirmed to date include:

Sr. Norma Pimentel, MJ, Executive Director, Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley; Sr. Winifred Doherty, RGS, United Nations Representative for the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd; Diana Fimbres, Program Manager for Strategic Initiatives on Labor Trafficking, Polaris; Hilary Chester, PhD, Associate Director, Anti-Trafficking Program, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops; Lawrence Couch, Director, National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd; Sr. Ann Scholz, SSND, PhD, Associate Director for Social Mission Leadership Conference of Women Religious; Scott Wright, Director, Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach; and current Members of Congress. As in previous conferences, trafficking survivors with their powerful stories will be pivotal contributors to the day.

We also encourage you to spread the word – share this invitation with your colleagues and networks and share this postcard on social media. If you would like further information, please reach out to Fran Eskin-Royer (associatedirector@gsadvocacy.org) or me (nacdirector@gsadvocacy.org). Thank you.

Sincerely,

Lawrence E. Couch, Director

National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd

301-622-6838 (o) | 240-463-0660 (c) | www.gsadvocacy.org

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CoNGO Notes: 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 Children’s Rights, please visit childrightsny.org. For more information on the Alliance of NGOs on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, please visit crimealliance.org.

NGO CSW65 Youth Preparation Series: UN Advocacy Training

This installment of NGO CSW-New York’s Youth Preparation Series for young professionals and youth leaders will focus on UN advocacy as we continue counting down to CSW65.

Learn how to advocate effectively in the online environment of CSW this year, understand UN mechanisms for gender equality, learn the language of advocacy and what the global women’s movement is advancing in the discourse.

Register here!

Email: ylyps@ngocsw.org

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women-New York, 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.

NGO CSW65 Youth Preparation Series: Presentation Skills Workshop

NGO CSW65 Youth Preparation Series: Presentation Skills Workshop

This event is part of NGO CSW-New York’s Youth Preparation Series for youth leaders and young professionals, leading up to NGO CSW65.

Led by Jenni Prisk, this session will provide you with techniques and skills to present your key messages with clarity, impact and poise, tips for online presentation, strengthen your voice in professional settings.

Register here!

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CoNGO Notes: For more information the NGO Committee on the Status of Women-New York, 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.

[UN Observance] International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation

Each year on February 6, the United Nations Commemorates the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation.

Over 200 million girls and women alive today have experienced FGM. In 2019, an estimated 4.1 million girls were at risk of being cut. In 25 countries where FGM is routinely practiced and data are available, an estimated 68 million girls will be cut between 2015 and 2030 unless concerted and accelerated action is taken.

To learn more about UNFPA & UNICEF’s Joint Programme to Eliminate Female Genital Mutilation, currently in Phase III, click 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.

16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence

The UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE Campaign to End Violence against Women will commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November. The International Day and virtual event will kickstart the global mobilization of the 16 Days of Activism campaign – running from 25 November until 10 December – under the theme: “Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect!”

Even before COVID-19, violence against women was one of the most widespread violations of human rights, with almost 18 percent of women and girls experiencing physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner within the last year. During COVID-19, calls to violence against women helplines increased up to five fold in the first few weeks of the pandemic. For every 3 months the lockdown continues, an additional 15 million women are expected to be affected by violence.

Calling for a “cease-fire at home”, the UN Secretary-General urged governments earlier this year to make the prevention and redress of violence against women and girls a key part of national response plans for COVID-19. While UN Member States responded, and 135 countries have adopted measures to prevent or respond to violence against women during this global crisis, only 48 countries – less than a quarter of the 206 analysed in a recent study – treated violence against women and girls-related services as an integral part of their national and local COVID-19 response plans, with very few adequately funding these measures. The culture of impunity still prevails widely, and the pandemic is threatening to undo any progress as women are not being able to access the live-saving care and support they need.

The commemoration will be an opportunity for Member States, civil society, influencers and the UN System to spark a renewed sense of urgency and bolster global action to end violence against women and girls by calling on all to: fund essential services on gender-based violence and women’s organizations who are at the forefront; to respond to the needs of survivors, including during the global pandemic; to prevent gender-based violence from happening in the first place by challenging cultural and social norms, mobilization campaigns and a zero-tolerance policy; and to collect data to improve services, programmes and policies. In the lead up to the commemoration, UN Women has appealed to Member States to make concrete, tangible commitments during the 16 Days of Activism.

Join the kickoff event on Wednesday, 25 November 2020, from 10:00 am – 11:30 am EST

Participants:

Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres
Member States representatives
Under-Secretary-General and UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
Under-Secretary-General and UNFPA Executive Director Natalia Kanem
UN Women Goodwill Ambassadors Nicole Kidman and Cindy Bishop
Co-Hosts Zahra Al Hilaly and Stuart Moir
With the musical performance of Ensemble Corona, Bosnia and Herzegovina

How to watch:

Please note that the event will be held in English with simultaneous interpretation provided in all official UN languages. Participants need to pre-register and attend the event through the Zoom platform to be able to access the language interpretation.

Live Webcast of the event will be available on UN Women’s website and UN Web TV. Follow the online conversation using the hashtags #orangetheworld and #16days and follow @SayNO_UNiTE and @UN_Women on Twitter.

Stories and more: We handed over the mic to survivors and those on the forefront of response efforts. Read and share stories of change, videos, interactives, and social media messages, and check out the 16 Days editorial content at https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus/end-violence-against-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-Geneva, please visit ngocsw-geneva.ch. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women-Vienna, please visit ngocswvienna.org.

#RaiseAPen Virtual High Level Panel Discussion

This high-level event is part of the #RaiseAPen campaign that we just launched in solidarity with mothers in Afghanistan calling for the continued right to education for their daughters. It coincides with the UN-designated International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. It is our belief that denying education to girls and women is a form of violence.

The campaign supports education not only because it is a fundamental human right, but also because it is a key condition for sustainable development and peace. The diverse panel features influential personalities committed to the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan. This is a unique opportunity to hear them discuss the way forward beyond ‘raising a pen’, to both safeguard and advance these rights. We thank them one and all:

H.E Rangina Hamidi: Minister of Education I.R of Afghanistan
Stefania Giannini: UNESCO Assistant Director General of Education
Ambassador Melanne Verveer: Executive Director Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security
Ambassador Mohammad Wali Naeemi: Deputy Permanent Representative of I.R of Afghanistan to the UN
Staffan de Mistura: Former UN Special Envoy to Afghanistan
Mary Kaldor, Professor of Global Governance and CEO of the Conflict Research Program, IDEAS, London School of Economics and Political Science (Moderator)
Anne-Claire de Liedekerke: President MMM (Opening remarks)
Rahela Sidiqi: Founder & Director Farkhunda Trust for Afghan Women’s Education, MMM Associate Member and campaign partner (Opening remarks)

Join the conversation, register now and send in your questions (by November 20th at the latest) here.

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on ngocsw-geneva.ch. 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.

International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

The UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE Campaign to End Violence against Women is pleased to invite you to the United Nations Official Commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

Date: 25 November 2020 | Time: 10:00 – 11:30 AM (EST)

The Official Commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women will be a virtual multi-stakeholder event with the participation of high-level representatives of Member States, United Nations agencies, Goodwill Ambassadors, and civil society organizations. In the current context of COVID-19 and in line with the SG Political Engagement Strategy on Gender-Based Violence, the event will:

Highlight achievements and initiate additional commitments by Member States on the issue of ending violence against women;
Honour women’s organizations as first responders and acknowledge their leadership in ending violence; and
Activate UN-wide mobilization under the umbrella of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign and promote zero tolerance across all spheres of society everywhere.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres will participate live alongside UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and UNFPA Executive Director Natalia Kanem. Heads of State, UN Women Goodwill Ambassadors Ms. Nicole Kidman and Ms. Cindy Bishop; SDG Advocate, UNODC Goodwill Ambassador and Nobel Peace Prize Winner Ms. Nadia Murad; and Nobel Peace Prize Nominee and Rise Founder Ms. Amanda Nguyen will participate via video.The event will be co-hosted by Zahra Al Hilaly and Stuart Moir and feature a performance by Ensemble Corona.

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CoNGO Notes: 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-New York, please visit ngocsw.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women-Vienna, please visit ngocswvienna.org.

NGO CSW-NY Youth Leaders & Young Professionals Launch Event

Come learn how young people can engage in the gender equality discourse during 2021!

NGO CSW/NY has recently revamped our Youth Leaders & Young Professionals (YLYPs) Program. To introduce our new program, we’re hosting a launch event to inform and prepare for youth engagement in the NGO CSW65 Forum and the Generation Equality Forum. Come ready to share your ideas and how NGO CSW can support your work in 2021.

Register here!

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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-Geneva, please visit ngocsw-geneva.ch.

gender-based violence

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