reproductive rights

Open Forum on CSW67

Join the NGO Committee on the Status of Women/NY on Wednesday, November 16, at 9am to learn more about CSW67, coming up in March 2023!

We’ll address the following during the Open Forum:

  • CSW67 priority and review themes;
  • Overview of the UN CSW process;
  • Ways to participate in the NGO CSW67 Forum and the different events that will be happening;
  • How to promote your work or organization at the Forum.

We’ll also have a Q&A session at the end to answer all of your questions on the CSW67, NGO CSW67 Forum, Parallel Events, Exhibit Booths and Handbook Ads, and our new and improved virtual portal.

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAkdeqhrDsvEtI166TGPYHdst_AleNqjz8N

Interpretation will be available in English, Spanish, and French.

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CoNGO Notes: The NGO Committee on the Status of Women/NY is a Substantive Committee of the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations. Likewise, 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 NGO Committee on Human Rights, please email the co-chairs at bknotts@uua.org or bobbinassar@yahoo.com. 

NGO Committee on the Status of Women/NY [monthly meeting]

Comprehensive Sexuality Education in the Digital Age: Experiences from the Ground

Join NGO CSW/NY’s September Monthly Meeting for a virtual expert roundtable, co-organized by Fos Feminista, about the right to comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) featuring successful interventions of CSE delivery using digital technologies in collaboration with different stakeholders, including governments in context of continued efforts at expanding and improving CSE access and outcomes.

We’ll also get updates about the NGO CSW67 Forum and the CSW67, and hear from our Advocacy & Research Group. Come prepared to provide input on the CSW67 priority theme: Innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.

This meeting will have interpretation in English, French, and Spanish.

Register here!

View NGO CSW/NY’s full calendar here.

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CoNGO Notes: The NGO Committee on the Status of Women/NY is a Substantive Committee of the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations. Likewise, 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 NGO Committee on Human Rights, please email the co-chairs at bknotts@uua.org or bobbinassar@yahoo.com. 

European and Central Asian Seminar Contribution of Development to the Enjoyment of all Human Rights

Europe and Central Asia Regional Seminar

Join us in exploring this year’s theme, The Contribution of Development to the Enjoyment of All Human Rights, both online and in-person in Room XXV, Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland. On Sept. 1 and 2, events will be available to watch live here!

Read the concept note, participation guidelines, and registration information here.

Click here for the flyer with information on registration, program and list of speakers.

Opening Remarks:

  • Ms. Nada Al-Nashif, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights
  • H.E. Mr. Federico Villegas, President, Human Rights Council
  • Mr. Dmitry Mariyasin, Deputy Executive Secretary, UNECE

For queries, please write to @Aisha Gilani or @Diego Valadares Vasconcelos Neto.

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Human Rights, please email the co-chairs at bobbinassar@yahoo.com or bknotts@uua.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Disarmament, Peace, and Security, please visit ngocdps.wordpress.com. For more information on the NGO Committee on Children’s Rights-NY, please visit childrightsny.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, please visit facebook.com/NGOCoRIP. 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

WMG’s Side Event: The Centrality of Human Rights to SDG 5 & Agenda 2030

This HLPF 2022 side event, organized by the Women’s Major Group, UN Working Group on Discrimination Against Women and Girls, and the LGBTI Stakeholder Group, will look into the importance of centrality of human rights to the implementation and achievement of SDG 5 & Agenda 2030.

There are many topics that could be examined under the human rights & gender equality intersections, however, we would like to focus on four specific and pertinent dimensions, that are relevant for our current contexts throughout the world:

Policy coherence across UN spaces & beyond
Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), with specific focus on abortion
Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRD)
Anti-gender & anti-rights threats

WMG has been working on emphasizing the vitality of a holistic approach to SDGs that is centered in human rights, and takes on a systemic perspective to analyzing and offering solutions for the structural obstacles and systemic challenges in front of sustainable development.

Speakers:

  • Melissa Upreti – Chair of UN Working Group on Discrimination against Women and Girls
  • Victor Madrigal – Borloz, UN Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
  • Sivananthi Thanenthiran, the Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women
  • Felicite Djoukouo, Association des Acteurs de Développement (ADEV)

Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdl0S6SI4rtbi5HBua4b1E8afz-a8Qyrf9mhdSnmC_9K3sgog/viewform?mc_cid=13e5b4d572&mc_eid=e1bba69d46

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women-NY, a Substantive Committee of the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship at the United Nations, 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.

In this Together: Share the Care, Transform Tomorrow

Dear friends,

We hope you can join Make Mothers Matter on July 11th for their virtual event taking place on the margins of HLPF, the annual UN conference that assesses progress on the Sustainable Development Goals.

Addressing the inequitable distribution of unpaid care work by ‘Sharing the care’ is in our view not only key to advance women’s rights and progress on gender equality, but also key to bring about some of the systemic changes which are so necessary to ensure a sustainable and resilient recovery from the pandemic, and to achieve the 2030 development agenda.

The main purpose of this event is to continue the discussion about how to lay the grounds for a more caring society, a society where care work is valued and more equally and fairly shared – between men and women, and between families and the rest of society, including communities, governments, and the private sector.

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_anSI99uuQA-2IYrCgJ7LUQ

Interpretation in Spanish will be provided. #SharingTheCare

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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 the Family, please visit ngofamilyny.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Children’s Rights-NY, please visit childrightsny.org.

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.

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 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.

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