By Lisa Bortner

After returning from the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Committee on the Status of Women (CSW) 69, the question I am most asked is, “Did you have fun?” I can’t say that attending this event was fun. Yes, it was exciting to be in New York City with nine of my friends and cohorts from the National ECW and Girls Friendly Society, but it wasn’t “fun”. It was a serious occasion to look at the many issues that have been long standing and difficult obstacles for women. This year’s NGO CSW Forum was a gathering of civil societies that presented information and collaborated on what progress has been made since the Beijing95 meeting and where we need to focus our future attention.

The NGO CSW Forum runs parallel to and complements the United Nations CSW. The sessions focused on thirteen tracks: education and training of women, emerging issues, human rights of women, institutional mechanism for the advancement of women, the girl child, violence against women, women and armed conflict, women and health, women and poverty, women and the economy, women and the environment and women in power and decision making. Now you can see why I would not say that I had fun. What I can say is that when I left the NGO CSW69 I was more convicted to play a larger role in lifting up my sisters throughout the globe on issues that affect all women.

I would like to extend my gratitude to those from the National ECW and the Girls Friendly Society who participated—largely at their own expense—in the NGO CSW69.

A heartfelt thank you to:
Annie Jacobs, Lois Frankforter, Ginny Guzman-Walsh, Dianne Roberts, Susan Howland, Laura Orcutt, Lisa Jo Woods-Kriss, Lydia Kugler, and Cat Spoko. Thank you!

One of the National ECW’s primary objectives at the meeting was to advocate for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. Throughout the conference, we heard from Indigenous women across the world who shared similar struggles.

Tragically, we did not meet a single Indigenous woman from the United States. By the end of the first week, we felt a deep conviction: next year, we must sponsor our own NGO CSW session on the plight of U.S. Indigenous Missing and Murdered Women. Our goal is to bring Indigenous Episcopal women to the table, giving them the platform to share their stories and advocate for themselves, their families, and their communities. To make this happen, we seek to collaborate with other entities within the Episcopal Church.

The NGO CSW challenged us to confront the long-standing and complex barriers that continue to oppress women. In response, we recognize our calling to play a larger role in uplifting our sisters globally on the issues that affect all women.

What Can You and I Do?

  1. We Can Pray.
    Prayer is our foundation. Let us pray fervently for justice and change.
  2. We Can Educate Ourselves.
    We must learn and spread awareness. It is my hope that more Episcopal women will participate in the NGO CSW’s virtual parallel events. These opportunities need better publicity within our church, as they are a valuable means to nurture and educate our future leaders.
  3. We Can Advocate.
    • We can write to our lawmakers.
    • We can stand with our sisters in the streets.
    • We can strategize to amplify our voices.
  4. We Can Teach Future Generations.
    As faithful disciples of Jesus Christ, we must guide our children and grandchildren on these critical issues. We must instill in them a commitment to treating all people with love and respect while equipping them to advocate for themselves and their communities.

We must raise our voices loudly to defend:

  • Reproductive rights
  • The right to marry the person we love
  • Access to clean water and a sustainable environment
  • Freedom to worship without ridicule or disdain from others
  • Justice for the marginalized, the impoverished, immigrants, and all who suffer

A Prayer for Justice and Strength

Gracious and Just God,
We lift up to You the women who stand boldly for justice,
who raise their voices for the voiceless,
who work tirelessly for change.

Bless them with wisdom to speak truth in love,
with courage to stand firm in the face of opposition,
and with endurance to press on, even when the road is long.

Protect them from harm, strengthen their resolve,
and surround them with support and encouragement.

Let their words and actions sow seeds of hope,
bringing healing, justice, and peace to the world.

May they always walk in Your light, guided by Your love,
and may their work bear fruit for generations to come.

Amen.