United Nations Council on Status of Women

2016 Caucus

ECW at the UN Women Council 2016

The Episcopal Women’s Caucus and The Episcopal Church Women are pleased to announce a joint initiative to support our Episcopal delegates to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women to be held this year, March 14-24. Of the 18 delegates from throughout The Episcopal Church selected by then-Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, seven have responded to our invitation to assist them in raising the funds needed to attend, each anticipates needing about $4,000 to attend the two-week event.

(The Social Justice Member-at-Large of National Episcopal Church Women represents ECW at the UNCSW gathering. For the 2015-2018 triennium that representative will be Beblon Parks. Her expenses will be paid by the NECW Board.)

Over the next several weeks we will post stories from previous delegates to the UNCSW and the stories of our delegates this year.

What is the UNCSW?

The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) is held every year for two weeks in late February or early March. The Commission on the Status of Women was formalized in 1946. “The CSW is instrumental in promoting women’s rights, documenting the reality of women’s lives throughout the world, and shaping global standards on gender equality and the empowerment of women.” Representatives of UN Member States, civil society organizations and UN entities gather at UN headquarters in New York for the two-week session: “They discuss progress and gaps in the implementation of the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the key global policy document on gender equality, and the 23rd special session of the General Assembly held in 2000 (Beijing+5), as well as emerging issues that affect gender equality and the empowerment of women. Member States agree on further actions to accelerate progress and promote women’s enjoyment of their rights in political, economic and social fields.”

One does not need to be a delegate from a member state or an NGO in order to attend the UNCSW because there are many parallel events that take place during the two weeks the commission meets. Here are some guidelines for preparing for the conference:

  • Acquire the NGO event and workshop schedule, available on line at the UNCSW website approximately a week before the event begins. Review the schedule and pre-plan the workshops and events you want to attend.

  • Be sure to pre-register for the Ecumenical Women’s Orientation (usually held on the Saturday before the opening session) and the NGO orientation (usually held on the Sunday before the opening session).

  • Workshops begin at 8:00 am and end at 7:30 pm, running for 90 minutes with 30 minutes in between. Workshops are offered in two or three primary locations including the United Nations Church Center on 44th Street and 1st Avenue (across from the UN).You will find the locations listed in the NGO workshop guide. Attending workshops is free of charge.

  • Wear comfortable clothing that can be layered to adjust to NYC weather, which can change quickly. Remember to bring an umbrella.

  • Bring several pairs of shoes as you will walk a lot and your feet will need the variety.

  • If you are ordained wear your clerical collar, it helps to make the statement that ordained people care about this event and these issues, and are willing to be present.

  • Take the time to watch the opening session of the UNCSW, usually on Monday morning of the first week. Viewing is available via webcam at the UN Church Center Chapel and at various NGO sites.

The Episcopal Church is considered an NGO and in 2015 received NGO delegate status for the UN. This means The Episcopal Church is be able to send 20 delegates to the UN to lobby our UN representatives on issues we are concerned with.

READ ABOUT THE PEOPLE

Erin Morey – “I represented a lot of people during my time as a criminal defense attorney in the Office of the Public Defender in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, but I was most moved by the women I represented. They told me about their lives, the violence they had suffered, their love for their children. When I left the office, I knew I wanted to work with women who were surviving trauma. I started representing women seeking court orders to help them stay safe from abusive partners…”

Jennifer Allen – “I am from the Diocese of Kansas and I live on the Kansas side of the Kansas City metropolitan area. I have attended St. Michael and All Angels Church for almost 40 years. I’ve been involved in a variety of ministries, but my experience with Kansas to Kenya has been the most transformative. Kansas to Kenya is a mission initiative which provides community and medical support to communities in and around the Kenyan Diocese of Nakuru, based on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals…”

Victoria Bell – “Violence against women and girls has always been my passion both in feminism and in the church. After focusing on this topic in my research at the University of Michigan, I was delighted to accept a position as a shelter advocate and case manager at a Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault shelter – working with survivors and their families daily. I am thrilled to have been selected to be a part of this delegation to continue this important work.”

Cynthia Katsareliss – “I’ve been going to Haiti to teach and make music at Holy Trinity School of Music in Port-au-Prince since 2004. There, I have seen the power of education to lift up all children, but especially girls. In 2004, several of my teen aged students are now the faculty at the school. It gives them a good job as they build excellence and opportunity for the next generation…”

Lelanda Lee – “My 21st century experience of feminism and women’s issues has evolved as I have gained elder status (soon to be 67 in March) and a deeper awareness of women’s and children’s lives in global communities beyond the USA. I applied to be appointed by then Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori as part of a 20-person delegation to represent the Episcopal Church, which has official status as a member of the UN’s Economic and Social Council, to the UN Commission on the Status of Women’s 59th (UNCSW59) annual gathering in March 2015 in New York City…”

Gillian Payne – “I am a seventeen year old high school senior from Appleton, Wisconsin. I am avidly involved with multiple organizations that support the empowerment of women; including volunteering at the local women’s shelter, working with an organization to end sex trafficking, and starting a Gender Equality Club at my high school aimed towards educating students on issues ranging from gender stereotypes to the rape epidemic in developing countries…”

Sara Watkins – “For the last decade, I have been heavily involved in local, state, and national efforts to end the warehousing of people with disabilities in nursing homes and other institutions. As a woman with a significant physical disability who depends on the paid support of other women to live my daily life, the fight to end unnecessary institutionalization and extend quality community-based services to anyone who needs them is deeply personal…”