UN CSW: Rozanne VanRie (AWC Antwerp)
After a week long stint at the two week long UN Commission on the Status of Women this past March,, we were all asked to write a report about our experience in order to share with our colleagues at FAWCO.
So, after a my trans-Atlantic trip home to Belgium, I took a long hot shower, had a bowl of homemade soup that my husband made for me,then jumped into bed for a nice long nap before the real business of life began again,
However as I tried to put into clear concise words what the conference was about, what it meant to me, what it might mean for the 'status of women' over the next years, and more importantly how can I impart this information to our members so that they will listen and possibly do something with the information, I found that this wasn't an easy task. The words from a song from the 'Sound of Music' come to mind: 'how do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?'....almost impossible.
There were hundreds of seminars and meetings to choose from. I did not know where to start, but it was soon evident that whatever session I chose, I would hear a lingering message! The rights of women and children worldwide are being violated! The mesmerizing words from Ambassadors, law enforcement agents, heads of states,country liaisons, NGO liaisons, program directors, film directors, journalists and the victims and perpetrators of crimes themselves, were heard !
Can you imagine listening to the words of a man who was a trafficker of women as he explained the cycle of his involvement and what he now recognizes as the heinous crimes that he committed! He said that his jail sentence was not long enough.
A very brief history: In 2015, countries from around the globe agreed on the need for a comprehensive financing for development; adopted a new sustainable development agenda; and charted a universal and legally binding global agreement on climate change. See more at: http://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/post-2015 The outcome document “Transforming Our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” was formally adopted by world leaders.
Ms Julie Ward, a UK Member of Parliament and the Co-Founder of the European Childrens Rights Committee spoke and, get this, she doesn't listen to the lobbyists!! quite a different story from many of our USA counterparts ! BUT she does listen to the NGOs!! She listens to US! She wants people to 'BOTHER HER!!' She is trying to change the EU laws. She takes best practices from other countries and wants volunteers to help guide her with information and assistance.
Our own Laurie Richardson, with collaborated words from Erica Higbie and My-Linh Kunst, was a speaker at a United Nations session and Jane Politi, AWC Rome member helped organize a seminar that was standing room only. What I garnered from these ladies was a tremendous amount of information on the workings of the UN in this capacity of this conference on women and girls!
At the last session I attended, I found myself listening to the US Ambassador to the UN, The Japanese Ambassador and the South Korean Ambassador! However, for me, the highlight was listening to four women from early 20s to mid 80s in age who were victims of human rights violations in North Korea. They had stories to tell that were so horrific, including one whose young son was sold into slavery for the price of a meal!! These women had stories that created the continued need to move forward on Women's Rights in my mind!
The amount of information to be had at a conference like this is so copious, so daunting that it was hard for me to collate it all to be able to succinctly and precisely be able to tell you what it was that you missed by not attending this session. but the big question for me would be to say: SO WHAT? What is the big deal about all this? NOW WHAT?? What happens next? WHY is this all so important? Well, for me, the answer seems to be simple...In the words of Hilary Clinton: 'Women's rights are Human rights'
WHY should we care? Well, should the simple geography of where we were born or to whom we were born to, lessen our responsibilities as citizens of the World?
Do we not have a responsibility to assist, in some way, the plight of women?
I challenge you, I challenge myself, to learn more, to understand better, to become more informed through listening, reading, asking questions, attending conferences, like the one in October with Mary Adams in The Hague.
What we do with this information? I hope that doing some one thing with one piece of information at a time can truly make a difference!