The UN CSW 2024 brought pleasant surprises for me.
The majority of the participants were vibrant, articulate, passionate young women representing a noticeable increase in the representation of “youth” both as presenters and participants in the CSW.
The range of Workshop topics has broadened because of recognizing the link between women and poverty. Poverty is seen as a gendered phenomenon with a female face because women fall into poverty first, fall deeper and recover last. There is cross-generational, vicious cycle of poverty among women of all ages, a symptom of systematic injustice exacerbated by the disadvantages of race, ethnicity, geographical location and religious beliefs affecting women mentally and physically. Statistics showed the cost to society of inaction on the issues of adolescent girls and women. Education is still recognized as the most powerful equalizer and means of transforming power relationships. Educating women can have a huge economic impact for society financially and in the health of future generations … “what people become in later life depends on what happens earlier” said the Secretary General.
We heard that “breaking the poverty gap” requires addressing “old age poverty”, the complex, ever changing configuration of “care-giving adult women”, the “single mother” trap, mentally and physically challenged women, women in abusive relationships , incarcerated women, and women and girls who fall victim to human traffickers.
Country representatives reported that change required to radically transform families, communities and countries, is already happening. Attention is being directed towards institutionalizing gender equality in “gender sensitive Parliaments” in order to include women in decision-making when developing policies and procedures. They advocated budgeting through a “gender sensitive lens” and devising economic models that are gender sensitive.
Equally important was recognition of the need to design mechanisms to ensure implementation of laws, establish “markers” to enable measuring progress by identifying successes, failures and deficiencies, and designing programmes aimed at changing mind-sets and social norms.
The Holy See sponsored a powerful Workshop on Human Trafficking’s impact on women and girls. Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, Permanent Observer of the Holy See, spoke passionately about Pope Francis’ call “to listen, see and be moved in order to act”. He decried the fact that women and girls are seen as objects to be used and discarded and he referred to Trafficking as “the subjugation of some for the enrichment of others”. All of the presenters were excellent. Sharing best practices and learnings were organizations like the Santa Marta Group, ARISE, Talitha Kum, the Scalabrini Integrated Network and Ireland’s National Police Service. A prominent American law firm representative spoke of efforts to disrupt systems, confiscate proceeds, provide protection, accompaniment and support for victims and most of all to work with society on recognizing and reporting signs of this form of modern slavery.
It was heartening to see the Catholic Church take moral leadership on an issue related to women.
This way of celebrating the 20th Anniversary of IBVM at the UN was wonderful for me. Thanks to Janet for gathering us and to Cecilia, Marta, Mary Eileen, Smitha, Daisy and Lauren for celebrating together.
Author: Evanne Hunter, IBVM
