The United Nations opened the seventieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70). Representatives of Member States, UN entities, and ECOSOC-accredited non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from all regions of the world attend the session.
Our Loreto sisters opened an office in New York in September 2003, having received Associate Status with the Department of Global Communications of the United Nations. In 2015 our NGO was granted special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). That is why sisters can actively participate in the CSW.
UN-Secretary-General António Guterres on the importance of women’s rights
During the opening ceremony, where our General Assistants Sr. Annamaria and Sr. Mary as well as Sr. Sarah, head of the UNNGO office, were present, UN-Secretary-General António Guterres declared that “gender equality is – and always has been – a question of power”. He added: ““We live in a male-dominated world and a male-dominated culture. Not a single step forward for women’s rights has ever been given; It has been won. Won by generations of women and girls, advocates and activists, community leaders and justice seekers. Won by you.”
Gutierrez pointed out why this Commission on the Status of women is so important – not only for women, but for all humans: “When women participate meaningfully in peace processes and transitional justice, agreements last longer and societies heal more deeply.” Guterrez continued: “But the world continues to fall short. Inclusion is proclaimed, yet women are absent from negotiating tables. Protection is pledged, yet sexual violence persists with impunity.” He finished his address by saying: “Justice is the guardian of human rights and human dignity. When a woman’s testimony is dismissed – when a girl is denied her day in court – when laws discriminate, or police fail to act – human rights erode for everyone. And justice also means confronting the epidemic of violence against women and girls in all its forms: domestic abuse, trafficking, sexual violence in conflict, and the harassment that limits women’s freedom every single day.”
Speach of Annalena Baerbock, President of the General Assembly of the United Nations
“The struggle for women’s rights is fundamentally a struggle for justice itself. Justice in principle – what our laws say. Justice in practice and action – how those laws are implemented and justice in power, meaning who holds it”, Annalena Baerbock said in her opening speach.“Justice around the world demands the active choice to believe survivors everywhere around the world to hold perpetrators accountable every day and dismantle systems that perpetuate abuse and discrimination. Because this is what true justice is – justice not only in words, justice not only on the International Women’s Day, but in principle, in practice and in power – every day.”
Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women, declared: “We meet at a time of multiple global crises. Peace eludes us. And the world is extremely and increasingly fragmented. And gender inequality is compounded by the evils of war and conflict: from Afghanistan to Haiti to Iran, Myanmar, Palestine, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Yemen and beyond. I echo all the pleas for a return to diplomacy, to dialog, for an end to the killing across the Middle East, Africa and beyond.”
Follow us on our social media channels
On our social media channels – on facebook and instagram – you will find daily updates on the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women.
- Facebook of the Congregatio Jesu: www.facebook.com/congregatiojesuworldwide
- Instagram Account Congregatio Jesu worldwide: www.instagram.com/congregatiojesu
- Facebook of the UN NGO Office: www.facebook.com/IBVMNGO
- Instagram Account IBVMUNNGO: www.instagram.com/ibvmunngo
