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Report to the International Anglican Women’s Network on the UNCSW 2002.
It was my privilege to attend the 46th meeting of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women during the first two weeks in March. This was my first time in attendance at a formal United Nations meeting, and my comments reflect that fact. I found the system difficult to access and the level of bureaucracy overwhelming.
The theme for this session was Gender, Peace and Security, with the sub-agendas of eradicating poverty and the empowerment of girls and women of all ages. The major thrust was to assure the inclusion of the words gender equality in every document and statement of the UN. The importance of those words was emphasized during discussion and debate on the CSW statements on eradicating poverty and on environmental management and the mitigation of natural disasters, among others.
In October 2000 the UN Security Council passed a resolution (1325) calling for gender sensitivity in all UN missions including peacekeeping for women to participate equally at all negotiating tables and for the protection of women and girls during armed conflict. Would that the tragedies occurring in the Middle East could be addressed by circles of women and men committed to peace!
There were position papers on many subjects: HIV/MDS, trafficking, the plight of women and girls in Afghanistan, gender equality and economic equality, to name a few. Among those was a statement submitted by the Mothers' Union conveying commitment to the various planks in the Beijing Platform for Action. A major focus was on poverty eradication, stating that it "could not be fully achieved without the holistic empowerment of women, through giving power to women, enabling women to empower themselves and one another and nurturing women's sense of place and identity."
At the briefing which preceded the formal meetings, the Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund was especially gripping in her comments. She described the state of women’s health care in Afghanistan and the incredibly horrific circumstances for women about to go into labor. One example she gave was of a clinic with 52 beds, but because of the many more patients it was necessary to rotate their bed time on an hourly basis.
The Anglican Observer, Archdeacon Fagamalama Tuatagaloa-Matalavea was every encouraging of my participation and that of Martha Gardner who is in the Peace & Justice unit at the Episcopal Church Center. We are - all three of us - lay women who are deeply concerned with the peace and justice issues which impact women in every corner of the globe.
Respectfully submitted,
Marge Christie, ECUSA
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