CSW59 Orientation 7 March 2015
Mission Statement Zonta International is a leading global organization of professionals empowering women through service and advocacy.
Vision Zonta International envisions a world in which women's rights are recognized as human rights and every woman is able to achieve her full potential. In such a world, women have access to all resources and are represented in decision making positions on an equal basis with men. In such a world, no woman lives in fear of violence.
Purpose of this Training Basic introduction to the UN structure The UN Commission on the Status of Women Your role at the UN CSW in New York
Remembering the UN 6
Remember the Number 6 6 official languages English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Arabic 6 main organs of the UN 6 Committees of the General Assembly Emergency phone # in New York Headquarters +1 212-963-6666
6 Principle Organs of the UN Security Council Secretariat General Assembly (GA) Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) International Court of Justice Trusteeship Council
6 Committees of the GA First - Disarmament/Security Second - Economic/Financial Third - Social, Humanitarian, Cultural Fourth - Special political Fifth - Administrative and Budget Sixth - Legal
Functional Commissions of ECOSOC
Where the UN Committee Works New York UN Headquarters, Unicef, UN Women, UNFPA, Department of Public Information (DPI), special meetings Geneva UN office and International Labour Organization (ILO), Human Rights Vienna UN office Council of Europe Unesco - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Paris)
Regional Commissions of ECOSOC
Other Bodies of ECOSOC Specialized Agencies - coordinating body of interest to Zonta International:
Questions?
Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) 1945 UN charter 1946 Commission on Human Rights 1947 CSW established 1948 UN Declaration of Human Rights 1948 58 UN Decade for Human Rights
Women s Conferences Mexico City - 1975 - Helvi Sipilä, Secretary General - World Plan of Action Copenhagen - 1980 - Programme of Action Nairobi - 1985 - Forward Looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women Beijing - 1995 - Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action New York - 2000-23rd Special Session of the General Assembly Five-year review process: 2005, 2010, 2015
CSW59 Theme: review and appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcomes of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly Methods of Work Post 2015 Agenda
Beijing Platform for Action 12 Critical Areas of Concern Women and the environment Women in power and decision-making The girl child Women and the economy Women and poverty Violence against women Human rights of women Education and training of women Institutional mechanisms for the advancement of women Women and health Women and the media Women and armed conflict
Methods of Work How and what they will work on Our interests include: Strong role for the CSW NGO speaking opportunities NGO access to rooms NGO access to negotiations NGO participation
Post-2015 Agenda SDGs (Sustainable Development process) Women s Major Group; NGO Major Group Assuring that women s agenda is met before 2030 17 Goals - Goal 5 for women, and mainstreaming all the rest through targets and indicators Secretary General s report High Level Political Forum
Official Meetings of the CSW Not a conference, but a meeting of governments Limited ability to be in the room Webcast on unwebtv Organized by the Bureau 45 member states participating with large delegations Supported by UN Women
Bureau of the CSW59 Ms. Kanda Vajrabhaya (Thailand), Chairdesignate (Asia-Pacific States Group) Mr. Mohamed Elbahi (Sudan), Vice-Chair (African States Group) Ms. Pille Kesler (Estonia), Vice-Chair (Eastern European States Group) H.E. Mr. Rubén Ignacio Zamora Rivas (El Salvador), Vice-Chair designate (Latin American and Caribbean States Group) Ms. Christine Löw (Switzerland), Vice-Chair (Western European and other States Group)
Member States of the CSW 45 Members Elected by region 13 members from Africa 11 from Asia 9 from Latin America and Caribbean 8 from Western Europe and other States 4 from Eastern Europe 1/3 elected each year
Member States of the CSW
Outcome Document vs. Political Declaration 5-year reviews with political declarations Outcome documents in other years Resolutions Negotiated process - time consuming, but there is a need to start in your country Caucuses keep NGOs informed
Who are the government delegates? Head of Delegation - Minister from the Capital Other ministers, public delegates, experts, other government officials Supported by staff from the Mission
What is UN Women? 1976 Unifem and Instraw formed Office of the Assistant Secretary General for Women s Issues Division for the Advancement of Women Combined in 2012 to form UN Women, Secretariat to CSW Executive Committee, Ambassador Ib Petersen, Denmark, President
Questions?
How to Prepare Yourself for CSW Read documents - UN Women website Sign up for events Learn - plan to attend caucuses, training sessions Network - bring cards to exchange, promote Zonta Share information with the UN Committee
NGO Participation 20-member delegation - grounds pass Official meetings - Conference room, overflow room, webcast Side events - on the UN Campus tickets/special events pass Parallel events - off campus, organized by NGOs and coordinated by NGOCSWNY Zonta events Visiting delegations or missions
NGO CSW NY 3 Committees (NY, Geneva, Vienna) Arrangements for NGO Forum Produces Booklet of information Organized Consultation Day at the Apollo Collaborated on the March and Rally in Times Square Organized reception for NGOs Organizes morning briefings
Things to Remember Follow the UN rules e.g. NO cell phone conversations in conferences, NO demonstrations NO food or beverages in conference rooms Computers are for UN delegates only. You may bring in your own laptop. Encourage government delegates to attend the NGO the events Be a bridge of information between the UN CSW and NGOs Update NGOs back home on progress at the CSW blog and tweet Ask permission to take videos and photos; you must get written consent for children s photos NEVER sit at a Member State s seat. Please sit in areas designated for NGOs NEVER LET ANYONE ELSE USE YOUR UN BADGE
Represent Zonta! Meeting your Minister / Delegation / Ambassador / Mission Staff 1. 2. 3. 4. Be clear about the message(s) Be short and concise Leave behind your information Be sure to thank the official - also send a note!
Take the Zonta Message Strong Proclamation: emphasize gender equality and women s human rights Strong Methods of Work: give CSW authority to review and voice to NGOs Post 2015 Agenda: - emphasize Goal 5 - mainstreaming women human rights and gender equality - indicators that can track success - strong role for ALL stakeholders
Have Fun! Dress appropriately for the meeting Bring your business cards and literature Speak only about authorized positions of the organization Listen carefully and take notes Do not argue with the official, but do take note of any official positions Share your information with Megan Radavich at Zonta Headquarters mradavich@zonta.org
Representing Zonta Meet new people and make the most of it! Spread the Zonta message - be part of the common voice of all Zontians Report back to your club the main outcomes of the negotiations and propose actions at local level
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