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March 10, 2009
Presbyterian Women active in U.N. status of women conference
Seek to help insure that agreements reflect women’s real-life experiences
More than 20 Presbyterian women are attending the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women annual meeting in New York, March 2-13. Photos courtesy of Louise Davidson. NEW YORK ― For the fourth year, Presbyterian Women of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is participating in the annual meeting of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) here March 2-13.
Seventeen Presbyterian women have been joined at this 53rd annual UNCSW meeting by the staff and members of Racial Ethnic Young Women Together and the National Network of Presbyterian College Women.
The young Presbyterian women participating are Jessica Hawkinson, Presbyterian U.N. Office intern; Noha Khoury, National Network of Presbyterian College Women/Racial Ethnic Young Women Together intern for Racial Ethnic and Women’s Ministries/PW; Abby Heimach; Samantha Reyes, Abby King Kaiser and the Rev. Ruth-Aimee Belonni-Rosario.
“Our goal is to become informed advocates for women the world over,” said Louise Davidson, Vice-moderator for justice and peace of the PC(USA)’s Churchwide Coordinating Team of Presbyterian Women.
The work of the commission is to create “Agreed Conclusions” on this year’ theme, “The equal sharing of caregiving between women and men, including caregiving in the context of HIV/AIDS.” The commission will also consider “the equal participation of women and men in decision-making processes at all levels.”
Presbyterian Women is participating for the fourth year as one of many non-governmental organizations (NGO) from across the globe, Davidson said, “to insure the language of the Agreed Conclusions reflects the experiences of women and men with whom participants work in their various countries.”
Presbyterians’ attendance at the UNCSW has been supported by the staff of the Presbyterian United Nations Office, part of the General Assembly Council’s Compassion, Peace and Justice ministries.
The Presbyterian delegation is also participating in the work of Ecumenical Women, an organization providing orientation for delegates and assistance with advocacy during the UNCSW meeting.
Presbyterian young women involved in the UNCSW meeting (left to right): Jessica Hawkinson, Abby Heimach, Noha Khoury, Samantha Reyes and Abby King Kaiser. Not present: the Rev. Ruth-Aimee Belonni-Rosario. In addition to observing the plenary sessions of the commission ― where nations put forth their best practices and high level international speakers develop the theme ― the women have attended many forums dealing with women’s issues around the world, including health care, trafficking and the modern slave trade, violence against women and girls, and engaging men in sharing responsibility, along with many others.
“We encourage all Presbyterians with an interest in global gender equality to consider attending future meetings of this Commission to enhance efforts to reduce violence and discrimination against women everywhere,” Davidson said.
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