Participants gathered in 10 small groups to tell personal stories. They recounted the myriad number of ways that they or someone they knew were kept from resources necessary for fulfilling their basic rights. Although they came from diverse backgrounds and circumstances, these delegates to the Commission on the Status of Women shared easily with one another as they explored the common threads in the stories they heard.
As they reached consensus on the changes and policies that must occur, the participants showed just how much in harmony they really are. Their solidarity is empowering on many levels. Yet, later that evening, as I listened to our SSND group of students, sisters and colleagues discuss the day’s events I realized just how relative that sense of empowerment can be and how privileged we are to be at the heart of these dialogues.
Julie Gilberto-Brady
SSND Communications Coordinator
SSND Communications Coordinator
2 comments:
It was empowering to find out that sections of the draft outcome document of the Working Group of Girls were included in the revisions to the paper. The revisions to the paper will be distributed to the governments that are in attendance at the CSW. My group is ecstatic about it. We see tomorrow how much was included from, our suggested revisions. For me to be a someone in her 20's, like most of the women in our side group, it is extremely empowering. It makes me believe that I am able to make a difference.
Last semester I taught these 9 young women a course entitled "United Nations". We spent a lot of time researching the theme of this Commission which is "Financing for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women." However, it was not until we arrived in New York and started to participate in this Commission did we realize that this experience was so much more than we could have ever imagined. I have redefined my conception of what my role as a woman is. It reaches beyond my own personal life, my community, my state or even my country. My role as a woman in the 21st century means becoming knowledgeable, sensitive and proactive in the lives of women whom I have never met. This has been a life changing experience for me as well as my students. I look forward to continuing this journey beyond this commission. I will tell the stories of the women I have listened to this week and encourage others to become involved.
Professor Dawn M. Fell
Post a Comment