This year, the SSND delegation to the CSW includes a class from Mount Mary College, an SSND-sponsored school in Milwaukee. Those students arrived in New York today well-versed on this year’s CSW theme – financing for gender equality and the empowerment of women – and ready to advocate on behalf of concerns important to the School Sisters of Notre Dame – education, economic justice and girls’ and women’s human rights.
They believe education is vital means for economic and social development, that economic justice for girls creates a strong foundation for the rest of the population and that governments must invest in girls. And they won’t hesitate to tell any CSW delegate they meet during the course of the week how and why they must focus on solving these problems. These students are resolute in their objective to promote change that will lead to gender equality and the empowerment of women.
Julie Gilberto-Brady
SSND Communications Coordinator
4 comments:
AS a student attending the United Nations this week, I am excited to advocate for the causes of the SSND and learning more about the international community and how the governmental body of the United Nations works. This will be an excited opportunity that we may never have again and I hope to take a great deal of information away from this.
The topic of Financing for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of women is sometimes difficult to wrap one's head around but I've found that those working in conjunction with the NGO's at this conference have a talent for explaining not only the importance but the impact that gender equality can and will have. These women and even a few men are so dedicated to their cause that their actions have a way of speaking directly to your heart and I feel very honored to be among them. I am very much looking forward to the rest of the events this week.
I was inspired greatly at the United Nations to day. It was wonderful to hear the Secretary General of the United Nations speak about ending violence against women, something I am very passionate about. It is wonderful to hear men speak about this because it tells me that they are willing to accept change. Something else that is important to remember is that the CSW is not to exclude men at all, it is to help everyone work together and promote gender equality.
Before going to college, I never really thought about gender inequality. But studying abroad in the US and Germany and getting involved in the classes offered at Mount Mary College has opened my eyes to see beyond nationality into individuality. Coming to the United Nations is further increasing my understanding of the world and the complexity of gender. As I learn more and more I realize that I want to look at the people around me as humans first, with rights that go beyond gender and nationality to individuals that have a voice, live real lives, and are an extraordinary resource of life lessons. The experiences that have been shared with me have changed me into a better person, increasing my sensitivity and love for others. Perhaps the most exciting thing about being at the United Nations is to see how people from different corners of the world share the same thoughts and dreams for a better community; they talk and work together to make those changes. After all, we share the same home, one Earth.
Post a Comment